Four kids -- one big problem. They each possess a unique special power that sets them apart from everybody else their age. They also have something else in common -- they just want to be normal. Now it's up to a down-on-his-luck former superhero once known as Captain Zoom (Tim Allen) to teach them how to harness their extraordinary talents and save the world from certain destruction! If anybody can convince him to do so.

Based on Jason Lethcoe's graphic novel, "Zoom's Academy for the Super Gifted."

It’s hard to not draw a connection between last years Sky High and this years Zoom because they almost seem to be the same movie at times. Sky High in this comparison though is easily the winner as it had more charm, originality and was more entertaining. That’s not to say Zoom wasn’t any good because it could be funny and entertaining but its like having cold pizza for breakfast, it’s no longer hot and doesn’t taste as good as when it was fresh. That being said a lot of people like cold pizza for breakfast and I am sure a lot of people will like Zoom because it was fun and the characters were funny at times or at least amusing for the most part. Plus it kind of has that Galaxy Quest like spoof quality of making fun of superhero movies at times which is fun and very needed.

The movie should have run more with spoofing superhero movies as that would have made it a lot more funny and a lot more original. But the problem is somewhere along the way they begin to take themselves too seriously and start to think they are actually making a superhero movie. We have enough of those already, every single comic book written seems to be making its big screen debut and there seems to be no end to this trend. So why not laugh at ourselves, I mean Zoom has a six year old who is strong enough to toss a two ton weight around and wants to be known as princess if that’s not comic fodder ready to make fun of the genre I don’t know what is. But the movie falls into the sentimental trap and the ending is lame to say the least. I know we want to see Zoom and his brother make up but it was shot like an after school special, you might as well sledgehammer your message home while your at it.

I love Tim Allen, not the television aping buffoon that we were stuck with for years but the funny spoof actor who just seems to have a comedic timing that many actors don’t. He delivers puns and one-liners that make you laugh and warn you up to whatever character he is playing. And he is clearly the heart and soul of Zoom and the movie doesn’t work without him. It wasn’t his performance that was the problem but more about the supporting cast. I’ll say this again and hope they will listen this time the friends actors need to stick to the small screen, Courteney Cox Arquette is somewhat of a downer each and every single time she is on screen. And what happened to Chevy Chase he used to be funny, now he’s just old and keeps trying to remind is when he was funny. The kids were ok and did a good job or about as much as you expect from child actors. The movie meshes well, its funny at times but in the end it seems like you are watching a watered down version of Sky High and that’s never a good sign.

Grade: C+