History Film / SkyHigh

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sky-high-poster_6831.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"If life were to suddenly get fair, I doubt it would happen in high school..."]]

->''"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."''
-->-- '''Nurse Spex'''

Best described as a hybrid of ''Franchise/XMen'' and ''Literature/HarryPotter'', this Live-Action Disney flick revolves around Will Stronghold; son of the world's two most famous superheroes. He is about to start high school at the titular Sky High, a school exclusively for people with superpowers and his parents' alma mater. 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 "[[{{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'', it features a surprising amount of high-level names, including Michael Angarano as Will Stronghold, Creator/KurtRussell as The Commander, Lynda "Wonder Woman" Carter as the principal, Creator/BruceCampbell as Coach Boomer, and Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead as Gwen Grayson. The film maintains a surprisingly sizable following, despite having generally fallen under the radar.

Not to be confused with the [[Manga/{{Skyhigh}} seinen manga by Takahashi Tsutomu]]. Compare ''ComicBook/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. Although it was already an academy for villains as much as heroes.]]
* TheAce: The Commander/Steve Stronghold, much to the annoyance of his son.
* {{Acrofatic}}: Speed, one of the supervillain/bullies, is a Flash-like speedster in spite of being overweight.
* {{Adorkable}}:
** Will doofs his way through the vast majority of the film, and even in the final showdown it's abundantly clear he's no fighter and is improvising pretty much everything.
** Ethan has pretty much every nerd cliche in the book as part of his repertoire, and he's downright adorable for it.
* 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 finale.]] Anything worthwhile is done by adolescents [[AlmightyJanitor (or Ron Wilson, Bus Driver)]]. 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 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]].[[note]][[FridgeLogic Clearly he's not a Nokia user.]][[/note]]
** It can also be considered an affectionate parody of the Silver Age Of Comics.
* AirVentPassageway
* AllGuysWantCheerleaders: {{Averted}} with Penny. Nobody in the film seems to consider her particularly attractive, at least not in comparison to the more "preppy" Gwen.
* 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, Steve Stronghold and Barron Battle.
* 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 [[EmpoweredBadassNormal the credits]], at least.]]
* BallOfLightTransformation: The Principal can transform into something similar to a mini-star, it gives her the ability to fly at a very high speed with drastic changes in direction and angle.
* 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 derail 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.
* BoomerangBigot: [[spoiler: TheReveal of Gwen's past makes her coldness toward Layla and indirectly the other sidekicks somewhat perplexing. Whether she genuinely fell for Will, saw something of herself in Layla that she hated, or simply went [[DrunkWithPower drunk with popularity]] isn't particularly well-explored, though the second is slightly implied]].
* 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.]]
** Early during the Homecoming party, Zach asked Magenta for a dance; she turned him down and he went, "Me neither". At the end, ''she'' asked ''him'' for a dance. He accepts, saying "Me too."
** [[spoiler:Ron Wilson, Bus Driver]] fights a robot similar to the one The Commander and Jetstream took down at the beginning.
** During "Save the Citizen", Medulla mentions there used to be a time they used real citizens. During the epilogue, [[spoiler:Stitches]] is said to have become the "citizen" to be rescued and nobody wanted to save him [[spoiler:but Will admits he was joking about that.]]
* TheCallPutMeOnHold: Will. [[spoiler: At least until his powers activate.]]
* CampStraight: Mr. Boy is a somewhat effete fellow who talks about topics such as what colors go well with his eyes. He's also still crushing on the prettiest girl in high school after 27 years.
* CannotSpitItOut: [[spoiler: Layla to Will]].
* CaptainErsatz: A few, but the most obvious is Layla, being similar to Franchise/{{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.]]
** The robot's head
* 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.
** Royal Pain serves as a meta-example. [[spoiler: Her yearbook picture is Mary Elizabeth Winstead—who plays Gwen—[[HollywoodUgly in glasses and poorly done hair]]. Given that Gwen being Royal Pain is meant to be TheReveal, [[ViewersAreMorons the movie seems to assume that the audience will not recognize Winstead in this picture]].]]
* 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 colors, you would be exposed to them throughout your childhood.
* ComedicSociopathy: Boomer and Medulla partake in this on occasion.
--> Medulla: "Remember when we used to use REAL citizens?"
* ContraltoOfDanger: [[spoiler: Gwen has a notably deeper voice than the other main girls, so of course she's evil]].
* ConvectionSchmonvection: Averted. Warren can't use his fire powers while the group is crawling through a ventilation duct because the heat would fry the others.
* 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.
* CrushFilter: Every time Will looks at Gwen, she gets backlit and "True" starts to play.
* 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]].
* DangerousDeviceDisposalDebacle: The Stronghold family in defeated Royal Pain and took the weapon Royal Pain wielded, The Pacifier, as a new addition to their ever-growing collection of confiscated weapons they keep as trophies even though they don't know what it does. Years later, Royal Pain plots to retrieve the Pacifier by stealing it back from the Strongholds. [[spoiler: Royal Pain even uses their tendency to collect trophies by sending giant robot with a big shiny part for them to take. The "trophy" was a camera to allow Royal Pain access to the vault.]]
* DatingCatwoman:
** Warren was the result of superhero and supervillain parents who ''continue to battle each other''.
** [[spoiler: Will and Gwen.]]
* 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. Justified since Will is less experienced than his father.]]
* 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/DrivesLikeCrazy: Ron Wilson, Bus Driver.
* DutchAngle
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: The Secret Sanctum.
* ElaborateUniversityHigh
* EleventhHourSuperpower: At the end, Will [[spoiler:gets tossed out a window, and then the heredity from his mother manifests itself as [[FlyingBrick flight powers]].]]
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Mr. Medulla [[spoiler: as a baby.]]
* EnterStageWindow
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether
* EvilCounterpart: [[spoiler: Gwen/Sue Tenny/Royal Pain is this to Layla. Gwen's technopathic abilities had been treated as a joke, and she was forced into a sidekick role, turning her into a villain. Layla herself has power control of plants, but doesn't show them off, nor does she turn her annoyance over the Sidekick/Hero rule into violence.]]
* 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]].
* EvilIsHammy: [[spoiler: Gwen]] turns on the ham when [[spoiler: she reveals herself as 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.
* {{Expy}}: Speed and Lash have been called "[[Franchise/PowerRangers Evil Bulk and Skull]]."
* 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 / EvilGenius: [[spoiler: Gwen]]/Royal Pain
** TheDragon: [[spoiler:Penny]]
** TheBrute: Both Lash and Speed.
** DarkChick: Stiches
** If one counts [[spoiler:Gwen and Sue as separate characters]], the algorithm may be read as:
*** BigBad: [[spoiler: Sue]]
*** TheDragon: Stitches.
*** EvilGenius: [[spoiler: Gwen]]
*** TheBrute: Lash and Speed.
*** DarkChick: Penny
* FiveFiveFive: The number on Ron Wilson, Bus Driver's card.
* FiveManBand
** TheLeader: Will (He wears red, he's the protagonist, and for a while, he's technically higher ranking than his friends (hero instead of sidekick)
** 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: Both Ethan and 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]]
* {{Foil}}: Gwen and Layla, to each other. One's powers are derived from technology, the other's from nature, one is an overachiever, the other doesn't ''want'' to achieve in what she sees as a corrupt system, one's a senior, the other's a freshman, and, of course, they both like the same guy.
* 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]].
** FridgeBrilliance if you consider maybe they're helping her so she doesn't use the Pacifier against them
* FollowInMyFootsteps: Steve took it hard that Will [[spoiler:still]] didn't have any superpowers to enable him to become a superhero.
* 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.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Coach Boomer drops a car on Will to test his strength and a spring trap to determine whether he could fly. Will failed both tests, [[spoiler:but those were the superpowers he developed later on]].
** When the nurse and Will were talking about inherited superpowers (or lack thereof), [[FunnyBackgroundEvent Ron Wilson was outside swinging a broom like a weapon]]. Guess what he uses as a weapon once he gets his powers on?
*** The nurse explains that falling into a vat of toxic waste is the only way somebody without powers can get them.
** Pay close attention when Will's parents talk about what a weirdo they thought Sue Tenny was in High School. Gwen, who is on a date with Will, seems annoyed at this and excuses herself. [[spoiler: It turns out she ''is'' Sue Tenny[=/=]Royal Pain. Of course she was upset. They just insulted her right to her face.]]
* 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.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent:
** During Will's conversation with the nurse, [[{{Foreshadowing}} Ron Wilson is outside swinging a broom like a weapon]].
** While Royal Pain is monologuing outside, Stitches is skipping down the steps like a child.
* FullNameBasis: Ron Wilson, Bus Driver
* GadgeteerGenius
* GirlPosse: Penny herself is [[SelfDuplication an entire Girl Posse]].
* GoodAllAlong: Warren Peace
* {{Goth}}: Magenta, possibly a PerkyGoth
* GranolaGirl: Layla.
* GreenThumb: Layla. Though she's classified as "Hero Support" AKA a sidekick, she ultimately shows as much power as any of her superhero classmates.
* 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.]] note that [[spoiler:right before he takes down Lash Ethan demonstrates the ability to flow ''vertically'', something he'd never done before then]].
** An in-universe example. [[spoiler: Nobody saw the value of technopathy, causing Sue Tenny to be put into the sidekick class. She grew up into the supervillain Royal Pain and managed to build a deaging gun and PoweredArmor with the intent of turning all the superheroes into babies and raising them as an army of villains (and nearly succeeded both times). As Gwen, her powers were evaluated as Hero-class when she re-enrolled.]]
* 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]]. Also, [[spoiler:Royal Pain fell victim of [[HoistByHisOwnPetard the first trope]] when the pacifier turned her into a baby]].
* HollywoodNerd: [[spoiler: Sue Tenny/Gwen Grayson in her first childhood]].
* HookedUpAfterwards: Arguably Zach and Magenta, also Warren and Freeze Girl.
* 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.
** Bigger one handed to the entire school near the climax. [[spoiler: Over a hundred super heroes can't figure out a way out past barriers you'd see in a normal school hallway. None of them seem to even be trying to use any powers to aid the situation (other than Warren when he opened an AirVentPassageway), opting instead to grab the barrier and shake.]]
* 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.
* IncomingHam: Ron Wilson, Bus Driver!
* IncompletelyTrained: They're all still in Superhero School.
* InTheBlood: [[spoiler: Will inherited the powers of both his parents]].
* InWithTheInCrowd
* {{Jerkass}}: Speed and Lash, who even pick on teachers. [[AllThereInTheManual The official website]] implies they're favorites of the Coach, which may be how they get away with it.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Played with in regards to Boomer's Hero-Sidekick sorting.
** On one hand, 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 [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Poison Ivy]] Expy to handle the heavy-duty heroing.
** On the other hand, Will's father, the Commander, thinks 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.]] Will's mother, Jetstream, 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? Because no one expects the "hero support" to do anything.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Warren Peace and Coach Boomer.
* KryptoniteFactor: Briefly demonstrated in a scene featuring Medulla teaching the "Hero Support" class.
* LackOfEmpathy: Speed and Lash seem to care about nothing and no one except possibly each other. They even pick on the teachers. [[spoiler: And depending if Speed knew what he was doing to Warren during Save the Citizen, it's entirely possible they're okay with casual murder]].
* LargeHam: Coach Boomer. Makes sense, considering [[MakeMeWannaShout his powers]].
* LargeHamTitle: Less pronounced than most, Ron Wilson, Bus Driver!
* LastMinuteHookup: [[spoiler: Will and Layla]]
* LegacyCharacter: Subverted. [[spoiler:The current Royal Pain was believed to be the original's daughter but she was the original after being deaged]].
** Steve really wants Will to be ''his'' LegacyCharacter, a source of much angst for the latter.
* 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.
* LongerThanLifeSentence: There's a passing mention that Baron Battle had received a quadruple life sentence, with no chance of parole until after the third.
* LoveInterestTraitor: [[spoiler:The film features a generally {{Adorkable}} NiceGuy named Will going out with an older girl named Gwen, whose role is basically [[MentorShip showing him the ropes of superhero school in between being sweet on him]]. Turns out she just wanted the weaponized FountainOfYouth in his basement...]]
* MadeOfIron:
** The instructors state that Will has no powers...after he has already taken several hospitalizations worth of punishment during tryouts with no injury.
** Warren is 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 ''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.
-->'''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''.
* MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter: [[spoiler: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=].]]
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: While Will and Gwen share their first kiss, [[spoiler:Speed sneaks into the Secret Sanctum and steals the Pacifier]].
* MeaningfulName: Warren Peace, the son of a hero and a villain. [[IncrediblyLamePun It's like War and Peace]], [[DontExplainTheJoke GET IT?]]
** Coach [[MakeMeWannaShout Boomer]]. 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 too. Will, as in "William" but also as in "will''power''."
** Principal POWERS.
** [[TheSmartGuy Professor Medulla]].
* MetronomicManMashing: Will does this to [[spoiler: Royal Pain]] when they fight.
* MissingMom: Gwen's died when she was a baby. [[spoiler: FromACertainPointOfView]].
* {{Meganekko}}: Kelly Preston looked ''damn'' good as Josie. As did [[spoiler: Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead as Sue Tenny]].
* MisfitMobilizationMoment: Happens when [[spoiler:Will, Layla, Warren, and the sidekicks fight Royal Pain's invasion during Homecoming.]]
* MotorMouth: Zach, to some degree.
* MoodLighting: During the fight sequences, and when [[spoiler:Sky High is falling]].
* 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.
* 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.
** Among the staff, Nurse Spex uses XRayVision to check students for broken bones, Principal Powers uses her ability to turn into a comet to teleport anywhere in the school and Coach Boomer uses his [[MakeMeWannaShout voice]] to...[[LargeHam sound intimidating]].
* MyBrainIsBig: Professor Medulla.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Royal Pain is the supervillain BigBad and archenemy to Will's dad. [[spoiler:And is further revealed to be a supervillain''ess''.]]
* 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 is tossed out a window... [[spoiler: and discovers he can fly]]. This is 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.]]
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] when Will [[spoiler: reveals he can fly]].
-->'''Will:''' Surprised? Well ''so am I!''
* NiceGuy: Will's key feature, often shown by his willingness to try to talk to his foes as oppose to fighting.
** Also, Ron Wilson, Bus Driver!
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: [[spoiler:The Pacifier. Despite being built by Royal Pain, the whole EvilPlan 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 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]].
** Also Ron Wilson, Bus Driver to Will
* 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. However, he is far from 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 possessed great chemistry. However, see WordOfGod.
* OppositesAttract: A somewhat more literal case of this trope. At the end of the movie, [[spoiler:a girl with [[AnIcePerson ice powers]] expresses an interest in [[PlayingWithFire Warren]], who seems to reciprocate that interest]].
* 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]].
* PlayingWithFire: Warren.
* PlotTailoredToTheParty: In the climax, everyone's powers become useful and are used, even the [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway lame powers like glowing.]]
* PoweredArmor: What Royal Pain [[spoiler: a.k.a. Sue Tenny/Gwen Grayson]] develops to fight on the same level as [[SuperStrength The Commander]] and [[{{Flight}} Jetstream.]] It also seems to contain a CranialProcessingUnit, as it powers down once [[spoiler: Will shatters Royal Pain's helmet.]]
* PowerNullifier: The Detention Room.
* [[MentorShip Private Tutor Ship]]: Will and Gwen.
* PowerPerversionPotential: Alluded to -- when Will walks Gwen home, her dad asks accusingly, "You're not that boy with the six arms, are you?"
* 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.]]
* 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.
* RevengeBeforeReason: [[spoiler: As Gwen, Sue had all the popularity and adoration that she'd wanted during her own school days, but she threw it all away in the name of revenge on Will's parents.]]
* 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
-->"Yes I'm a girl, you idiot! How I ever lost to a 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.
* ShapedLikeItself: The film's moral notwithstanding, Will and Warren ''are'' the Heroes and their friends ''are'' the sidekicks.
* 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.]]
* ShesGotLegs: Zach compliments Magenta's... [[PlayedForLaughs while she's a guinea pig]].
* ShipTease: Zack and Magenta.
* ShoutOut: Gwen Grayson's name may be a reference to prominent comic book characters '''Gwen''' [[SpiderMan Stacy]] and [[{{Nightwing}} 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.
** While teaching "English for Hero Support", Mr. Boy wrote at the blackboard [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Holy (blank), (blank)man]].
** See Nurse Spex's line at the top of the page.
** Possibly unintentional, but Will and Warren are able to win "Save the Citizen" by using a [[XMen Fastball Special]]
** Mr. Boy's given name is [[Series/TheWaltons Johnathan]].
* 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
* SmackOnTheBack: Will has just gotten his powers and his super-strong dad hugs him, which is somewhat painful.
-->'''Will''': OOOWW!
-->'''Dad''': Sorry!
-->'''Will''': *''grins and hugs him back''*
-->'''Dad''': OW! You are strong!
* SmugSnake: Penny is a rare female example.
* {{Soaperizing}}
* SoLongSuckers: [[spoiler: Penny blows a mocking kiss at the people she locks in the gym]].
* SoProudOfYou: When the Commander and Jetstream recognize the kids as heroes - and turns into a CrowningMomentOfAwesome when the Commander (for the first time ever) [[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: 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: The Commander and Jetstream operating in tandem. [[spoiler:Will; "Flying" (flight, speed, agility) from his mother, "Brick" (strength, durability) from his father.]]
** MesACrowd: Penny.
** RubberMan: Lash.
** RockMonster: Larry turns into one.
** SpeaksFluentAnimal: Layla's mom is mentioned having this ability; it's why Layla's a vegetarian.
** SuperSpeed: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Speed]].
** SuperStrength[=/=]NighInvulnerability: 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.
* TooFastToStop: Does Speed in twice.
* 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.
* TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening: [[spoiler:Super-strength and super-flight for Will]].
* TwinThreesomeFantasy: Accidental in-universe case of this; Coach Boomer convinces Medulla to go on a double date with him, a superheroine and her EvilTwin. The date ends with Medulla dating both the heroine ''and'' her evil twin with Boomer being something of a third wheel.
* 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.
* 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 his opponent around like a rag doll.
* 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]].
* 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]].
* WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld:
* 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.
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway:
** Glowing, melting,and shapeshifting into a guinea pig are all seen as lame powers by Boomer. However, the kids prove [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower just how awesome they can be]] in the climax and several could be easily be used for espionage and/or utility purposes.
** [[{{Deconstruction}} Deconstructed]] 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. And speaking outside of the Film for a moment, other fictional heroes such as Iron Man show that control of machines and having access to very powerful tech is a ''very'' useful thing.]]
* WhenHeSmiles - [[http://i40.tinypic.com/1reozo.png behold Kubrick!Warren]] - and, for contrast, [[http://i43.tinypic.com/2h7p85i.png behold grinning!Warren]].
* 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.
** A villainous example: Royal Pain completely forgets about the powerful weapon that can defeat anyone with a single blast.
* 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: Tongue-in-cheek version; ''all'' the wires are red.
* WorldOfHam: The character played by Creator/BruceCampbell is actually one of the most ''normal'' characters in the film.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: [[spoiler:Given a second chance at high school, Sue/Gwen became pretty, popular and powerful and dumped all over the sidekicks... exactly what she wanted revenge for from her first time around.]]
----

->''"The kids who [[{{Franchise/SpiderMan}} 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]]."''

* 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 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]].

Best described as a hybrid of ''Franchise/XMen'' and ''Literature/HarryPotter'', this Live-Action Disney flick revolves around Will Stronghold; son of the world's two most famous superheroes. He is about to start high school at the titular Sky High, a school exclusively for people with superpowers and his parents' alma mater. 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 "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...