Sky High – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2005 film Sky High.

Story

A wonderful and terrible amalgam of John Hughes, American Pie, and early 2000’s superheroes. The story has all the beats you expect and cringe at. It’s an extremely derivative story.

Score: 0

Characters

The characters are fun archetypes. I love the tough brooding guy with heart of gold trope. Nice to see the hippy nature lover as a love interest. The rest of the kids are a weak attempt at inclusion and underdogs.

The actors are all quite good. I’m particularly impressed by the main character, who manages to sound like a younger Kurt Russell.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

It’s a love story to superhero movies and comic books. The dialogue references so many different movies and manages that 2000’s innocence without coming off as fake. There are also quite a few good quips.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The visuals are pretty good for its age and budget bracket. Most of the effects were practical and the sets were real. All this makes it look less dated then a lot of other movies that came out at the time. The cinematography and fight scenes are also surprisingly well done.

The soundtrack is nearly completely 80’s music remade by early 2000’s bands and hits me right in the nostalgia. The score is very good.

Score: 1

Fun

Despite the teen cringe factor, the movie is a lot of fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and the actors use that to both ham it up and deliver surprisingly nuanced roles.

The kids loved it and the rest of us did too.

Score: 1

Overall

The story might be derivative and the teen love story a little cringy, but it’s a loving homage to superheroes that feels dated but still a lot of fun.

Final Score: 3.5 Stars out of 5

The Court Jester – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 1955 film The Court Jester.

Story

The story is quite clever and a lot of the humour is based on it being an amalgam of all the constant Robin Hood remakes; something that hasn’t changed much since this movie came out.

The romance is acceptable but contrived and the pacing is a little off in many places.

Score: 0.5

Characters

Most of the characters are well done. The stereotype use of Little People with ridiculously high voices is annoying, but very much a product of its time.

Despite having a woman who is supposed to be a fighter, Jean is pretty useless in the final fight.

I would have liked to see more than a few seconds at the end dedicated to the princess and Griswold’s love story.

And I’ll be honest, I’m still bitter about poor Fergus. He deserved more.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Both the language and the delivery of this movie is amazing. “Get it, Got it, Good” is a staple in our house.

The Jester’s monologue song The Maladjusted Jester, along with all the wordplay, cement this as one of the cleverest movies of it’s type.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The movie is simple and has some nice visuals, but nothing spectacular. It shows that it was a comedy and not given the budget of a bigger movie. That said, they use it quite well and the sets are nice, the fight scenes amazing, and the choreography fantastic.

I truly appreciate the use of colour in the clothing which was probably done more for the fact that it was a comedy, but is more authentic.

The film score is fun and interesting, but the songs are great.

Score: 1

Fun

I saw this movie with my wife on our second or third date. It’s been a staple in our house for nearly two decades. I love watching this and hearing her laugh.

The kids had a little harder a time sitting still, probably because the dialogue was more elevated and quick on top of the pacing issues I mentioned.

Score: 1

Overall

Despite this movie being dated, especially by it’s treatment of woman and Little People, it is extremely clever, witty, and downright hilarious. A classic of musical comedies and parodies.

Final Score: 4 Stars out of 5