Sky High is Disney’s newest movie, and although its trailers did not do it much justice, it surely is worth the ticket price, whether for a child, or an adult. Sky High stars Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Michael Angarano (roles in many films, including Seabisquit and Lords of Dogtown), Danielle Panabaker (roles in several TV shows, including Mom at Sixteen, and Stuck In The Suburbs), and Steven Strait (from the new film Undiscovered).
Sky High is at heart merely a high school comedy-drama. Of course, with Disney’s magical touch, it becomes a simple high school comedy-drama based around a superhero high school. While the initial reaction may be that this is a kids’ movie, it is not. Disney has quite a skill at appealing to all ages, and this movie is no exception.
There are a couple of ‘hidden’ jokes that are meant for an older crowd, but even the standard humor is quite funny. The supporting cast, including Bruce Campbell (as a gym teacher, of course), a wannabe-superhero busdriver, and a loveably stupid companion of the lead character, are the primary source of humor.
An example: the main character (Michael Angarano as Will Stronghold) bursts through the bus driver’s door, destroying it, and the driver yells “Sorry,” after him. Surprisingly, jokes like these work, and I found myself constantly laughing out loud.
Moving away from the movie’s comedy, we have a storyline. Will Stronghold is the son of the most famous superheroes in history, The Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston). At the start of the school year, Will has yet to see any sign of his superpowers. There is some mild drama about whether they will ever come, but (in case you didn’t guess) they do show up soon enough. Meanwhile, a villainous plot unfolds in the background, until Will must save his parents and the rest of Sky High.
The characters are all excellent. Most of the focus is between Will and his friends (and enemies) at school. There is the best friend that secretly has a crush on him (played by the pretty Danielle Panabaker), the school upperclassmen bullies, and Will’s own personal arch-enemy (his motivation being that The Commander put his father in jail).
There is also some competition between an attractive upperclassmen that seems to have a crush on Will, and his best friend that is vying for his attention. The drama between these kids is actually entertaining and realistic. Granted, this type of material isn’t likely to be nominated for an Oscar, it still makes for a very enjoyable movie experience.
The movie’s action and special effects can be both good and bad for the film. The downside is that the movie has a very cheap look to it. It almost looks as though it could be a made-for-TV Disney Channel movie. (It probably could have been, if it didn’t have Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston) On the upside however, it seems that the creators were going for a corny, superficial look.
Upon watching the movie, it did not at all seem as though they just threw together some cheap effects, but rather the effects they chose added to the overall feel of the movie. It is intended to be corny, and it pokes fun at itself in many ways. Thankfully, Sky High is not overbearing in this respect. As it turns out, the actual visual effects are top-notch, and the movie gets it corny, superficial look from intentionally corny and superficial scenery.
The visual effects, from a fast-flying magic school bus, to a girl who can manipulate plants as she pleases are no less appealing than the visuals of a movie such as X-Men.
All in all, Sky High is a solid family comedy. It’s not any more a kids’ movie as is Shrek, and it’s a good time at the movies regardless. Sky High recieves 7/10 stars.
