It’s hard to believe that the first Incredibles by Disney Pixar debuted all the way back in 2004, and for those of you counting that’s over 14 years ago. Featuring the vibrant animation and incredible voice acting that only Disney Pixar can offer, we find ourselves once again sharing a grand adventure with this lovable superhero family. This will be a spoiler free review so feel free to read on and prepare for a journey of epic proportions.
Not much has changed since we last left off with the original Incredibles. Superheroes are still outlawed, seemingly because the damage they cause when fighting crime is far more expensive than the actual crime itself. This is proven in the very first scene of the movie, where our crime fighting family attempts to stop a bank robbery and they end up causing more havoc and mayhem than would have occurred had they not been involved at all. It seems there isn’t a place anywhere left in the world for superheroes…or is there?
The family is then offered an opportunity to prove how important superheroes are to the world and the impact they can have on the good of humanity. This mission only needs the talents of Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) however, so Elastigirl goes off to fight crime while Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) stays back at the homestead to take care of the three kids.
As with all Pixar movies, Incredibles 2 is far more than simply a cute movie about a family of crime fighting heroes. It is about how Mr. Incredible must learn to be a hero by taking care of his family instead of fighting crime. It shows how even without a secret identity and super suit that a parent helping their kids with “new math” or reading them a bedtime story can makes them the greatest hero of all. I loved that the underlying message to this movie was that being there for your family is as equally as important as saving the town from the next evil menace.
In a similar reversal of roles, Elastigirl takes on the role of the family provider. While she excels with her superhero duties, she struggles with not always being there for her kids. For Elastigirl it’s about letting go and trusting that her husband and family can learn to manage on their own when she can’t be there. We also learn that sometimes being a hero means making sacrifices for the good of the family as a whole.
As you’d expect from any film with Pixar behind it, the animation is beautiful and colorful. I would warn those that might be sensitive to strobe lights to be a bit cautious during a few scenes. There weren’t any warnings for those who might be photosensitive, and the scenes don’t last long, but I feel it’s still important to note. As already mentioned, the voice acting is also excellent. Sarah Vowell does a great job as Violet and Huck Milner is adorable as the voice of Dash. As you might have already guessed, Samuel L. Jackson does an outstanding job at reprising his role of Frozone. Unfortunately, Frozone isn’t in the movie too much but he definitely steals any scene he is in. The story was fun, entertaining and at times downright hilarious. Even though baby Jack-Jack hasn’t been a big part of this review, he is a huge part of the movie. Jack-Jack’s emerging powers mean an even greater challenge for everyone and some of the most entertaining scenes revolve around Jack-Jack and his ever-growing list of powers.
Incredibles 2 is a heartwarming film that shows us all that heroes come in different shapes and sizes, and how important it is for everyone to come together as a family in order to succeed at life (and occasionally take down a bad guy). It’s a worthy successor to the original in every way and will certainly appeal to both young and old alike. So, gather up your own superhero family and run/fly/warp your way to see Incredibles 2 when it releases in theatres on June 15th!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Second review by Barnetty Kushner Without skipping a beat, Incredibles 2 picks up right where the first one left off, when a failed attempt at stopping the Underminer causes so much collateral damage to the City of Municiberg, the city feels the constant destruction caused by the Super's crime fighting efforts are just too expensive to continue supporting. Director Brad Bird did a brilliant job at continuing on as if there was no 14 year hiatus in the Super's world. After being band from Superhero work, Mr. Incredible, aka Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson), his wife Helen, aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and their 3 kids, are trying to salvage what little credibility they have to help restore their superhero good name. In the first film, Mr. Incredible was granted the opportunity to go out on missions and relive the superhero life. This time, the variables have changed. Elastigirl is recruited by telecommunications billionaire siblings Winston and Evelyn Deavour (Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener) and given the chance to fight crime while Mr. Incredible becomes the family caretaker. Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) is back, as well as new superheroes emerge thanks to the inspiration of Elastigirl's activism. They try to help Elastigirl bring down Screenslaver, who is attempting to rid the world of superheroes one and for all. All while Mr. Incredible is at home trying to help Dash with his math homework, figure out all of Jack Jack's new powers, and tolerate Violet's tween drama. Brad Bird did an amazing job weaving through both storylines. This film packs the same amount of superhero power punch from its predecessor. Even though the plot was easy to figure out, Pixar is definitely at the top of their game. Creating another film full of charm, action packed, and pure joy that entertains both kids and adults alike. 4.5 stars
