Sky High ***1/2
Cast: Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Steven Strait, Dee Jay Daniels, Nicholas Braun, Kelly Vitz, Bruce Campbell, Lynda Carter
Director: Mike Mitchell
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG

Will Stronghold (Angarano) is not a normal 14-year old. His parents are the two most known superheros in the world, Commander (Russell) and Jetstream (Preston). Will is starting high school at Sky High, his parents' alma mater. Sky High is a high school for kids with super powers. And there lies the problem -- Will has no super powers. He has been waiting for them to appear, as some show up late, but to no avail. At school, Will and his best friend Layla (Panabaker) get placed in the "Sidekicks" class.

Will is afraid of what his parents will think, knowing that they expect great things from him. So, he tries to delay telling them for as long as he can. Another problem is that the girl of his dreams, Gwen (Winstead), is out of reach in the superheros class. Soon, things start to change for Will, and he finds himself in a position where hi must step up and save the day.

"Sky High" works surprisingly well. As a superhero movie, it gives the audience plenty of superpowers to take in. They are all done with solid special effects. When the effects are less than stellar, it suits the situation and does not work against the movie. As a high school movie, "Sky High" is right on the money as Will experiences the different cliques (heros & sidekicks) and gives us a glimpse into each. Resemblences to the real world are scary.

The young actors, all virtual unknowns, are all up to the task. They all breathe life into their characters and make them real. Russell, Preston, and Campbell all give good performances that call for a little over the top acting. "Sky High" is a pleasant surprise as the summer movie season begins to wind down. It is a movie that can be enjoyed by everyone, and I highly recommend it, especially for those with kids.