Zoom: Academy for Superheroes - A Cool Combination of Comic Book Chaos and Family Fun

With the growing popularity of modern children's entertainment such as Sponge Bob Square Pants and the like it has become exceedingly difficult to find movies both you and your children can enjoy together. In a sea of films that seem as geared towards driving adults insane as they do towards entertaining our kids comes Zoom: Academy for Superheroes. While some interest in comics or sci-fi would insure adult enjoyment of this title, it manages to walk the line between family oriented and just for kids better than many of it's counterparts.

Meet Jack Shepherd (played by Tim Allen), an out of work and over the hill superhero who is called back in to action upon the return of his evil brother Connor (played by Kevin Zegers). The fate of the Earth is in the hands of General Larraby (played by Rip Torn) and Dr. Grant (played by Chevy Chase). They must convince Jack, the former superhero Zoom, to train a new team of heros that will take over the fight to save the Earth. With more than a slight lack of enthusiasm and little other choice Shepherd agrees to the task. Had he first met the team, he may have chosen differently.

Enter the candidates that passed the superhero audition. There is six year old Cindy Collins (played by Ryan Newman) who has super strength, 12 year old Tucker Williams (played by Spencer Breslin) who is capable of exponential expansion, 16 year old telekinetic Summer Jones (played by Kate Mara) and 17 year old Dylan West (played by Michael Cassidy) who can disappear at will. These kids are definitely not the team Shepherd was expecting.

The training will be supervised by Marsha Holloway (played by Courteney Cox), an employee at the secret military installation Area 52, and not only does she care about the children but she has an obsession with Zoom and a bit of a crush on Jack. Will her romantic interest affect the job at hand and leave the earth's safety hanging in the balance? Can Jack see past the limitations of his team and his own lack of emotion in order to provide them with the best possible preparation for the battle that lies ahead? It will take everyone's individuality and ability to work together if Earth is to survive this cataclysm.

Zoom: Academy for Superheros contains elements of comedy, action and sci-fi that will keep the whole family gripped in it's thrall until the final credit has rolled. There are even some fun bloopers during the end credits to make sure you get one last laugh. A great cast, above average special effects and an imaginative plot that could be torn straight from the pages of a comic book make this film a family classic and one that should not be missed.