First let me start by saying this: Don't expect TOO much, this movie delivers what it promises in the trailers...no more, no less! It's a lot like a kiddie version of Spider Man 1, which I criticized for being too "cutsie" when it should have been more serious. The producers must have read my mind and made their masterpiece, Spider Man 2, the best superhero movie I've seen since Superman 2, and I think it surpassed even THAT! Darn tangents, OK back to Sky High...
Here's why this movie works so well...it spoofs the powers of many comic book superheroes perfectly! Instead of one hero *cough* superman *cough* with several powers, you have them split up between several different people. Most obviously between the Commander and Jetstream: she flies and he has super strength, so they always work together. Then you have people who have freeze powers, heat ray powers, transformations/shape shifting, speed, elasticity, etc. BUT what I like is, not all of their powers are equally "super," so they have a teacher who splits those with impressive categories into the "hero" category, and those with unimpressive powers into the "sidekick" category (or "Hero Support" in the politically correct sense :) ).
The heroes are then trained to save citizens and fight supervillans, while (and I find this part genius) the sidekicks learn how to use devices, scream warnings to their heroes, and deliver humorous quips at key moments.
There is very little real violence, most of it is extremely cartoony and humorous, so I would have NO reservation letting children as young as 7 see this film! There is only ONE case in which a foul term is used, but it's not a bad one and it should fly right over the heads of most kids. (It's "bite me") This movie didn't try to be more than it is or it would have been awful, but as it is, it's a perfect family superhero adventure that adults should be able to enjoy along with their kids! It won't win any Oscars but you'll feel you've gotten your money's worth.
Here's why this movie works so well...it spoofs the powers of many comic book superheroes perfectly! Instead of one hero *cough* superman *cough* with several powers, you have them split up between several different people. Most obviously between the Commander and Jetstream: she flies and he has super strength, so they always work together. Then you have people who have freeze powers, heat ray powers, transformations/shape shifting, speed, elasticity, etc. BUT what I like is, not all of their powers are equally "super," so they have a teacher who splits those with impressive categories into the "hero" category, and those with unimpressive powers into the "sidekick" category (or "Hero Support" in the politically correct sense :) ).
The heroes are then trained to save citizens and fight supervillans, while (and I find this part genius) the sidekicks learn how to use devices, scream warnings to their heroes, and deliver humorous quips at key moments.
There is very little real violence, most of it is extremely cartoony and humorous, so I would have NO reservation letting children as young as 7 see this film! There is only ONE case in which a foul term is used, but it's not a bad one and it should fly right over the heads of most kids. (It's "bite me") This movie didn't try to be more than it is or it would have been awful, but as it is, it's a perfect family superhero adventure that adults should be able to enjoy along with their kids! It won't win any Oscars but you'll feel you've gotten your money's worth.