The best part of this now-franchise is STILL the shape of Frozone’s head.
The Incredibles
Synopsis: Bob Parr was ”Mr. Incredible”, one of the world’s greatest superheroes – before all of the legendary crime fighters of the day were forced to retire after a string of mishaps & frivolous law suits. Itching to get back into action, Bob gets his chance when he discovers that an evil genius bent on diabolical revenge is behind the mystery. His family flies to the rescue for an extraordinary battle of wits and superpowers. (Rovi)
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson
Writer: Brad Bird
Director: Brad Bird
Rating: PG (Canada/United States)
Running Time: 115mins
Trailer:
The original Incredibles thing was revolutionary- it came towards the beginning of Pixar’s existence, being the sixth film out of their current 20. Additionally, this came right before the big superhero film boom- 3 years before the first MCU outing, with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man. And, with these things considered- it is quite difficult to deny that the film might have been the peak of both eras.
The Incredibles is, well, nothing short of incredible (sorry to take the easy way out on this one, guys). Setting up for new phase of CG animated films and superhero films, this is a wonderfully funny and irresistibly entertaining romp that still stands the test of time, 14 years following its release.
To begin, it’s worth pointing out that this one was quite edgy for a children’s animated film- it is honestly shocking in 2018 to recall that this film shows gunfire, and quite frequently. However, considering the overall satirical tone of the film, it is just way too difficult to criticize considering the cartoonish nature of the thing.
On a different note though, the way this films handles the overall concept of superheroes is genius. As previously mentioned, this films almost becomes a satire in the way it presents the farfetched aspects of super-heroism in modern media, in the best way possible.
Especially considering the time when this was made, this has a really clever and fast script, with many of the jokes flying right over the heads of the young audiences. The way it addresses superhero cliches, and topics like obsessive fandom (we’re looking right at you, Syndrome). Even to a point when 14 years later, these tropes are even more common in superhero media, these ideas still hold up brilliantly.
Sure, the animation is a bit dated, and it does become over the top at points- but these things aside, this is a film that has truly earned its iconic status in pop culture. It is a brilliant, immersive and witty film that truly set the bar for animation, and simply the concept of the superhero film forever ahead. It definitely maintains it’s quality above many films in the genre today. 14 years later, many are still asking themselves, “WHERE IS MY SUPER SUIT?” and its just too difficult not to join in with joy.
Score: 8.5/10
Incredibles 2
Synopsis: Telecommunications guru Winston Deavor enlists Elastigirl to fight crime and make the public fall in love with superheroes once again. That leaves Mr. Incredible with one of his greatest challenges ever — staying home and taking care of three rambunctious children. As Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack offer him a new set of headaches, a cyber-criminal named Screenslaver launches his dastardly plan — hypnotizing the world through computer screens. (Rovi)
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson
Writer: Brad Bird
Director: Brad Bird
Rating: PG (Canada/United States)
Running Time: 118mins
Trailer:
The original Incredibles seems to have a following that is almost cult like. The fan base is extremely passionate, and they are a large part of the reason why this film was even made. 14 years later, a sequel is finally here and the fans are going nuts. Is it worth all the excitement and anticipation that has been built towards it? For the most part, it was.
Incredibles 2, although not as good as it could’ve been, is worth the 14 year wait. Everyone’s favorite supers are back, and although not better than ever, they get a solid outing here that was full of laughs, entertainment and nostalgia.
Story aside, our characters are still as lovable as ever. Elastigirl takes the lead here, and Hunter’s voice and the way she is brought back into the story is well done. Nelson voicing Mr. Incredible takes an unexpected turn here, which mostly involves him being a stay at home dad- these parts might have been some of the best in the film. Violet (Sarah Vowell) and Dash (Huck Milner) are just as good as they were in the past. Even though Elastigirl takes the spotlight in terms of the story, Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) really shines here, getting to show his powers off unlike in the first film.
The best thing this film has going for it is easily how light it is. Whereas the first film was quite dark situationally, this one is all about the laughs and kid-friendly entertainment. The interaction between the members of the family are brilliant, and it never plays it safe. It also never gets too childish, bringing a further sense of enjoyment than nostalgia for the older audiences, and creates a pretty good time for the parents taking their kids as well. With all of this said, the lighter side of the story is the strongest part, too- Mr. Incredible’s journey through being a stay home dad is pretty damn funny, and most of the films memorable moments comes from him looking after Jack-Jack while Elastigirl is elsewhere.
Why isn’t it perfect, though? Well, honestly, the story is a tad bit too intricate. For a kids film, the direction that the story goes becomes way too completed and detailed for its young audiences to understand. This mostly lies in the Elastigirl plot- the family issues that we see between the kids and Mr. Incredible don’t fall into this problem. Without revealing too much, there is too much info behind the story that creates a tendency for the audience to tune out, simply due to how overly complicated the plot is. Additionally, it seems like the filmmakers got quite distracted with making this an extravagant epic opposed to a really well written story, which sometimes causes for an underwhelming result.
These issues aside, this was a truly fun sequel that die hard fans of the predecessor will freak out over. If you are one of those people who have been antsy for this, you’ll probably enjoy it. For less passionate fans, it’s still a fun time too.
Score: 7/10
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