Film Review: Sky High (2005)

Even in time when Disney was still primarily associated with family entertainment, it used to make superhero films. One of the most notable works from that period is Sky High, the 2005 science fiction comedy directed by Mike Mitchell.

The plot is set in the fictional city of Maxville, where protagonist Will Stronghold (played by Michael Angarano) lives with his superhero parents – Steve Stronghold a.k.a. Commander (played by Kurt Russell) and Josie DeMarco Stronghold a.k.a. Jetstream (played by Kelly Preston). They are proud over Will becoming a freshman at their alma mater, Sky High, a special secret school for superheroes on a floating campus. Will is, however, anxious because, although he is expected to, he hasn't inherited his parents' superpowers. When this is revealed, school authorities relegate him to the "Hero Support" curriculum, which he would have to attend with other "Sidekicks." Will falls in love with senior student Gwendolyn "Gwen" Grayson (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a former "Sidekick," and must navigate the complexities of high school life while dealing with his own insecurities about his lack of powers. He would also have to contend with Warren Peace (played by Steven Strait), a pyrokinetic student who is the son of a supervillain defeated by Will's parents. Additionally, Will must confront Layla Williams (played by Danielle Panabaker), his next-door neighbor and childhood friend, who has always been attracted to him.

Before audiences became saturated with superhero films, the idea of spoofing the genre by having superheroes as teenagers attending high school looked refreshing. Although some critics recognized the influence of The Incredibles and Harry Potter films, Sky High was actually one of the rare truly original superhero films. The script has, in a very intelligent way, parodied both the superhero genre and teen comedies, with the latter being achieved through a number of really effective jokes and some clever plot twists. What is even more important, with a family-friendly PG rating, Sky High doesn't resort to violence or toilet humor in order to compensate for eventual insufficiencies of the script.

Mitchell, helped by a relatively large budget that allowed for CGI and some impressive special effects, directed the film well, maintaining the quick pace and allowing for a relatively short running time. The only issue is the use of so-called Dutch angles that often looks a little bit too "artsy" and pretentious for this sort of film.

The cast is very good, including relatively unknown Michael Angarano as the somewhat nerdy protagonist, as well as Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who obviously enjoys her rather complex and unusual role. Former Disney child star Kurt Russell also appears to enjoy playing the protagonist's father, and the same can be said of Kelly Preston, former star of 1980s teen comedies. Lynda Carter, known for playing Wonder Woman in the iconic 1970s TV series, plays the school principal, while legendary Bruce Campbell appears in the role of gym teacher. Some of the casting choices are clear references to older films, comic books, and TV shows, but they will be incomprehensible to the youngest among the audience.

Sky High is a good but not ground-breaking piece of family entertainment. It had success at the box office, but it wasn't spectacular enough to make Disney produce a sequel or reboots. Which, in the long run, might be a good thing. As a simple standalone film, it can be judged on its own merit, and as such, the verdict remains positive.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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