Superhero films and shows have been everywhere for years, to the point that it almost takes more effort to avoid them. And, with the widespread popularity of the MCU, the recentsuccess ofDeadpool & Wolverine,and the impending release ofSupermanthat will launch a new interconnected franchise,superheroes show no signs of fading. Alongside the genre’s rapid growth, parodies have become mainstream. Just look atThe Boysand the growing universe it represents. Yet heroes, and more to the point, spoofs on heroes, are not a new thing. Long before the superhero genre hit peak popularity, Disney released a parody in the form ofSky High.
The story of a high school for superpowered people was far ahead of its time, released in 2005, when the concept holds much more weight 20 years later. It takes a lighthearted and playful look at superhero society with a comic-book-like tone and original characters that play on both superheroes and high-school stereotypes. With so many years after its release,Sky Highshould have received a sequel, but it never did, despite a world that offers no shortage of opportunities. Even without a sequel,Sky Highdeserves much more recognition than it receives.
What is So Special About ‘Sky High’?
Sky Highintroduces a world with a superhero society, with Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston) serving as famous heroes and also real estate agents. However, the story is much more about their son, Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano), a high school freshman who, despite having the two most famous superheroes for parents, has no powers. Despite his efforts to hide this, he is placed on the “sidekick” track of the school, which is a disappointment, but he makes several friends with underwhelming abilities. These include Zach (Nicholas Braun), who can glow, Magenta (Kelly Vitz), who shapeshifts, but only into a guinea pig, and Ethan (Dee Jay Daniels) who melts into a puddle. Eventually, Will develops powers, gaining him instant popularity as his classes are changed to be with the more promising students. Of course, it moves away from thehigh school dramawhen a supervillain uses the school dance to turn everyone into babies, butthat’s just part of the film’s ridiculous charm.
What makesSky Highso unique is that itnever takes itself too seriously,including ridiculous powers that serve as an issue of high school popularity, and even having fourth-wall-breaking cameos (after all,Lynda Carter’s Principal Powers is “not Wonder Woman”…right?).Sky Highis a perfect parody. Not only does it use elements of specific characters, like making the Commander a clear Superman-type hero, but it also turns staples of the genre into jokes. Mr. Boy (Dave Foley), the aging sidekick, excitedly teaches a new generation of kids how to assist heroes, glossing over the flaws in logic that come with being a sidekick. Will’s lack of powers allowsSky Highto make jokes about how comic book heroes get their abilities. The film even plays with the concept of nemeses with Warren Peace (Steven Strait), the son of a villain defeated by the Commander and Jetstream, who turns out to be a pretty great guy. These jokes are clear and relevant even for people who are unfamiliar with specific heroes.Sky High’s unrepentant humor sets it apart, making it amovie enjoyable for people of all ages.
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‘Sky High’ Still Deserves a Sequel
While sequels seem par for the course these days,Sky Highnever received one, but it should have.The concept of a follow-up filmin a university setting,supposedly calledSave U, was discussed but ultimately never happened. This would have taken the characters to a superhero university, not unlikeThe Boys' spinoffGen V. Even outside of that, the world ofSky Highcould still offer many new ideaswith an entire superhero society that fills a school and active heroes regularly saving the world.
The fact thataSky Highspin-offhas not happened doesn’t mean it never could.DirectorMike Mitchellanswered the questionby saying he was ready to return if Disney wanted to make a sequel. Twenty years later,the idea of moreSky Highcould be even better. Considering the mass growth in the superhero genre, there would be a wider appeal and more recognizable stories for the film to base jokes on. Even some cast members have since played drastically different superhero characters that would lend themselves toSky High’s self-aware humor, likeDanielle Panabaker, who spent several years in CW’sThe Flash, andMary Elizabeth Winstead, who played Huntress in DC’sBirds of Prey. WhileThe Boysand its expanding world has a corner on superhero parodies,Sky Highis different. Its lighthearted, family-friendly tone is entirely unlikeThe Boys,and with a classic comic-book feel,Sky Highstill holds so much potential.
