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I got to go see Sky High at a free preview last night. When I saw the commercials, I wrote this movie off immediately. It looked like a strictly-for-kids, stupid-but-cute, teeny-bopper funfest. Blech!

I was pleasantly surprised! I love going into a movie like this with low expectations and being proved wrong. I am a hardcore comics fan ("weenie" I believe the earlier reviewer said) and I still found a lot to like here.

The movie has a better take on what a superhero world would actually be like than many "serious" movies. It was almost like a kids version of the "Astro City" comic book.

The jokes really made Sky High for me! I wont spoil any for you but I will point out that the cast included Bruce Campbell, Kevin McDonnell, Dave Foley and Lynda Carter!

If you're a comics fan, go see it! If you've got kids and want to have a fun evening, go see it!

I am kinda hoping that this becomes Disney's next live-action series.

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.

I remember the days when I was a kid and loved Disney comedies. Son of Flubber, The Shaggy Dog, etc. Then there was the classic period after I got a little older with Kurt Russell Disney movies. Well those days are back and you can even take your kids. It is PG rather than the G of the old stuff but that is only because of violence and that violence is directed mostly at property. The characters are not killed or injured. (A lot better than the Bad News Bears which the theater had warnings up about being a STRONG PG 13). Anyway Kurt Russell is so campy in this one and (what a shock) so is Bruce Campbell. The plot and theme borrow a lot from the Incredibles (which is a good thing because I liked it the best of Pixar's flicks) Also you might think Hogwarts when you see the classes except the high school floats in the sky and rather than potions and avoiding the dark forces the student learn how to be superhero sidekicks and how to build ray guns in science class. Won't go any further on that except to say that those scenes are a hoot. Anyway the good guys win, the bad guys lose, the hero is taught lessons about life and everyone gets a laugh a minute as it all comes about.

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!

Well, I must say that this movie was surprisingly good for it being a Disney Kid Movie. Now it won't win any Oscars, but it really kept up the Disney Tradition for being a clean and fun film. It was wonderful to see Kurt Russell on the screen again with Disney. The acting, again, not an Oscar performance out of anyone, was clean and sincere, very believable. The sets and special effects were, well, good. The diversity and conflict between students of the school, once again... good. There were some very witty and dry remarks about high school life as well. Good writing. I say the most surprising thing about this film was that it was just plain old fun! It had the patrons laughing as well as I. My 7 year old and my 3 year old loved it and it was still adult enough with a strong enough plot to keep the parents interested as well. All in all, it made for a fun afternoon.