CNS Movie Review: Sky High

Sky High

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Ever wonder where superheroes send their kids to school? You'll find out in "Sky High" (Disney), a fun-filled, smartly crafted comedy that ranks sky high as family-friendly entertainment.

The title refers to an elite academy for the children of superheroes which counts among its alumni the greatest costumed crimefighters of all time.

None who have walked -- or flown -- through its hallowed halls, however, are more legendary than the dynamic duo known as the Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston), aka Steve and Josie Stronghold, real estate agents extraordinaire. But to their third-generation hero son, Will (Michael Angarano), they are just Mom and Dad.

Will is entering his freshman year at Sky High, a floating campus whose secret location among the clouds is reachable only via a flying school bus (piloted by Kevin Heffernan). Classes cover how to quickly change into a cape and tights, and sporting events include a high-stakes game called "Save the Citizen."

As with mere mortals, the student body is socially divided into castes. But instead of popular kids and geeks, here there are "heroes" and second-class "sidekicks." The former can lift cars or shoot heat rays from their eyes; the latter display less spectacular abilities such as glowing in the dark or turning into a hamster. Each student's fate is decided during an orientation audition known as power placement (one of the film's funniest sequences).

As if surviving high school isn't tough enough, Will has the added pressure of living up to the Stronghold family name.

Making matters worse, he is a "late bloomer" and hasn't yet exhibited any superpowers, neither Dad's Herculean strength nor Mom's turbo speed. And though he's kept that rather embarrassing fact hidden so far -- even from his folks -- he is outed on the first day of school and relegated, much to Pop's chagrin, to sidekickdom.

The sidekicks are politely referred to as "hero support," but the real support here comes from the rib-tickling performances of a faculty that includes Kevin McDonald as farcically frontal-lobed Mr. Medulla, Dave Foley as sad-sack instructor Mr. Boy, and Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, as Sky High's principal.

You don't need X-ray vision to see that by the end Will and his band of nerdy sidekicks will prove their true heroic mettle.

But the movie isn't really about fighting super-villains (though they do). It is about something much more perilous -- puberty -- a time when saving the world pales in comparison to fitting in or finding a prom date.

With a 1980s' soundtrack, "Sky High" feels a lot like a John Hughes movie from that era (think "X-Men" meets "The Breakfast Club") and deals with similar teenage trials, including cafeteria politics, dating dilemmas and schoolyard bullies ... only here they can hurl fireballs from their fingertips!

Director Mike Mitchell strikes the perfect blend of campy humor, visual finesse and honest emotion. The movie has a goofy comic-book charm that doesn't take itself too seriously. Yet though lighthearted in tone the film explores coming-of-age themes of self-esteem, peer pressure and parental expectations, and is suitable for all but the youngest viewers.

Like "The Incredibles," at its heart "Sky High" is about family and those everyday superpowers we all possess: love and friendship.

The film contains comic-book violence and some mild rude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

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DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

END

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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