SKY HIGH — ** 1/2 — Michael Angarano, Kurt Russell, Danielle Panabaker; rated PG (violence, mild profanity, mild vulgarity).

"Sky High" soars whenever the adult characters take center stage. The superhero instructors in this live-action comedy are played by Cloris Leachman, Lynda Carter, B-movie star Bruce Campbell and members of the comedy troupes The Kids in the Hall and Broken Lizard.

However, the Disney comedy gets grounded and is considerably less successful and charming when it concentrates on the teen characters.

That's not to say we really expect these young actors to be able to hold their own with those comic veterans — or with Kurt Russell. It is, however, a reflection on the material and the filmmaking.

"Sky High" tries to put a comic spin on superheroics. Michael Angarano stars as Will Stronghold, the son of the legendary Captain Stronghold (Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston). He's worried, because his own powers haven't been manifested yet.

Those worries only worsen on his first day of class at Sky High, a sort of costume training ground. If Will is unable to demonstrate any powers for the demanding Coach Boomer (Campbell), he may be consigned to "sidekick" status. But at least that means he'll be able to stay in class with his pals, including his best friend Layla (Danielle Panabaker).

That's exactly what happens, of course — and Will finds himself unable to tell his parents. What's worse, his seeming lack of powers doesn't stop him from making enemies with another student, Warren Peace (Steven Strait). It doesn't explain why pretty student-body president Gwen Grayson (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) seems so interested in him.

Among the film's bigger problems is pacing that seems a bit off. Things really start to drag in the final third as the film's low-budget charms start to wear off. To be honest, the whole thing looks a bit like an episode of television's "Power Rangers."

Still, there are a few funny gags, and it is nice to see Russell doing comedy again. (After all, he did get his big break in such Disney live-action comedies as 1969's "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.")

Angarano is pretty likable as well, and Kevin McDonald steals a couple of scenes as the school's big-headed (literally) science teacher.

"Sky High" is rated PG for violence (including superhero battles and some explosive mayhem, done mostly for laughs), scattered use of mild profanity (religiously based), and some mildly suggestive talk and bodily function humor. Running time: 98 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com