Mary as: Gwen Grayson Directed By: Mike Mitchell Screenwriter: Paul Hernandez, Robert Schooley, Mark McCorkle Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Cast: Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker Genre: Action / Thriller / Crime MPAA Rating: 'PG' for action violence and some mild language. Runtime: 100 minutes
Theatrical Release: 29th July, 2005 DVD Release: 29th November, 2005
Budget: $60,000,000 (estimate) Box Office: $81,627,454 DVD Sales: Not specified Filming Dates: October 2004
It all begins at a secret school in the clouds like none on earth: Sky High, the first and only high school for kids with super-human powers going through crime-fighting puberty. At Sky High, the student body throw flames with their footballs, study Villainy with their Chemistry and are divided into Heroes and Sidekicks instead of jocks and geeks. It's an out-of-this-world yet completely recognizable place where cool gadgetry, rampant bravery and awe-inspiring magical skills mix it up with parental battles, peer pressure and dating trouble--with explosively fun results.
This year's class features some of the best, brightest and most powerfully gifted super-teens ever assembled. And then there's Will Stronghold. When you're the son of the world's most legendary super heroes, The Commander and Jetstream, people expect you to live up to the family name. The problem is that Will is starting with no superpowers of his own and, worst of all, instead of joining the ranks of the Hero class, he finds himself relegated to being a Sidekick.
Now he must somehow survive his freshman year while dealing with an overbearing gym coach, a bully with super speed and a dangerous rebel with a grudge (and the ability to shoot fire from his hands)--not to mention the usual angst, parental expectations and girl problems that accompany teenage life. But when an evil villain threatens his family, friends and the very sanctity of Sky High, Will must use his newfound superpowers to save the day and prove himself a Hero worthy of the family tradition.
Gwen Grayson is probably the most complex character that Mary has ever played. At first sight, Gwen Grayson appears to be the sweet, charming, most gorgeous girl in school. Gwen is a senior, the student body president and Mr. Medula's teaching assistant. She's a member of the homecoming committee. Gwen is a technopath with the ability to control technology; she helped Will build a freeze ray and fixed the Stronghold's dishwasher. She first appears when the freshmen arrive at Sky High for the first time. She introduces herself as the student body president. Will, our protagonist, appears to have fallen for her as soon as she appears on camera, a crush which Layla, his best friend, disapproves of, but mostly because she has a crush on him too. Gwen and Will meet repeatedly over the course of the film, and each time, Will's infatuation grows stronger.
Throughout the film, Gwen regularly wears pink, which further demonstrates her soft-spoken and gentle nature, although she seems a bit self-centered and appearance-conscious. However, as the movie progresses, her true colors begin to show. She openly but subtly mocks Layla on her fashion sense and seduces Will into bringing her to the homecoming dance. However, a lovesick Will is too blind to see her manipulative personalty. Gwen continues to ingeniously display her true persona. She pulls Will from his "sidekick" friends any time she has the chance to, and manages to get Will to ask her to the homecoming dance, while a heartbroken Layla. She subsequently succeeds in enticing Will to throw a party at his house while his superpower parents are away.
During the party, she continues manipulating Will's mind, until he decides to bring her to the Stronghold's Secret Sanctum, where all of his parents prized possessions lay. She subsequently chases Layla away from the party, by using only her words. When a confused Will asks her why, she cites "you've got new friends now. And I think that you need to figure out whether you want hang out with us - or with those losers." However, Will finally realizes Gwen's manipulate tendencies and subsequently breaks up with her.
In the homecoming dance, Gwen reveals herself as Royal Pain, a supervillain. With the aid of most of the "Heroes" class, who turn out to be villains, and her own sidekick, Stitches, she uses The Pacifier to turn almost all of the disciplinary figures at the homecoming into babies, including the Commander, Jetstream, Principal Powers, Sonic Boom and All-American Boy. Gwen and Stitches then begin transporting the babies into a school bus, but her evil plan is thwarted by Will, who arrives after figuring two-and-two out.
Gwen's tale is then recounted: She was Sue Tenney, a member of the Science Team who is underestimated and sent off in Sidekick class. She builds The Pacifier while at school and turns into Royal Pain. However, soon, she faces off with the Commander and Jetstream, and is defeated; her own weapon backfires and turns her into a baby. Stitches then took her and raised her, and brought her to where she is now. Gwen appears to be unstable of mind, and possibly deranged. A fierce battle then erupts between Will and Gwen, but Gwen is over-powered. She, along with the rest of the villains, are caught and are now locked up in prison.
Mary Quotes
• "It was a very fun character to play on all levels. It was so much fun to play a character who is sort of a bunch of people in one. She had a few different personalities, so I had great, great fun playing her."
• "I think Mike Mitchell, the director, sort of set that tone in the beginning, that we're all just going to have fun and laugh and be ourselves throughout the entire shoot, so I think from day one we all knew it was going to be a lot of fun."
• "I think I sort of blended characteristics from various popular girls that I knew growing up, it just kind of sticks in your head the way that people act and the way they carry themselves is sort of different from some of the other people in high school."
Memorable Quotes
• Gwen: "And now, so many years later, that plan is complete. My only regret: This may be the finest super-villian speech ever given - and you don't even know what I'm saying!"
• (the villains are captured)
Principal Powers: "What a waste. I can't do anything more to help you. I'm not Wonder Woman, you know." (walks out of the detention room
Gwen: "I went through puberty twice - for this?"
• Will Stronghold: (bumps into Gwen) "Oh! Uh - I'm... "
Gwen: "Will Stronghold!"
Will Stronghold: "Aha, Mind Reader!"
Gwen: "No, name tag."
• Gwen: "Well you've got new friends now. And I think that you need to figure out whether you hang out with us - or with those losers. Come on, let's go."
Will Stronghold: "No, forget it! I'm not going anywhere with you. Not now, and not to homecoming. Might as well just find yourself a new date, Gwen."
Gwen: "You're dumping me? Whoa whoa, let's just get something straight, okay? You do not dump me! Not the night before the dance!"
Will Stronghold: "Sorry Gwen, I just did! You're dumped!"
• Gwen: "I'm a technopath. I can control technology with my mind. "
Will Stronghold: "Wow. All I can do is... punch stuff."
Mr. Medulla: (passing them) "Yet he'll be the one on cereal boxes. Show me the justice in that."
Facts & Trivia
• According to actors who auditioned for various roles in the production, the main children's parts are to be contracted for not only a sequel but also a possible television series on the cable Disney Channel.
Trailer Preview
Our Reviews
Sky High brings a kid's film and adult humor together exceptionally well as we learn about the fortunes and mis-fortunes of being superheroes. It is a feel good movie with many laughs and smiles throughout. Acting is just like you would expect from any young actors starting out, but Mary does delight as Gwen Grayson. Kurt and Kelly have got some great chemistry as the world's biggest superhero team and this is what makes it throughly enjoyable. The finale is, great and daft as it should be and the film is a pure smile throughout.
- Ally
Set in a world where superheroes are commonly known and admirably accepted, Sky High finds the right balance between a kiddie flick and adult fun. The film basks in the joy and exuberance that it displays, and it's a pleasure to watch. The teen acting is satisfactory, which is pretty impressive here as most of them has only just started in showbiz, but its the adults who leave the most obvious impression. The plot is, surprisingly, adequate and decent. A little less sap might not hurt, but that said, this film is definitely not bad.
- Fitri
Critic Excerpts
RT Critics: 72%, based on 119 reviews RT Top Critics: 69%, based on 26 reviews RT Community: 69%, based on 384 reviews
IMDb: 6.7, based on 14765 votes Metacritic: 62%, based on 29 reviews MEW Staff: 7.5, based on 2 reviews
"Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays Will's love interest Gwen, gives a first-class performance as the most popular--and most hated--girl in school."
- (Read Full Review: Hollywood)
"Angarano, Panabaker, Winstead and Strait all register strongly, but it's the veterans who make the strongest impression here."
- (Read Full Review: Film Journal)
"Smartly written and sprightly played, Sky High satisfies with a clever commingling of spoofy superheroics, school-daze hijinks, and family friendly coming-of-age dramedy."
- (Read Full Review: Variety)
"The script crackles with funny, quotable dialogue and the plot has a lot of fun with the usual teen movie staples."
- (Read Full Review: View London)
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