[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sky_high.jpg]]
->''"The kids who [[{{Franchise/Spider-Man}} get bit by radioactive insects]] or [[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker fall into a vat of toxic waste]], their powers usually show up the next day. Or - [[RealityEnsues they die]]."''
-->-- '''Nurse Spex'''

A 2005 live-action Disney flick jumping on both the {{Superhero}} and ''Literature/HarryPotter'' [[FollowTheLeader bandwagons]]. Revolves around a kid named Will Stronghold, who is the son of the world's two most famous superheroes and is about to start high school at their alma mater: the titular Sky High, a school exclusively for people with superpowers. Between dealing with GirlNextDoor Layla ([[GreenThumb plant controller]]), son-of-archnemesis JerkWithAHeartOfGold Warren Peace ([[PlayingWithFire fireball thrower]]) and the typical cliques of high school (being either a hero or [[strike:a {{sidekick}}]] "Hero Support"), Will must also face the embarrassing fact that, despite his pedigree, he does not seem to ''have'' any superpowers. At least not yet...

From the creators of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', about... well, you just read it. The high school and SuperHero tropes blend well enough (especially when PlayedForLaughs), it's almost a shame nobody thought of it sooner, unless they did and it [[DevelopmentHell just didn't get made until recently]] (*cough*[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_High Hero High]]*cough*). Featured a surprising amount of high-level names, including Michael Angarano as Will Stronghold, KurtRussell as The Commander, Lynda "Wonder Woman" Carter as the principal, Creator/BruceCampbell as Coach Boomer, and MaryElizabethWinstead as Gwen Grayson.

Not to be confused with the [[Manga/{{Skyhigh}} incredibly obscure seinen manga by Takahashi Tsutomu]]. Compare ''PS238''.

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!!This film provides examples of:

* AcademyOfEvil: [[spoiler: What Royal Pain plans to turn Sky High into, raising the now infant students and faculty as a generation of supervillains.]]
* TheAce: The Commander/Steve Stronghold, much to the annoyance of his son.
* {{Acrofatic}}: Speed, one of the supervillian/bullies, was a Flash-like speedster in spite of being overweight.
* ActorAllusion: After they resisted it the entire film, the Principal's last line is, "[[spoiler:I'm not Franchise/WonderWoman, you know.]]" She's played by Lynda Carter. Also doubles as a CastingGag.
** [[Creator/BruceCampbell Bruce Campbell's]] character has a thing for the word "boom". It was rather disappointing to learn that he didn't have a [[Franchise/EvilDead boomstick]].
* AdultsAreUseless: The Commander and Jetstream are the only competent heroes shown in work, [[spoiler: but are taken down in seconds by the villain in the final.]] Anything worthwhile is done by adolescents. Even the villains are all young. [[FountainOfYouth Sort of]]. (Except [[spoiler:Stitches, but he's basically controlled by Royal Pain anyway.]])
* AffectionateParody: The film is fond of pointing out the more ridiculous tropes in both the superhero and high school drama genres, which it typically accomplishes by using them straight but to an [[ExaggeratedTrope absurdly over-the-top]] degree. For example, the Commander has an entire drawer full of identical phones for when he [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength pushes the buttons too hard]].
* AirVentPassageway
* AllGuysWantCheerleaders: {{Averted}} with Penny.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Mr. Boy, for Jetstream. Justified in-story, in that a hero like her could never notice someone in 'Hero Support' - not with the strapping, handsome, charismatic Commander around.
* AlliterativeName: Gwen Grayson.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: In this school, you're either a hero, or a zero; "Hero Support" = {{Sidekick}} = social inferior.
* [[AlmightyJanitor Almighty Bus Driver]]
* AlphaBitch: Penny. "[[JerkAss Sorry, all full]]." [[MesACrowd She's apparently the ''entirety'' of the cheerleading squad, as well.]]
* BadassNormal: Ron Wilson, Bus Driver! [[spoiler: Until [[BadassAbnormal the credits]], at least.]]
* BattleTrophy: The Commander and Jetstream has an entire section of their base to show off stuff taken from defeated opponents.
* BatmanGambit: A minor one in the beginning of the film. Will's parents defeat a giant robot terrorizing the city and the Commander takes a part of the robot (its eye) as a trophy. [[spoiler:That robot eye is still functioning and being used by Royal Pain (who sent the robot to attack the city in the first place) to secretly spy on the heroes.]] Royal Pain knew he would do just this ("His ego's bigger than a giant robot") and the reporter says its a habit but if he didn't then plans falls flat, and that would detrail the entire EvilPlan.
* BeTheBall: One girl's superpower is to turn into a big rubber beach ball. The unimpressed Coach Boomer merely kicks her away shouting ''"SIDE-[[VisualPun KICK]]!"''.
* BerserkButton: [[spoiler:Gwen/Sue Tenny/Royal Pain hates when Stitches calls her "Daddy's little girl".]]
* BettyAndVeronica: Layla and Gwen, respectively.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Layla. She can ''weaponize plants'', people. She just doesn't, usually. Until you annoy her.
* BiggerBad: If one considers [[spoiler:Sue]] and [[spoiler:Gwen]] to be [[spoiler:separate characters]] (though for what it's worth [[spoiler:Gwen herself]] doesn't), [[spoiler:Sue]] could be seen as this. Baron Battle also sort of qualifies, as while he's not behind anything he's apparently an even worse villain than [[spoiler:Royal Pain]]... who spectacularly fails to show up in the movie.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Or in this case, [[spoiler: BigBad in sheep's clothing]].
* BlackAndNerdy: Ethan.
* BlackBestFriend: Penny to Gwen.
* BrainyBaby: [[spoiler:Professor Medulla when he's regressed to a baby. He's still capable of talking and retains much of his knowledge.]]
* BrickJoke: Early on in the movie, it's mentioned that the only way for kids of superheroes that don't get powers is to fall in a vat of toxic waste. This is mentioned again later. [[spoiler:At the end of the movie, Ron Wilson, Bus Driver falls in to a vat of toxic waste and does, in fact get super powers. See WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue below.]]
* TheCallPutMeOnHold: Will. [[spoiler: At least until his powers activate.]]
* CannotSpitItOut
* CaptainErsatz: A few, but the most obvious is Layla, being similar to {{Batman}}'s villainess [[FemmeFatale Poison Ivy]]. She's a [[HeroesWantRedheads redhead]], she [[GreenThumb controls plants]], she pretty much [[ColorMotif always wears green]], she's very [[FriendToAllLivingThings environment friendly]], etc. -- except she's a good gal.
* TheCheerleader: Penny.
* ChekhovsGun:
** More like [[spoiler:[[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Pacifier]]]] - technically, it's an actual gun ''called'' [[spoiler:the Pacifier]].
** [[spoiler:The business card of Ron Wilson, Bus Driver.]]
* ChekhovsGunman: Unless you're good at identifying C-list actors under heavy makeup hiding in the shadows, this one ''will'' get you. though maybe not so much now that he's [[spoiler:won an Academy Award, and all]].
* ChewOutFakeOut: Will trashes the school cafeteria, gets into a fight, and uses his powers when he wasn't supposed to. His dad punishes him by telling him no X-Box for a week. Will protests that he doesn't have one...at which point his dad reveals he's so proud of him for having powers that he bought him one.
* ChildhoodFriendRomance: Will and Layla.
* ClarkKenting: Parodied with Mr. and Mrs. Stronghold, who both wear thick glasses. While Mr. Stronghold accessories with vaguely 50s-style clothing, Mrs. Stronghold just dresses like a normal mom. A normal, HotLibrarian HotMom.
* ColorCodedCharacters: There's a prevalent theme in pairing up characters with complementary color themes. Specifically, Will wears almost exclusively red, white and blue, plant girl Layla wears green,and human glow stick Zach wears neon and white. Justified, in that you would want to play up your powers to impress your classmates. Besides, if your parents are superheroes with similar powers, similar colors would be included in their costumes. Because they like those colours, you would be exposed to them throughout your childhood.
* ComedicSociopathy: Boomer and Medulla partake in this on occasion.
* CoolLoser
* CorruptTheCutie: Will falls victim to this when he is sorted into the Heroes track and starts going out with Gwen.
* CoversAlwaysLie: The poster chose some... interesting positions to place the actors in relative to their characters' roles in the film. In particular, Layla is crammed into the back-right corner, and Warren is posed to look as menacing as possible.
* DaddysLittleVillain: [[spoiler:Gwen was raised by Stitches to be evil, and she [[BerserkButton absolutely hates]] whenever someone, including Stitches himself, points this out. Also a rare instance of the "little villain" rather than the "daddy" being the dominant partner]].
** She was already evil to begin with.
* DatingCatwoman: Warren was the result of superhero and supervillain parents who ''continue to battle each other''.
* DeadpanSnarker: Magenta. She even dryly sings the aforementioned "Rudolph the Red Noise Reindeer" line to tease Zack. And Warren Peace.
* DerailingLoveInterests: It seems to happen with Gwen late into the film [[spoiler: but it's averted when we find out it's actually her [[BitchInSheepsClothing facade]] slipping and her revealing her [[BigBad true character.]]]]
* DesignatedGirlFight: Layla vs Penny.
* DiabolicalMastermind
* DieOrFly
* DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength: The Commander. [[spoiler:And Will, after he gets his powers.]]
* DragonTheirFeet: Kindasorta. Stitches is the last villain standing by the end, and attempts to get away with the [[spoiler:age-regressed superheroes]], but is almost immediately taken down by [[spoiler:none other than Ron Wilson, Bus Driver]].
* TheDriver: Ron Wilson, Bus Driver.
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: The Secret Sanctum.
* ElaborateUniversityHigh
* EleventhHourSuperpower: When Will [[spoiler:gains the ability to fly, after being thrown out a window]] at the end of the final battle.
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Mr. Medulla [[spoiler: as a baby.]]
* EnterStageWindow
* MrFanservice: Steven Strait, a.k.a. Warren Peace, as admitted [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_High_%282005_film%29#Students here]] by the director.
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether
* EvilDetectingBaby: The [[spoiler:parents/superheroes]]-turned-infants begin to cry when being loaded into an "evil bus". [[spoiler:Will's father]] especially when being spoken to by [[spoiler: Royal Pain]].
* EvilPlan: The BigBad wants revenge, but that's actually a sidenote to their real agenda, [[spoiler: turning everyone in the school into babies and repurposing the school as a villain training center.]]
* EvilTwin: Parodied, when Coach Boomer invites Medulla on a double-date with a female hero ''and'' her evil twin. When we see the date, it's with Coach looking on in disgust as Medulla enjoys the attention of both ladies.
* FalseDichotomy: Layla, asked to demonstrate her powers, claims that the hero/sidekick dichotomy is a false one, but is cut off by Boomer declaring her a sidekick.
* FantasticRacism: A very low key one but those on "Hero Support" are often looked down upon by those deemed hero worthy. Said the least it becomes a plot point later on.
* FastballSpecial: With Will playing the part of Colossus and Hothead playing the part of Wolverine.
* FatAndSkinny: Speed, the fat guy, actually has SuperSpeed, but Lash, the skinny guy, has [[RubberMan stretching powers]].
* FireForgedFriends: [[spoiler:[[IncrediblyLamePun Especially in Warren's case]].]]
* FirstGirlWins
* FiveBadBand
** [[BigBad The Big Bad]] / EvilGenius: [[spoiler: Gwen]]/Royal Pain.
** TheDragon: [[spoiler:Penny.]]
** TheBrute: Both Lash and Speed.
** [[DarkChick The Dark Chick]]: Stiches.
** If one counts [[spoiler:Gwen and Sue as separate characters]], the algorithm may be read as:
*** [[BigBad The Big Bad]]: [[spoiler: Sue]].
*** TheDragon: Stitches.
*** The EvilGenius: [[spoiler: Gwen]]
*** TheBrute: Lash and Speed.
*** [[DarkChick The Dark Chick]]: Penny.
* FiveManBand
** TheHero: Will. He wears red, he's a FlyingBrick and the protagonist.
** TheLancer: Zack. His useless powers contrast Will's standard and easily used powers. Also, he's super confident despite them while Will was having an identity crisis.
** TheSmartGuy: Ethan, Magenta. You gotta be smart to make use of their powers.
** TheBigGuy: Warren. (tallest, biggest, and physical-based (albeit elemental) powers).
** TheChick: Layla. Not the only girl but the one who acts 'girly' and is a love interest for the hero.
* [[FlyingCar Flying Bus]]
* ForTheEvulz: [[spoiler:Penny, Speed, and Lash, apparently. Unlike Gwen and Stitches they're never given any {{Freudian Excuse}}s or likable quirks, and they seem to be fairly popular in school, which would write off being kindred spirits to Gwen as motivation]].
* FollowTheLeader: ''Zoom'' was rushed into theaters shortly after Sky High came out, and the epic failure of the ripoff is probably why more films of this subgenre are not being made.
** Ironically, Sky High is sort-of a ripoff of the old DCOM Up Up and Away itself.
* FountainOfYouth: The Pacifier.
* FreezeRay
* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler: Sue became an evil supervillian bent on [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment turning all the superheroes into infants]]]] because she was put in the Sidekicks class.
* GadgeteerGenius
* GirlPosse: Penny herself is [[SelfDuplication an entire Girl Posse]].
* {{Goth}}: Magenta, possibly a PerkyGoth
* GranolaGirl: Layla.
* HarmlessFreezing: Happens to several characters, in various ways. It is treated with levity.
* HeartIsAnAwesomePower: [[spoiler: The viewer is initially led to believe Ethan's ability to turn into a puddle is useless. Near the end of the film, however, it turns out to be absolutely perfect for ''setting up a sneak attack''. Lash never saw Ethan coming.]]
** Also note that [[spoiler:right before he takes down Lash Ethan demonstrates the ability to flow ''vertically'', something he'd never done before then]].
* HellYesMoment: [[spoiler: Layla won't use her powers except in self-defense. One of the villains, believing their side has already won and that Layla's a wimp anyway, attacks her just to be petty.]] "Big. Mistake." Also counts as a LetsGetDangerous moment.
* HeroesWantRedheads:
** Layla.
** Jetstream also has reddish hair, though she's a hero herself (and already married to one!)
* HighSchool
* HoistByHisOwnPetard[=/=]TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler:Ethan's ever-so-glorious revenge on Lash]].
* HollywoodNerd: [[spoiler: Sue Tenny/Gwen Grayson in her first childhood]].
* HookedUpAfterwards: Arguably Zach and Magenta, also Warren and Freeze Girl.
* HotDad: The Commander.
* HotMom: Jetstream.
* HybridPower: The protagonist thinks he's powerless because his abilities are rather late to bloom. Turns out he gets both his dad's brute strength and his mom's flight (at different times), making him a FlyingBrick.
* IdiotBall: A very light case, with the Commander.
* IfIDoNotReturn: Will and Ron Wilson, Bus Driver, have this exchange:
-->'''Will:''' If I'm not back in 30 minutes...\\
'''Ron:''' Come in after you!\\
'''Will:''' ...I was gonna say "get help".\\
'''Ron:''' [''crestfallen''] Get help. Right.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Ron Wilson, Bus Driver!
** Will, [[spoiler:at first]].
* ILoveNuclearPower:
** Referred to by the school nurse
-->"The kids who get bit by radioactive insects or fall into a vat of toxic waste, their powers usually show up the next day. Or - they die."
** Also by Layla and Magenta
-->"I forget. Did Tigerman get bit by a radioactive tiger, or was he bit by a regular tiger and then exposed to radiation?"
* ImpliedLoveInterest: Zach and Magenta.
* IncompletelyTrained: Well, obviously. They're all still in Superhero School.
* InWithTheInCrowd
* JerkassHasAPoint: Boomer relegating those not fortunate enough to win the SuperpowerLottery to Sidekick duty could be seen as a NecessarilyEvil, and ''why'' he's given that job. This is a school designed to create superheroes that have to go toe-to-toe with supervillains and city-wide threats: Giant robots, giant monsters, evil geniuses armed with high-tech arsenals. Are they really supposed to rank the people who can [[SuperStrength punch through walls]], [[{{Flight}} Fly]] and go at SuperSpeed with the girl who can turn into a guinea pig? They'd end up [[CurbstompBattle curbstomped]] by the first superpowered villain they fight, and most of the sidekicks would get their asses kicked by a BadassNormal. They do their part in the climax, but that's largely because they've got a FlyingBrick, a [[PlayingWithFire Pyromancer]] and a [[{{Batman}} Poison Ivy]] Expy to handle the heavy-duty heroing.
** This might also explain why the villains they are fighting are most likely also graduates of Sky High; the system is a ready-made StartOfDarkness for all but the chosen few.
** Unfortunately, in this case Boomer's "point" is somewhat undermined by his refusal to explain the potential dangers of sorting someone into the wrong section; it never occurs to him that someone not possessing this information might actually have a reason to object beyond being a "whiner-baby", to use Boomer's term. Also, Will's father the Commander seems to think Boomer deliberately washes some real heroes' kids out as a form of petty revenge for not making the "big time" (i.e. not having advanced beyond "gym teacher"); Will had to explain that in Will's case he really ''didn't'' have powers. [[spoiler: At least at that time.]]
** Boomer's point is also shot apart by Jetstream - who is specifically mentioned as both able to fly '''and''' an expert martial artist. If ''Sky High'' trains the high-level heroes in martial arts, why not the lesser-powered heroes who could actually use those fighting skills to augment their abilities? Simple - it's simply a form of FantasticRacism within the superhuman community.
** Plus you got the two, Lash and Speed, who more then likely were trained by him (They're star players in the "Save The Civilian" exercise) which he no doubt drilled into their heads about "Hero Support" being a coach and all. [[spoiler: Is it any surprise they turned out to be supervillains?]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Warren Peace
* KarmaHoudini[=/=]IdiotHoudini: Very, ''very'' minor example, but Steve and Josie are actually the ones largely responsible for Will missing his appointment with Layla, yet they are never called out on this and Layla, and apparently the writers as well, place all the blame on Will.
** Not quite. While they were pretty jazzed about having their son bring home a cute girl, Will was the one who jumped at the chance to spend more time with her rather than remembering that he already had plans with his best friend. So while not ''all'' the blame can be placed on him, a fairly large amount still applies.
* LargeHamTitle: Less pronounced than most, Ron Wilson, Bus Driver!
* LastMinuteHookup: Will and Layla
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Layla claims this of Will. [[spoiler:She's lying]].
* LimitedWardrobe: Played with -- each student's clothing varies day to day but with the same colors and design, hinting toward their emerging SuperHero personas.
* MadeOfIron:
** The instructors state that Will has no powers...after he has already taken several hospitalizations worth of punishment during tryouts with no injury. So being Made of Iron is pretty much expected.
** Warren gets thrown face first into a concrete overhang, falls, and hits a table hard enough to splinter it to pieces, is thrown ''through'' a wall into a pillar hard enough to ''nearly break it in half'' and then gets up, looking not the worse for wear, except for the debris all over him, and ''goes back for more''. Surely, that boy is made of stronger stuff. Being MadeOfIron is possibly a secondary power of his.
-->'''Warren''': ''(angrily; to Will)'' You think I can't take a hit?
** Nurse Spex mentions getting kicked through a wall by Will's dad. Make of this what you will.
* MadScientist: The school has a Mad Science ''class''.
* [[spoiler: MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter: Seems to be hinted at with Gwen, until we learn ''she's'' actually the Mad Scientist herself. She's still a [[LargeHam Hammy]] [[VillainousHarlequin Evil Clown's]] Beautiful Adoptive Daughter, if that counts]].
* ManipulativeBastard: [[spoiler: [=Gwen/Royal Pain=].]]
* MeaningfulName: Warren Peace, the son of a hero and a villain. [[IncrediblyLamePun It's like War and Peace]], [[DontExplainTheJoke GET IT?]]
** Coach [[MakeMeWannaShout Boomer]]. And his superhero name used to be Sonic Boom, to boot.
*** In what is almost certainly a parody of the StevenUlyssesPerhero trope, the Commander's yearbook reveals that his real last name is ''Boomowski''.
** [[RubberMan Lash]] and [[FragileSpeedster Speed]].
** [[SuperStrength Stronghold]].
*** His first name fits, as well. Will, as in "William" but also as in "will''power''."
** Principal POWERS.
** [[TheSmartGuy Professor Medulla]].
* MissingMom: Gwen's died when she was a baby. [[spoiler: FromACertainPointOfView]].
* {{Meganekko}}: Kelly Preston looked ''damn'' good as Josie. As did [[spoiler: MaryElizabethWinstead as Sue Tenny]].
* MisfitMobilizationMoment: Happens when [[spoiler:Will, Layla, Warren, and the sidekicks fight Royal Pain's invasion during Homecoming.]]
* MoodLighting: During the fight sequences, and when [[spoiler:Sky High is falling]].
* MundaneUtility:
** Subverted when Warren offers to heat up Layla's now cold meal. She protests that they're not supposed to use their powers outside the school, but he explains he was just gonna put it in the microwave.
** Played straight for most of the movie, as most of the kids' power uses fall under this heading. Layla spruces up houseplants (and picks fruit off of trees), Gwen helps Will in mad science class, Zack illuminates a classroom when the power goes out, Speed and Lash bully kids and dominate gym class, etc. In fact minutes after Warren's above protest he lights a candle in the restaurant he works at with his powers.
* MyBrainIsBig: Professor Medulla.
* NeverBeAHero: The message drilled into Hero Support is "Just stand back and hand me the [[strike: Batarang]] silver-tipped crossbow, kid. And don't block my camera angles while you do it."
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Will gets tossed out a window... [[spoiler: and discovers he can fly]]. This is actually Foreshadowed (albeit subtly) when he's had his FirstKiss with Gwen: [[spoiler: He shoots out his arm in a triumphant punch like {{Superman}} and ''flies along the street'', grabbing a post and swinging on it to slow himself. He probably thought it was just his SuperStrength which elevated him, or maybe was too ecstatic to really notice (he's a teenager); or perhaps he took note but just managed to master it until he needed to.]] It must be remembered that [[spoiler: his mother's power is flight, and so it's not implausible to inherit abilities from ''both'' his parents.]]
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: [[spoiler:The Pacifier. Despite being built by Royal Pain, the whole plan rests on getting it back from the Strongholds. It seems Royal Pain just could not build another. Possibly justified by the original being a group design based on the picture of the science club. Also, she seems to have forgotten everything about her past life, while retaining her powers. She didn't ''know'' how to make it from scratch, and even if she did, she's a supervillain. She'd steal it just for poetic revenge. Also possibly justified by the fact that she's a technopath rather than an actual genius. She can make stuff but might not really understand them. Reference the number of times Forge has created stuff and never been able to create them or undo them again.]]
* NoYouGoFirst: Layla is going to confess to Will that she likes him, by asking him to the school dance. As she was going to talk about the school dance, Will figures it's the perfect time to mention that he's going with the most popular girl in school. So Layla ends up telling him that she's going as well. [[OperationJealousy With his archenemy]].
* NotWearingTights / CivvieSpandex: Notably, only the adult heroes wear SpandexLatexOrLeather, and then only when in action or on special occasions.
* OlderSidekick: [[spoiler: Stitches to Gwen, sorta]].
* OldSuperhero: Chronically unappreciated All-American Boy is the past-his-prime sidekick without the retired superhero. His assigned mentor, The Commander, is still operating at his peak, while All-American Boy is now teaching "hero support" classes in the titular hero school. Partially subverted as All-American Boy is all but decrepit, and is still able to help the heroes.
* OperationJealousy: Layla started a fake relationship with JerkWithAHeartOfGold Warren Peace in order to annoy Will. Warren, who disliked Will for his own reasons, was happy to oblige. This may have lead to a RelationshipWritingFumble when Will and Layla went through their RelationshipUpgrade, as Warren and Layla did seem to have more attraction between them than the OfficialCouple. However, see WordOfGod.
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Will, and most of the others, too.
* PaperThinDisguise: The Commander is wearing glasses and Steve Stronghold is not, [[LampshadeHanging as Layla points out]] and his disguise is totally [[ClarkKenting different from Superman]].
* PhosphorEssence: Subverted with Zach: he can glow in the dark... [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway and that's about it]].
* PlotTailoredToTheParty: In the climax, everyone's powers become useful and are used, even the [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway lame powers like glowing.]]
* PoweredArmor
* PowerNullifier: The Detention Room.
* PsychoticSmirk: It's easy to miss as the camera isn't focused on him, but right as the BigBad is revealed [[spoiler:Mr. Grayson]] sports one, betraying his allegiance to the villain.
* PubertySuperpower: In some cases. [[spoiler:Will gets his powers in his early teen years, while Layla apparently had hers when she was in kindergarten.]]
* PunnyName
* RainbowMotif: Each of the six main teen characters dresses mainly in one of the colors of the rainbow.
* RaiseHimRightThisTime: [[spoiler: Royal Pain was regressed to a baby by her own Pacifier device, then raised by her henchman to be evil again.]]
* RealLifeRelative: The actors who play the Timmermans, Tom Kenny and Jill Talley, are husband and wife in real life.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Will is seriously {{squick}}ed out when when he learns that [[spoiler: Gwen is Sue Tenny.]]
-->[[spoiler: "I made out with an old lady!"]]
* RedHerring: Warren's dad. But not [[spoiler:Gwen]]'s.
* RuleOfFunny: In the DVD Bonus Features, there's one question which Kevin [=McDonald=] (in his Medulla costume -- large head and all) answers "Yes, I agree", and then he consents for the editors to use him saying that for anything they like. Throughout the documentary, they randomly cut to him saying "Yes, I agree" for virtually anything. It's hilarious.
* SamusIsAGirl
-->"Of course I'm a girl, you idiot! How I lost to an fool like you I'll never know."
* SassyBlackWoman: Penny.
* SchoolSavedMyLife: Subverted for Will, played straight for everyone else.
* SealedWithAKiss
* SecretIdentity
* SelfDisposingVillain: [[spoiler:Sue Tenny when the Pacifier blows up in her face. With a bit of FridgeBrilliance, Gwen also qualifies; she already ''had'' everything she wanted to begin with, and her willingness to throw all that away for {{revenge}} is what causes her to lose in the end]].
* SelfDuplication: Penny, the one woman cheerleading team.
* SheFu: Penny does this while [[DesignatedGirlFight fighting]] Layla. [[spoiler:Taunting her this way turns out to be a horrible idea; she could have just ''not'' backed Layla into a room with plants outside and won.]]
* ShipTease: Zack and Magenta.
* ShoutOut: Gwen Grayson's name may be a reference to prominent comic book characters '''Gwen''' [[SpiderMan Stacy]] and [[{{Batman}} Dick]] '''Grayson'''. It is also a reference to the tendency for comic book characters to have alliterative names.
** Will has a poster in his room of fellow superhero team Music/TheAquabats.
* SidekickGlassCeiling
* SittingOnTheRoof: Will and Layla do this after the first day of school
* SkirtOverSlacks: Layla has this fashion choice at some points in the movie
* SmugSnake: Penny is a rare female example.
* {{Soaperizing}}
* SoProudOfYou: When the Commander and Jetstream recognize the kids as heroes - and turns into a CrowningMomentOfAwesome when the Commander (for the first time ever, it seems) [[DudeWheresMyRespect treats Mr. Boy with respect]] [[RelegatedMentor for what he has been doing all these years]].
-->'''The Commander:''' And, Jonathan; whatever you're teaching them, keep teaching them... it.
--> '' (The Commander shakes his hand as an equal, and Jetstream kisses him on the cheek)''
* SpandexLatexOrLeather
* StevenUlyssesPerhero: Basically the same as PunnyName above, but used so much that it deserves both entries. A particularly ridiculous one is Baron Battle's real name: ''Barron'' Battle.
* StockSuperpowers
** {{Animorphism}}: Magenta, but she can only [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway turn into a guinea pig]].
** ElementalPowers
*** AnIcePerson: A background character called Freeze Girl.
*** GreenThumb: Layla.
*** LightEmUp: Zack, but he just [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway glows]].
*** MakeMeWannaShout: [[strike:[[Franchise/EvilDead Ashley "Ash" Williams]]]] Coach Boomer.
---->'''Coach Boomer:''' '''''''[[LargeHam SIIIIIIDE-KIIIIIICK!]]'''''''
*** MakingASplash: Ethan. Although he [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway doesn't control water, but he can "melt" into some kind of liquid (and can't do anything while in it)]].
*** PlayingWithFire: Warren.
** {{Flight}}: Jetstream.
** FlyingBrick: [[spoiler:Will; "Flying" (flight, speed, agility) from his mother, "Brick" (strength, durability) from his father.]]
** MesACrowd: Penny.
** RubberMan: Lash.
** RockMonster: Larry turns into one.
** SuperSpeed: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Speed]].
** SuperStrength: The Commander.
** {{Technopath}}: Gwen, the TropeNamer (though the power itself had existed previously)
** XRayVision: Nurse Spex.
* SuicidalGotcha
* SuperFamilyTeam: The Stronghold family.
* SuperheroSchool
* SuperpowerfulGenetics
* SuperSpit
* SuperZeroes: Poor, poor Mr. Boy. It's never really explained if he even has powers at all; he's shown to be able to jump much farther than a normal human would be expected to, but this may simply be an instance of the overall exaggerated tone of the film.
* {{Technopath}}: Gwen Grayson is the TropeNamer.
* ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman: There are quite a few impressive coincidences that can only be solved by one of the random powers that the Sidekicks have.
* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Lash and Speed.
* ThoseTwoActors:
** You know who else was in ''The Tick?'' [[spoiler:Patrick Warburton, who provides Sue's Royal Pain voice.]]
** Dave Foley and Kevin [=McDonald=] from TheKidsInThehall
** MaryElizabethWinstead and KurtRussell were also in Deathproof. Furthermore, Russell were also the main protagonist in the 1982 movie ''Film/TheThing1982'' and Winstead his DistaffCounterpart in [[Film/TheThing2011 the 2011 prequel]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Ron Wilson, Bus Driver and Ethan.
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The trailer makes it seem like the main conflict of the movie is the main character's lack of super powers. Then, approximately 10 seconds later, it shows him with super strength and flight — at which point the viewer realizes there's probably more to this movie that they're not telling him, and there goes the element of surprise.
* UnequalPairing: Will and Gwen; her behavior at times comes off as almost predatory. [[spoiler:Which was probably the point]].
* UnrequitedLoveLastsForever: Mr. Boy towards Jetstream. This is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by his AnguishedDeclarationOfLove before being Pacified.
* UnwillingSuspension: This is done to the inflatable "Citizen" in the Save the Citizen game in Sky High, to simulate villains doing this to their captives. Will Stronghold mentions at the end how after they replaced the citizens with the actual villains no one saved the Citizen anymore, but we're to assume that's a joke because [[DontExplainTheJoke he said as much.]]
-->"Remember when we used to use real citizens?"
-->"Yeah..."
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Steve and Josie [[spoiler:inviting Gwen to dinner]] turns out to be the impetus for pretty much everything that goes wrong in the film, both the [[LoveTriangle mundane]] and the [[EvilPlan fantastic]]. The movie blames most of this on Will for some reason.
* VillainBall: Yes [[spoiler: Gwen]], don't use your weapon capable of neutralizing any opponent with a single blast in the final battle. Why [[spoiler: turn someone into a helpless baby]], when you can kill them instead?
* VillainousHarlequin:[[LargeHam Stitches]].
* UnskilledButStrong: The ''only'' reason Will is able to make it through any of his fights is his ability to tank damage like no other. His fight with [[spoiler: Royal Pain]] is full of haymakers, shoulder tackles, and simply flinging [[spoiler: her]] around like a rag doll.
* WellDoneSonGuy: If Mr. Boy is any example, this is what the 'Hero Support' track is designed to turn students into.
* WhamLine: ''A single word'' - "ME!" When the time comes to unmask the BigBad, you ''will'' boggle at who says this.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: See WordOfGod. Anyone know if Paul Hernandez has the rights back yet? Or if the Marvel buyout would mean a comic continuation...?
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway:
** Subverted -- even the "lame" powers [[PlotTailoredToTheParty turn out to be useful at least once]], and several could be easily be used for espionage and/or utility purposes.
** [[{{Deconstruction}} Deconstructed]] as well with the BigBad's background and motivations. [[spoiler:Sue Tenny's powers as a {{technopath}} were considered the stuff of {{sidekick}}s when she went to Sky High, and her resulting status as a nerdy outcast drove her down the path of evil.]]
* WhiteVoidRoom: The detention room.
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Lampshaded during a study session with the hero supports; they're discussing radioactive zombies and what to do. One of the options is handing the hero his crossbow. Zack wonders why you don't just shoot the zombie yourself.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Shown in comic book form during the credits, the most awesome of which is [[spoiler:Ron Wilson, Bus Driver, who falls into a vat of radioactive waste, grows to a colossal size and gets a new job -- fighting [[{{Kaiju}} giant monsters that attack the city]]!]]
* WhosLaughingNow: [[spoiler: Gwen's motivation to become a villain as apparently her first go around in the school had her put in "Hero Support" since her powers weren't considered superhero worthy. Needless to say she winds up proving them wrong.]]
* WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent: Steve really takes it hard when he learns Will has no powers and is Hero Support. Josie admits being disappointed as well, but is far more accepting and convinces Steve to be.
* WildTeenParty
* WireDilemma
* WorldOfHam: The character played by Creator/BruceCampbell is actually one of the most ''normal'' characters in the film.
* XMeetsY: HighSchool meets {{Super Hero}}es.

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