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I saw the advance screening of this movie last night and I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised! I went into this movie expecting a cheesy kiddy movie and ended up spending the next hour and a half being seriously entertained. The story is about a group of freshmen in their first few months at a super hero high school named "Sky High." There are all the familiar struggles of high school, such as fitting in, finding a date, and choosing between the friends you have known and loved your whole life and the new popular crowd. These high school newbies have the additional dilemma of learning to use their powers and live up to the reputations that their parents have established as super heroes. The movie is sweet without sending the viewers into a diabetic coma, and has a great message. The theater I was in was also full of little ones, who I never heard a peep out of! The movie is a great treat for the entire family and will make a great break from the heat or a rainy day activity!

This movie is fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's funny. I really don't know why there's such a low score for this one.

This has the makings of a completely unoriginal hour and a half: super-hero's, high school, special effects. Much to my surprise, it's funny, well acted, and original. Apparently, this movie was in production before the Incredibles was released. It's not a result of the success.

As someone who grew up during the Love Bug, Benji era of Disney live action kids movies, it's a nice change of pace.

It was well worth the time and $. A family movie without a lot of violence, language, or sexual "near misses".

Who'd a thunk it!

Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) is a regular teen except his parents are two of the greatest superheroes around; Steve Stronghold / The Commander (Kurt Russell) and Josie Stronghold / Jetstream (Kelly Preston). Along with kids of other superheroes, he starts Sky High except he doesn't seem to have a superpower. He's relegated to study being the sidekick with his lifelong friend Layla (Danielle Panabaker). He is embarrassed at his lack of power and sheepishly lies to his parents who have great expectations. Gwen Grayson (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is the popular girl on campus. Student Warren Peace (Steven Strait) is angry with Will for The Commander putting Warren's father in prison.

This is a harmless little family movie. It could have been edgier. There are a lot of high school drama being played out but the movie never really pushes it. It's strictly a Disney teen movie or a simplified John Hughes movie. With the cartoon color style, this is more silly than compelling. Although it's not silly enough to be actually funny. Angarano is fine but he doesn't really stand out. For the lead, he needs to be much more charismatic. The character can be nerdy but he needs to be a charismatic nerd. Panabaker is adorable enough for the puppy love story. Generally this is like a well-made movie on one of the those kids TV channels.

Sky High marks the return of Kurt Russell to the Disney Studios after over two decades. Back in the Seventies before we had Cable and Disney channel on same, Kurt Russell would have been the hero of just such a film. As it is Russell and Kelly Preston play a pair of superhero parents to Michael Angaramo.

And Angaramo is just a normal kid apparently, his superpowers just haven't kicked in yet. But kids like him if they turn into superheroes aren't just born that way. The powers are there, but they have to be taught their use and that's why Angaramo is ticketed for Sky High.

Superheroes to be go to this school up in the sky which apparently has avoided all radar and satellite detection, but given who goes there and runs it, that's understandable. But the kids go through the normal high school experience as filtered through the world of the Magic Kingdom. Teen age budding superheroes of both sexes have all the normal angst issues the rest of them do.

Angaramo has two girls after him, girl next door Danielle Panabaker and teaching assistant Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Since his powers don't kick in initially, Angaramo is assigned to the sidekicks class, but he actually bonds with them.

Sky High is a typical Disney film with overtones of Grease and Harry Potter combined. Such seasoned players as Lynda Carter as the Principal, Bruce Campbell as the coach, and Cloris Leachman as the school nurse seem to be having a good time with their parts as well as Russell and Preston.

I did like young Steven Strait as the brooding Brando/Dean like teen who is understudying Johnny Storm the Human Torch. That young man was really having some issues in the film.

For those who can't make Rydell High or Hogwarts, Sky High will give you the best of both those worlds.