ViewGuide

Created Aug 11, 2017 10:22PM PST • Edited Jan 05, 2019 08:59PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   Sharp satire, winning performances and terrific visuals make Sky High a treat for we grownups, and high schoolers too. Turns out this treat doesn’t get stale, as revisiting it a dozen years after its premiere proved.

   First of all, Sky High is a Kurt Russell movie. Disney’s greatest male lead is perfectly cast as a suburban dad who happens to be the world’s greatest superhero. That’s funny right there. Paired with Kelly Preston as Jessie Jetstream, the casting could hardly be more winning. That said, the only new star to emerge from the mostly young cast was Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who is super-sweet before becoming a royal pain.

   This clever comedy is fun and funny throughout, albeit not chock full of LOLs. But there are some.

   Homecoming Queen’s Father: “You’re not the boy with the six arms, are you?”
   Freshman Super Boy: “No, sir, just two.”
   Queen’s Father: “Good, then keep them to yourself.”

   Freshman Super Boy: “Mom, Dad, I’m really sorry because this whole thing was my fault.”
   Mom: “You can’t blame yourself son.”
   Dad: “Of course not, how could you know your girlfriend was a complete and total psychopath.”

   Sky High’s reputation is held down ‘cause it’s a Disney family flick. So was The Incredibles from Pixar! OK, Pixar’s brilliant creation is still the most super of superhero comedies, yet Sky High holds its own.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Kurt Russell & Kelly Preston are a double-treat as The Commander & Josie Jetstream, aka Steve Stronghold & Josie Stronghold: spouses, parents, real estate partners, and fellow superheroes. That’s a lot to work with. Kurt Russell, the quintessential Disney hero, nails it. Kelly Preston is a – yes – superMILF.

   Michael Angarano disappoints as their son. Never mind that the part could be titled Disappointing Son.

   Mary Elizabeth Winstead lights up the movie as his girlfriend, Gwen Grayson / Royal Pain. Winstead would go on to also light up Scott Pilgrim vs. the World five years later as a non-malicious man-eater.

   Strong Supporting Cast

   • Danielle Panabaker dazzled as the girl next door, who also happens to have a superpower.
   • Kelly Vitz popped off screen as a goth girl, supercute plus she’s got a superpower.
   • Lynda Carter also popped offscreen as a super PILF. That’s P for Principal.
   • Steven Strait jumped off screen as the darkly mysterious Warren Peace, who can hurl fireballs.
   • Kevin Heffernan is more strident that stimulating as Bus Driver of a super-bus.
   • Bruce Campbell annoys more than entertains as Coach Boomer.
   • Jake Sandvig & Will Harris as the class assholes, with superpowers.
   • Cloris Leachman camps it up as Nurse Spex, going strong.
   • Jim Rash plays ridiculous well as Stitches.
   • Dave Foley is a hoot as All American Boy.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Perfect 5.0

7. Female Costars Perfect 5.0

8. Male Costars Perfect 5.0

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    Terrific production values are evident in this big-bucks Disney production, from Buena Vista Pictures.

    28 stunt players are well used.

11. Direction Really Great 4.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Really Great 4.5

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.8

    PG-13 Risqué

17. Sex Titillating 1.9

18. Violence Fierce 2.1

19. Rudeness Polite 1.5

21. Reality

    Supernatural 3.8

    Supernatural Superheroes

22. Circumstantial Surreal 3.0

23. Biological Fantasy 4.2

24. Physical Fantasy 4.2