Sky High (2005)

3 out of 4

Starring: Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Dave Foley, Bruce Campbell, Lynda Carter

Director: Mike Mitchell

Time: 100 mins

Viewed: in home theatre

Enjoyable mix of high school comedy and superhero send-up postulates an academy in the sky where teens like Will Stronghold (Angarano), the son of superhero parents (Russell and Preston), go to develop their powers and be separated into either a hero or the dreaded sidekick. Problems ensue with romantic entanglements and a potential arch enemy, but everything sorts itself out in the end (what - you didn't think it would?) Special effects aren't great (actually, the cheesiness is part of the fun), and basic story is fairly unoriginal, but knowing nods to superhero conventions and cliches keep this entertaining. One could call this Harry Potter meets X-Men meets the Incredibles.

(c) Joe Wong (16 January 2006)