2023 JenEric Movie Reviews

Hello Movie Lovers,

This year I seem to have watched, and reviewed, 48 films. Not bad considering I was too sick to watch movies for most of December. Below is a list of them in descending star order. Within each catergory, they are in alphabetical order.

5 out of 5 Stars

4.5 out of 5 Stars

4 out of 5 Stars

3.5 out of 5 Stars

3 out of 5 Stars

2.5 out of 5 Stars

2 out of 5 Stars

1.5 out of 5 Stars

2024 Reviews will start next Saturday.

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

Dave Foley

Technically, we weren’t supposed to take candid pictures of the guests. However, Dave Foley was a sweetheart and overrode his handler’s objections.

I got to talk to him a little bit, too. I told him how hilarious he was in Sky High as the teacher of the sidekicks, and I wished that there had been a sequel. He said that I wasn’t the first person that day to mention Sky High and how surprised he was. I honestly can’t imagine why he’d be surprised!