Writer and director Brad Bird just loves animation and boy does animation love him back! The Iron Giant (1999), The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007) and now Incredibles 2. It is already a staggering body of work in animation movies.
I remember seeing The Incredibles (2004) in a single theatre. The use of minimalism in visual storytelling was stunning, especially in the first half.
But Incredibles 2Â may just be the blip in Brad Bird’s career, for it doesn’t fly off the screen, either in story, screenplay, jokes, villians or visual freshness, like the first Incredibles movie. The banter between the superhero family is the liveliest part of the movie. When the sequel has been 14 years late in coming, I didn’t expect it to start exactly where the first one ended.
There are various roads the story could have gone, and clearly the stakes needed to be higher and they aren’t. The tale of two entrepreneurs losing their parents because they blindly relied on superheroes to rescue them is immediately contrived. The screenplay concerning hypnotism is lame for a wannabe animation action adventure, and that makes for a rather weak climax. Basically it ends up un-hypnotizing hypnotized people, and hurrah, the day is saved.
The sequel only reminded me how good the first movie was, how the sense of danger was real, and had a real intruguing villian, who was using technology to ensure that superheroes are replaced forever. Sigh.
Good Character-Driven StoryÂ
An animated comic drama, Incredibles 2 starts precisely where The Incredibles left off 14 years ago. We meet the fab five, Bob/Mr. Incredible, Helen/Elastigirl and their three children Dash, Violet, and the cute baby, Jack-Jack fighting off the tunneling villain, Underminer. The damage from this battle leads to the closure of the “Super Relocation Program.”
Stuck at a motel and doomed to take up regular jobs again, the super family’s future seems grim. This is when Winston Deavor, superhero fan and telecommunications millionaire comes to the rescue. Along with genius sister Evelyn Deavor, Winston wants to bring banned superheroes back into the business. His ultimate goal is to rally public support and make supers legal again. Elastigirl is selected as the first choice to fight crime in the public eye.
The family is also provided a large spacious, luxurious home.Mr. Incredible has to grudgingly stay at home and tend to the kids, while Elastigirl has all the fun. Danger looms as a new mysterious villain called Screenslaver poses serious problems.
Intelligent, Mature, Cute
Incredibles 2 flows in a fabulously witty and comic rhythm and never slackens. Brad Bird’s story punches through stereotypes to give us an almost perfect animation picture experience. From fluid action sequences, uproarious yet balanced comedy, stunning visuals, superb background music and voiceovers, Incredibles 2Â is a treat.
Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson and Brad Bird reprise voicing their characters. Nelson (as Mr.Incredible), Hunter (as Elastigirl) and Huck Milner (as Dash) especially stand out.
Apart from the world-saving and superpowers, Bird addresses human problems and insecurities and as in The Incredibles, he receives our adorable empathy. Mr. Incredible could be any stressed stay-at-home parent, Violet stands for awkward-in-love teenagers and you have met enthusiastic, restless kids like Dash. Jack-Jack, the unpredictable cute baby with numerous uncontrolled superpowers packs in more fun.
Don’t Miss It! Â
Towards the end, it does seem that the film impresses, but doesn’t go one better than The Incredibles. But that is no complaint, just a passing observation.
At less than 2 hours, Incredibles 2 is very watchable for its incredible creativity, really cool jokes, lovely, light pop reference moments, wonderful connectable characters, and brilliant, justified storytelling. Incredibles 2 is a highly-recommended fun weekend watch at the theaters!
