Sky High

I've got love for any film that'll showcase Spandau Ballet, and SKY HIGH is pretty generous in showcasing one of my childhood anthems, "True." Besides, SKY HIGH is worth many repeat viewings. As I recall, this offering from Walt Disney Pictures demonstrated strong legs at the box office. And why not? It is hugely entertaining. For Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano), peer pressure is a mother and he's not at all looking forward to this year's first day of school. Will Stronghold is the third generation child of a family of superheroes. His parents are Steve (Kurt Russell) and Josie (Kelly Preston), successful real estate brokers... who also happen to be the world's greatest caped crusaders, the invincible Commander and Jetstream, mistress of super-sonic flight and unarmed combat. Will is enrolled in Sky High, a hi-tech learning establishment ideal for molding tomorrow's super-powered crime fighters. Sky HIgh is his parents' alma mater. So expectations are off the charts.Will isn't about to tell his parents that he doesn't have any superpowers, that he's either a late bloomer or maybe even a never-was.Sky High is "kept aloft by the latest in anti-gravitional propulsion," meaning that this unusual academy is accessed by a rocket-propelled school bus. The students all have some sort of special ability but, other than that, Sky High is like any other school. There are cliques and social politics and acne and teen angst and awkwardness. Will Stronghold's first day is pretty sad, especially when the "power placement" session - which determines whether you're a "hero" or a "sidekick" - swings around and Will arrives at the moment he'd been dreading, exhibiting his lack of powers. A dumbfounded Coach Boomer (Bruce Campbell, more abrasive than the Sorting Hat) promptly labels him a sidekick and designates him to Hero Support, a course taught by the now middle-aged All-American Boy, who used to be the Commander's sidekick. Mr. Boy is terrifically played by Dave Foley.Michael Angarano doesn't at all look like a teenaged pin-up model, and this lends an immediate appeal and a realness to his role. You like him even when he pulls those bonehead slip-ups. In Hero Support, Will ends up hanging out with a shabby bunch of sidekicks so dubiously powered even the Legion of Substitute Heroes bully them for lunch money. There's a guy who glows (a hilarious Nicholas Braun). Another guy who melts into a puddle. A girl who shapeshifts into a guinea pig. The only one with serious powers is Will's best friend, Layla, who can manipulate plant life. Except that Layla, deeming the hero-sidekick system to be unfair, refused to demonstrate her talent. Ergo, sidekick.What's school without an unattainable crush? Will quickly falls for Sky High's most popular girl (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). He also gets the stink eye from another freshman, the incendiary Warren Peace (Steven Strait), son of a hero and a super-villain (except that this super-villain parent used to be one of the Commander's foes).There are clever bits and, thankfully, not too many contrived bits. I love the scenes in the Hero Support class. The big bad's true nature caught me by surprise. Tonally, SKY HIGH tilts towards the lighthearted. Even the superhero action sequences are laden with humor, although that doesn't take away from the spectacle of the fighty fights. Thru character development and a solid script, the story allows you to get to know these lovable underdogs. Another strength of the film is that the cast - consisting of teens and established actors - performs seamlessly as a whole. The school faculty is peppered with iconic figures. Cloris Leachman cameos as the X-ray powered school nurse. And, most awesomely, Lynda Carter plays Sky High's Principal Powers. And she is still gorgeous. Meanwhile, Kurt Russell, with this movie (his 11th big screen Disney release), takes over Dean Jones' longstanding spot as Disney's most featured live-action male lead. It makes you realize that Kurt Russell grew up in front of our eyes. I just watched THE COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES a few weeks ago, and I can't help but think that, forty years ago, Kurt Russell would've been playing the Will Stronghold role, instead of the beaming dad. Correction, "beaming" dad until the Commander learns that his son's a sidekick. Who hears Spandau Ballet music. Still, it's another element to relish in this film, the father-son relationship between the Commander and Will Stronghold.The DVD's extras:- Alternate Opening - a flashback sequence set in 1985 featuring Jetstream, the Commander, and All-American Boy battling Royal Pain & Stitches (00:03:20 minutes)- Super Bloopers (00:04:19 minutes long)- "Breaking Down the Walls: The Stunts of SKY HIGH" (00:07:00)- "Welcome to SKY HIGH" - A featurette which takes you behind the scenes with the cast & crew (00:15:18)- Bowling for Soup's Music Video "I Melt With You"

Story is silly, music is good, enjoyed very much, the kids loved it.

released in 2005, 17 years agounfortunately lost 3 years to covid which ruined my high school experience, but this movie makes up for it.

This movie is fun to watch.

Sky High was a really enjoyable family movie about superheroes. The story is a coming to age tale but with the kid Will (Michael Angarano) being the son of the two leading superheroes in the world, The Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston). He has to live up to their legacy and everyone’s expectations when he goes to Sky High the school for heroes, which obviously isn’t easy especially when he doesn’t show any powers.At Sky High the movie gets to play around with the superhero mythology. Kids for example show their powers and get split up into hero and sidekick groups. The heroes pick on the sidekicks, etc. Along the way Will has to deal with peer pressure and picking who his friends really area. Of course a supervillain appears as well and there’s a big confrontation at the end. Overall it was a nice twist on the usual high school story.C

Great movie

Easy to rent

I had never heard of this movie until today, when my 11yo daughter asked if we could watch it for our family movie night (she had heard of it from a friend). I don't know how it missed my radar screen all these years, but it is a gem. If you are looking for an "A+" movie, this is not it. But if you are looking for a solid "B" movie that is cleverly written, well-acted, entertaining, and exceptionally clean, you will enjoy this film. It is one of those movies anyone in the family can watch and enjoy.

Other reviewers have already outlined the plot of the film so I won't repeat it again. But I WILL say that this definitely shouldn't just be dismissed as a teen movie because of the Disney pedigree and bright DVD cover.This is a clever, well thought-out, action-packed film with diverse and relatable characters - the geek, the grounded girl-next-door, the bad boy (Warren Peace, great name), the protective parents - except that they just happen to be superheroes! And so the average coming-of-age high school movie gets that little bit more interesting. Adults and kids alike pull off fantastic, witty performances with a bit of kitsch (but strictly no cheese) thrown in for nostalgia's sake (Lynda Carter's headmistress's world-weary 'I'm not Wonder Woman!' being a good example!).The DVD extras are pretty good to boot, especially the amusing behind-the-scenes featurette which shows the ins and outs of the on-set life and the brilliant camaraderie of the cast and crew, and manages to avoid the pitfalls of being too long, dull or technical for the average viewer. There are also bloopers, a short featurette on the stunts, and a music video, amongst other things. I'm 21 - past the Disney target audience - and I love this movie!

Wacky rediculous halfbaked craziness.But quite fun.Kurt Russell is the best thing in it.The extras docus are more interesting seeing how much hard work went into the production.However, the story wasn't really formed and I wasn't so sympathetic towards many of the characters. Waren Peace is probably the most realised and best part.Not my fave.

Great film for the whole family. I just love films based on super heroes. Kurt Russel is a bonus, apart from seeing the beautiful Linda Carter as the headmistress at the school (hearing her say her last line in the film is funny). The other man to look out for is the hilarious Bruce Campbell as the school gym coach. There is a love sstory going on but watch the film to find out more. The story is a bit thin on structure but who cares ,when you get to see a weakling boy (our hero of the film) suddenly become super, then that is the feel good of the film. I recommend to anyone who likes to laugh.

Usually teenage quest thing. Have to battle the bad guy find out about yourself and what it means to be an outcast and make the right choices about friends. Okay it isn't the greatest film in the world and no it did not change my life and no I did not think what if there was a highschool for superheros. Back stories on super heros comic book of film style are out there.I am not entirely sure if it is a present or not. I mean if you are going down the comic book route for a present just get something with a bigger budget.But if you are on holiday and stuck for something to watch and its raining sure watch it... passes the time if you not expecting much.

I found this film very entertaining in a laid back-tongue in cheek sort of way,kurt russell does the i'm mr hard scene with gusto,while his poor on screen wife (kelly preston) does her best to carry him around !!!!!This film is very much in the genre of the superman/batman type ,but it is a good viewing experience if you want to lose yourself for a couple of hours in a comic book enviroment,with all the kids trying to learn how to deal with having super powers,and teachers who,although having superpowers themselves trying to get into the heads of the kids and missing the mark.It's like the partidge family with superpowers. really good fun