In terms of premise, Sky High is Harry Potter with superheroes, but as a comedy and therefore more like a colorful Mystery Men, and with a stronger thematic grounding in what it was like to be in high school, how cliques form, and so on. Harry Potter's failure to examine the classism of the sorting hat is here THE theme. Do we have to be divided into heroes and sidekicks? And if we do, why does that tribalize us necessarily? And even so, it's just a bit of fun, with silly superpowers triumphing over more standard "hero" fare. I can't possibly dislike a goofy movie that stars so many cool actors - my main dude Kurt Russell, the iconic Bruce Campbell, Wonder Woman herself Lynda Carter, a couple of Kids on the Hall, Jim Rash, and wow, super young Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Flash's Danielle Panabaker, who would both go on to play comic book characters. Only the lead, Michael Angarano, is a bit whatever.
I remember thinking this was just going to be a cheap Harry Potter knock off but American and with superheroes.
But in fact, it was more like a normal high school drama, just one where everyone has superpowers, and as that, it's pretty good. There is some really nice world-building here around the idea which becomes more and more interesting as the film progresses.
I don't know if the story really needed a surprise villain, AS WELL AS a character we're supposed to think, is the villain. The film also has a few too many twists,
Will actually does have powers, the love interest isn't actually that nice, the love interest is the villain, Layla is in love with Will, Will has EVEN MORE powers and the villain IS her mother.
I actually like they didn't wait till the climax for the reveal what we were all waiting for
Will actually does have powers
, but then they still do that anyway
because he has even more powers!
, which just makes it look like they wanted it both ways.
But it's a very enjoyable story overall with a smart and likeable main character, which is rare for high school stories.
The biggest gripe I have is a major spoiler.
If I had written this script I might have been tempted to cut the character of Layla completely. I mean when you have an obvious REAL love interest right by the main character's side the whole film, it makes it kind of obvious that something is not right about the character we are being led to believe is the love interest.
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Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Maxxxers
I love this movie. For no reason at all.Siskoid
In terms of premise, Sky High is Harry Potter with superheroes, but as a comedy and therefore more like a colorful Mystery Men, and with a stronger thematic grounding in what it was like to be in high school, how cliques form, and so on. Harry Potter's failure to examine the classism of the sorting hat is here THE theme. Do we have to be divided into heroes and sidekicks? And if we do, why does that tribalize us necessarily? And even so, it's just a bit of fun, with silly superpowers triumphing over more standard "hero" fare. I can't possibly dislike a goofy movie that stars so many cool actors - my main dude Kurt Russell, the iconic Bruce Campbell, Wonder Woman herself Lynda Carter, a couple of Kids on the Hall, Jim Rash, and wow, super young Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Flash's Danielle Panabaker, who would both go on to play comic book characters. Only the lead, Michael Angarano, is a bit whatever.buc86
I remember thinking this was just going to be a cheap Harry Potter knock off but American and with superheroes.But in fact, it was more like a normal high school drama, just one where everyone has superpowers, and as that, it's pretty good. There is some really nice world-building here around the idea which becomes more and more interesting as the film progresses.
I don't know if the story really needed a surprise villain, AS WELL AS a character we're supposed to think, is the villain. The film also has a few too many twists,
I actually like they didn't wait till the climax for the reveal what we were all waiting for
But it's a very enjoyable story overall with a smart and likeable main character, which is rare for high school stories.
The biggest gripe I have is a major spoiler.
neonlampaa
Saw it for the first time when I was thirteen. Of course I loved it.patato
harry potter superhero