Zoom: Academy for Superheroes
MPAA Rating: PG for brief rude humor, language, and mild action
Release date: Feb. 13, 2007
Thirty years ago, Jack Shepard (Tim Allen) was known as Captain Zoom for his incredible speed. At a secret facility known as Area 52, Jack led a group of superhero kids known as Team Zenith, created by General Larraby (Rip Torn) and scientist Dr. Grant (Chevy Chase). By exposing the group to gamma-13 radiation, the government enhanced the kids’ natural gifts, but also turned one, Concussion (Kevin Zegers), into a villain. To complicate things further, he was Jack’s brother.
Concussion murdered most of the team before being sucked into a vortex and presumed dead. Jack was tossed out of the program and went on to live a life of bitter regret.
Now, it appears that Concussion is still alive and coming back for revenge. So Larraby reactivates the Zenith program and recruits has-been Jack to train a new team of superhero kids: 16-year-old Summer Jones is a telepath who can move objects with her mind; 17-year-old Dylan West can make himself vanish; chubby 12-year-old Tucker Williams, can make parts of his body expand to superhuman size; and bratty six-year-old Cindy Collins has super strength.
The kids are whisked away to Area 52 to learn how to control their powers — and face Concussion when he returns (although they don’t know this). Jack wants nothing to do with it, but an ultimatum of prison (and a $500,000 paycheck) provide all the motivation he needs. It doesn’t hurt that he gets to work with the klutzy and beautiful psychologist Marsha Holloway (Courteney Cox).
The young superheroes and special effects are somewhat appealing, but this movie falls flat on just about every other account. The plot is predictable and covers the usual themes of teen angst, fitting in, and finding your own gifts.
Chevy Chase still isn’t funny, Rip Torn is like a maniacal cartoon character, and Tim Allen needs to find a different niche other than family movies.