Even super heroes get homework, acne, and
the occasional wedgie. Such is the premise behind Disney's latest
live-action flick, Sky High.The premise is simple: superheroes
in high school. It contains all the issues you might expect it to
contain; trouble with peers, dating, fitting in, and dealing with the
demands of parents. But -- they all have super powers! It's
a cute concept. Perhaps it falls a bit flat because of the recent
release of The Invincibles, also by Disney. Some of the
same issues were touched on, looking at the private lives of super
heroes.
The film stars a bunch of kid actors, most relatively (to completely)
unknown. The lead, Michael Angarano, does a capable job. The
standout is Danielle Panabaker, but none in the cast are particularly
noteworthy in terms of "goodness" or "badness". The noteworthy
actors would be Kelly Preston and longtime Disney star Kurt Russell.
Kelly Preston has perhaps one of the least mentionable roles of all time
-- it would be very easy to forget she was even in the film...her only
lines are absolutely typical mom lines, and she only gets a couple of
them. Kurt Russell is okay as a stereotypical superhero, although
he doesn't do much with it. It's a bit hammy (presumably because
it's supposed to be hammy -- he's a superhero) and there's not much
going on there.
The film does have a number of other actors you might recognize,
especially if you're a "Kids in the Hall" fan. Some of the other
cameos won't be ruined in this review...although none of them are
particularly great, and a couple are kind of a let down. Also, if
you're going to have a "surprise cameo" in a movie, don't list that
performer in big bold letters during the opening credits.
The biggest problem with Sky High is an almost complete lack
of creativity. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone with truly
creative super powers, and every beat in the story is predictable.
The effects have all been seen and done before, although interestingly
the rubber man in this film seemed much more convincing than Reed
Richards in The Fantastic Four.
That being said, it's still not a bad film. Keep in mind that
although the film seems to deal with teenage issues, it's clearly a
kid's film. Kid's seem to enjoy it, but it's hard to imagine a
teenager relating to or enjoying this film very much. It makes
everything seem so trite. And it is.
It seems best suited for 7-10 year olds. It's mildly cute, but
nothing special.
The film is directed by Mike Mitchell, who directed Deuce Bigalow:
Male Gigalo and the awful Ben Stiller vehicle Surviving Christmas.
This isn't as bad as Surviving Christmas but it isn't as funny as
Deuce Bigalow. That should be all you need to know.
Expectation from the Title: When a USAir pilot snorts coke off
of a stewardess, disaster is on he horizon!
Mother's Rule (Always Say Something Good About Everything):
Padded tights are quite flattering on Kurt Russell.
The Pros: Everything about it is okay...nothing surprising or
new, but it's not bad. Acting not bad. Effects not bad.
The Cons: Everything about it is okay...nothing surprising or
new, but it's not good.
Kurt Russel, Sky
Highschool, right here.