Review: Sky High (***)

SKY HIGH
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes



RATING (0 TO ****): ***



Silly and sweet, SKY HIGH is a delightfully over-the-top kids' movie that is
a good antidote for the typically pretentious super hero picture. It's also
a very funny riff on high school comedies. And it's a PG rated family film
that everyone will enjoy.



Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) is off to his first day of high school --
a challenge for any lad, but especially for Will since his parents are The
Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston), two of the most
famous superheroes on the planet. And Will's high school isn't just any
institution. It's an academy in the sky, exclusively for the children of
superheroes.



On the critical first day on campus, Will washes out of power placement
since his powers aren't just weak, they are -- as best Will can tell --
non-existent. Those whose powers aren't impressive enough are relegated to
"hero support," where these "sidekicks" train under a wimpy Batboy-like
character played by Dave Foley. Sidekicks are like nurses in an operating
room, handing the instruments to the surgeons. At Sky High, Will continues
to hangout with a sidekick named Layla (Danielle Panabaker), his best friend
since the first grade. Of course, everyone but Will realizes that they are
made for each other.



Of the film's many good jokes, none is better than the time The Commander,
as an infuriated dad, attempts to call Will's school to complain about
Will's being assigned to hero support. The Commander finds that his
strength crushes the phone as he tries to push the buttons. Opening the
kitchen drawer we see another dozen phones, so apparently this is a common
problem in the Stronghold household.



And when Will doesn't appear destined to follow in his father's footsteps,
The Commander laments to Jetstream, "All I ever wanted for him was to save
the world."



SKY HIGH runs just right at 1:38. It is rated PG for "action violence and
some mild language" and would be acceptable for all ages.



My son Jeffrey, age 16, giving it *** 1/2, he said that it was better than
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. He said that SKY HIGH was a good movie
for all ages and had just the right amount of action. He thought it was
funny and much fresher many other superhero films.



The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, July 29, 2005. In
the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century
theaters and the Camera Cinemas.



Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com

Email:



************************************************** *********************



Want free reviews and weekly movie and video recommendations via Email?

Just send me a letter with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.