Director: Brad Bird
Cast Headliners: Craig T Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Kenner, Jack-Jack, s
Original Release Date: June 15th, 2018
Few Pixar, and even overall Disney animated films, are held to the same respect as The Incredibles. That 2004 tale of superheroes and espionage stood apart from its CGI animated peers for its excellence as well as managing to balance humor, heart, and some of the most serious themes yet or since seen in “children’s” animation. There’s been several many Pixar sequels since then, to varying success, but at last after 14 years Incredibles 2 is here. It’s a delight to say that it’s well worth the wait.
The special feeling the original had is helped by the fact that the movie takes place more or less right after where the last thing picked up. An exciting opening sequence shows the teased showdown between the titular superhero family of strong Bob Parr / Mr.Incredible (Craig T Nelson), his malleable stretch-wielding wife Helen / Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and kids invisible energy-blasting Violet(Sarah Vowell), hyperspeed Dash(Huck Milner, recast due to how much time has passed), and apparently bystanding baby Jack-Jack versus the evil mole-like supervillian Underminer(John Ratzenberger). Immediately the (even more improved to modern standards) slick visuals and action is present. There’s destruction and punching acrobatics, as the first, that would hold up against the best of the superhero genre today.
Of course, the situation doesn’t end there and ultimately through a pretty solid (if slightly inferior to the first and derivative of others) plot the family finds themselves both dealing with themselves and faces old and new. This divides the movie into essentially two disparate plot lines. The old cast is perfect at what they do (including the return of Lucius Best / Frozone (Samuel L Jackson) who appears in similar side-spots as last time around) but the new elements bring some benefit.
On one hand, there’s the quest of an even more increased role for Elastigirl as she meets the superhero advocate business moguls of the Deavor siblings in Winston (Bob Odenkirk) and Evelyn (Catherine Keener) as they find a plot by the Screenslaver(Bill Wise) unfold. The quality of the voice cast continues with these. Odenkirk’s Winston brings his trademark charisma into an animated realm with a bit of child-at-heart-superfan optimism Agent Coulson of the MCU would be proud of. She’s contrasted nicely with Keener’s Evelyn who is a laidback character of a bit of a new type to Pixar. Of course the Screenslaver’s role has to be seen firsthand, but leads to some actually kind of chilling and scary sequences with his mind-control devices and serious radical ideologies (remember we’re still talking about a Disney film).
Some cast fades to the side, mainly the new heroes who Elastigirl meets in portal-using Voyd (Sophia Bush), gravity crushing Krushauer(Phil LaMarr), eldery lava vomiting Reflux (Paul Eiding), an owl-man, a strong one etc who boil down to tropes and add to the worldbuilding that the first had but just act as mainly pieces within set-pieces. There’s not enough Underminer either but it seems there never was meant to be. Government agent Rick Dicker brings the classic “government agent” angle in his new performer Jonathan Banks but too is a bit.
Because this is a series, as many Pixar, about family and that succeeds in its funniness and drama. The other side of the film coin, ironic enough, is while Elastigirl goes on more of an adventure, Mr.Incredible has to face the large challenge of being a stay-at-home dad. This leads to some great laughs and the occasional charming motion as he deals with Dash’s math(unfortauntely some of his only memorable moments from him in the film ) and Violet’s boy problems etc. Most of all, he’s dealing with Jack-Jack. Jack-Jack is an absolute standout in this film. Only seen before in a deleted scene / short film, the main thing here is his superheroic powers are active and known about. This leads to some of the best stuff, both at home and (to be seen firsthand, abroad) as he uses powers such as eye beams, fire, transformation, teleporting, and more. It’s a great combination that makes him both awesomely useful and humorous. Just wait till the family starts visiting old friend Edna Mode (Brad Bird) again.. She may have some wonderful new fashion and otherwise ideas.
The master touch of creator and director Brad Bird can be felt again. The different plots end up converging in an exciting way. Before, during, and after the action is snappy and fast-paced with ways that raise the spectacle more than ever. This is helped by the brilliant soundtrack by Michael Giacchino again with all of its retro/ spy influence. With the jams, the retro-stylized aesthetic, and more it transports viewers into such a distinct, memorable and long-missed world.
That’s the thing.. There’s really no complaints about the movie other than that it’s been mostly done before. More of the same is what was wanted, and what works. This is while managing to raise itself to new visual and excitement spectacles with some slight boost to depth and nuance. Who knows where things will go from here, but this is what was wanted.. some of Pixar’s best as ever. 9 out of 10
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