This 25-Year-Old Superhero Family Flick Is One Of The Coolest Disney Channel Original Movies

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It’s surprisingly hard to find recent, good superhero movies to show young kids. The genre has become focused on more serious and intense stories. However, we’re starting to see a shift with fun, family-friendly films like James Gunn’s *Superman*. There are also older, enjoyable options like Disney’s *Sky High* from 2005. But how many parents have actually shared the delightful, yet often forgotten, classic *Up, Up, and Away!* with their children?

Directed by Robert Townsend, who also made *The Meteor Man*, *Up, Up, and Away!* is a Disney Channel Original Movie that premiered in January 2000. It’s one of Disney’s first films to successfully combine a coming-of-age story with superhero action. If more people discovered it today, it could easily be considered one of the best superhero movies available on Disney+, alongside those based on Marvel Comics.

Up, Up, And Away! Is A Superhero Movie Told Like A Sitcom

The movie *Up, Up, and Away!* centers around Scott Marshall (played by Michael J. Pagan), a teenager whose family isn’t just famous – they’re all superheroes! He’s growing up in a world where people with superpowers are an everyday sight.

Scott comes from a family of superheroes: his dad, Jim, is the powerful Bronze Eagle, his mom, Judy, is the super-strong Warrior Woman, and his brother, Adam, is the incredibly fast Silver Charger. Even his little sister, Molly, has heat vision! Scott, however, doesn’t have any powers of his own. When a criminal group disguised as environmentalists – called Earth Protectors – starts using mind control for selfish reasons, Scott unexpectedly becomes the only one who can stop them.

The show *Up, Up, and Away!* initially presents the Marshall family as a fairly normal, sitcom-style family, hinting at something unusual without revealing much. It takes about fifteen minutes for the superhero plot to begin, when Jim has to leave his son’s soccer game to stop a bank robbery. Even then, the show cleverly maintains a sense of normalcy, portraying them as a typical family with just a few unique rules – like Adam needing to finish his homework before fighting crime.

Up, Up, And Away! Delivers Many Silly Superhero Send-Ups

The humor in *Up, Up, and Away!* goes beyond typical sitcom jokes. It often becomes sharply satirical, playfully highlighting the sillier aspects of superhero stories – like their ridiculously elaborate costumes.

Perhaps the clearest example of the film’s comedic style is the reveal that the super-powered Marshalls have a surprisingly simple weakness: aluminum foil. This is subtly foreshadowed earlier when the family seems wary of Scott’s friend, Randy, bringing them zucchini bread wrapped in it.

This discovery naturally leads to several questions: Does aluminum in any form weaken these heroes, or is it specifically the foil that affects them, and if so, why? Furthermore, is this a universal weakness for all superheroes in this world, or just these particular characters, and what explains that? While logically a bit strange, this detail actually enhances the film’s playfully over-the-top style, and the director wisely treats it as a genuine weakness, similar to how it would be handled in a classic, straightforward episode of the show.

Up, Up, And Away! Acknowledges Other Famous Superheroes

Some of the most humorous parts of *Up, Up, and Away!* playfully poke fun at famous superheroes. Rather than creating its own superhero world, the story is set in a universe where the film’s characters interact with established, well-known heroes.

During a dinner visit to the Marshalls, Scott’s grandmother, Doris (played by Joan Pringle), casually mentions having Spider-Man and Mary-Jane as guests and then asks Judy for advice on removing webs from her carpet. Shortly after, Scott’s grandfather, Edward (Sherman Hemsley, known from *The Jeffersons*), who goes by the Steel Condor, complains about how Clark Kent is called the “Man of Steel.” He’s worried it makes his own superhero name, “the Bird of Steel,” sound inferior.

Although Peter Parker and Superman don’t actually appear, the story *Up, Up, and Away!* features a character who strongly hints at being Reed Richards. This character, named “Reach,” wears a blue jumpsuit and has the ability to stretch, sharing similarities with the famous superhero.

Up, Up, And Away! Has An Important, Relatable Message Underneath the Action

Like Robert Townsend’s *The Meteor Man*, *Up, Up, and Away!* offers more than just exciting action and humor. *The Meteor Man*, a beloved film from 1993, is fundamentally a hopeful story about a regular teacher who gains superpowers and uses them to fight crime, ultimately emphasizing the importance of non-violence, personal beliefs, and community spirit. While *Up, Up, and Away!*, a Disney Channel movie, takes a different approach, it likely resonates with young audiences in a similar way.

The movie uses superheroes and its plot as a way to explore an important message: it’s better to embrace who you are, rather than trying to meet your family’s expectations. Scott longs for superpowers, not just for the fun of it, but to gain his parents’ approval. This leads him to pretend he has powers, which causes a lot of problems. Eventually, Scott discovers that his family loves him unconditionally, regardless of whether he has powers or not.

Considering how often ordinary people like Scott Lang end up saving the day for their families and the world, *Up, Up, and Away!* subtly reminds us that you don’t need superpowers to be a hero. The movie could have emphasized this point even more, perhaps by showing a skilled, non-powered vigilante at Scott’s birthday party, or by acknowledging the existence of heroes like Batman within its universe. Given Steel Condor’s connection to Clark Kent, it’s plausible he might have even met Bruce Wayne at some point.

Robert Townsend is currently recognized for directing popular TV shows like Netflix’s *Kaleidoscope* and the reboot of ABC’s *The Wonder Years*, following a recent role on FX’s *The Bear*. While he began his career with the critically acclaimed 1987 comedy *Hollywood Shuffle*, *Up, Up, and Away!* was one of the last films he directed. He’s also celebrated for directing and starring in a film considered a classic by many.

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2025-10-17 02:12