Modesty aside

Review by Vives Anunciacion

Sky High
Directed by Mike Mitchell
Written by Paul Hernandez, Robert Schooley
Starring Michael Angarano, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston
G/ 100 minutes
Walt Disney Pictures
Opens August 31

You don’t need super powers to appreciate this family movie about self-discovery and self-importance. Sky High is a light-hearted high-school comedy that mixes Harry Potter with The Incredibles and X-Men with a little 80’s Pretty in Pink.

Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano from Seabiscuit and Almost Famous) is worried that he’s about to start freshman high school at Sky High. He’s not worried about school bullies. He’s not thinking about pimples. He’s worried that his super parents Steve Stronghold (Kurt Russell) a.k.a. The Commander, and Josie (Kelly Preston) a.k.a. Jetstream plus the rest of the super academy will find out that he doesn’t have super powers. At least not yet.

His high school troubles begin with Power Sorting. The school separates all freshmen into Heroes and Sidekicks (ala Harry Potter sorting hat) depending on the student’s super ability. A weak super power fates a freshman to eternal Hero Support assignment while an impressive display of powers makes brands the candidate as a Hero. Unlucky Will, who is yet to discover his super powers, is demoted as a humble sidekick. He forms a gang of other non-performing mutant freshmen together with his eco-friendly kababata Layla (Danielle Panabaker.) This version of superhero apartheid upsets Will, until he discovers his super strength.

Suddenly, Will becomes the popular guy everyone expects from the son of superheroes, and catches the eye of beauteous senior Gwen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Transferred into Hero status, Will is separated from his gang of Sidekicks. While Will is struggling with his new-found superiority, he still has to deal with everyday teenage life.

High school crushes, super-annoying bullies and peer pressure make Sky High a typical teen movie dealing with typical teenage concerns except with a superhero twist. The first thirty minutes of the movie is drowse-inducing, and only picks up when Will discovers his powers. From there it’s smooth sailing for Sky High as it manages to cruise safely on the border of camp and serious comedy while lightly tackling common teenage school issues. The 80s new wave music helps set up the teen romance theme. Costumes are geeky-perfect.

Tons of references and parodies from other superhero movies, plus a few new story elements makes this movie an easy view. Wonder Woman Lynda Carter makes a cameo as the super school’s luminous Principal Powers, while Bruce Campbell shouts around as Coach Boomer.

Disney marries the high school coming of age genre with comic book comedy to dish out a surprisingly entertaining teen movie fun enough for kids and amusing enough for the young-once.
Sky High doesn’t aim for Incredibles-high magnificence, but is conscious enough not to drown itself on too much mediocrity.

Shakespeare may have asked whether it’s better to be born great than made great (in Twelfth Night), but Sky High does say it’s better for most people to achieve it.