Year: 2018
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, and Catherine Keener
Tagline: It's been too long, dahlings
Synopsis: With Helen (Elastigirl) off saving the world (and saving their chances of getting superheroes legalized again), Bob (Mr. Incredible) watches the kids.
Tagline: It's been too long, dahlings
Synopsis: With Helen (Elastigirl) off saving the world (and saving their chances of getting superheroes legalized again), Bob (Mr. Incredible) watches the kids.
Review
Like all Pixar films, we are first treated to an animated short. This time it is "Bao." As always, the animation is beautiful. And the story is clearly heartfelt and personal. I got where the story was going, but it didn't quite click with me. To me it was nice. To someone else (perhaps a parent) it might better resonate.
And now for our feature presentation ...
It's been 14 years since we met the Parr family, Lucius, and of course Edna Mode. Was it worth the wait? My answer is a resounding "Yes!" While I don't think it fully recaptures the original magic, Incredibles 2 is still a terrific follow-up to a terrific original.
One of the best parts of the film is it has something for everyone. Is it a comedy? An action film? A story about family dynamics and parenthood? Or a story about superheroes? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. It's all of those things and balances them in a way that never gets old or feels forced. The story does borrow some elements from the original, but it takes them in a fresh direction that allows for further character development as well as the introduction of new characters.
And really, this is all about the great characters. Edna again steals the scenes she is in. Lucius is as cool as ever (forgive the unintended pun). As for the Parr family, we pick them up right where we left them. They have the same faults and hangups and are continuing to learn. They are just like a normal family ... only with superpowers.
Another fun aspect of this film is getting to see even more of what Elastigirl is capable of with her powers. She has some great action scenes. We also get more of what Frozone and Violet are capable of. The new supers are interesting too, especially Voyd.
I watched The Incredibles a few weeks ago to get ready for the sequel. And one of the most apparent things is just how much animation has improved in the intervening years. Pixar has especially excelled at humans and hair in those 14 years, and it shows. The original still looks good. But this one looks fantastic.
Also important, the music is just as good as the original. And we get introduced to theme songs for Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone.
Topping it all off, Incredibles 2 is funny throughout and flat out hilarious at times. Jack-Jack steals the show with his ever-increasing powers. But the rest of the family, Edna, and Lucius have lost none of their own wit. Neither have the film-makers.
The film is rated PG for some mild language and peril. It seemed on par (on Parr ... get it?) with the original in terms of the action and danger. The mild language flew past me the first time I saw the movie. Then it was pointed out in a review I read. I guess it is the kind of stuff I'm too used to hearing.
If you haven't already seen Incredibles 2, what are you waiting for? Go see it.
*** Spoiler Section ***
I don't know if there will be an Incredibles 3. I'm certainly up for the idea if they can come up with a story. And I hope we don't have to wait 14 years for it.
Without being heavy handed about it, the film does leave open a couple ways for the story to continue. First off, the Underminer is still on the loose. We can't leave that unresolved forever, right? Second, the Screenslaver does pose an interesting question that the film doesn't truly answer. Why should people simply trust the supers? Sure, we know that Bob, Helen, and Lucius are in it because they truly want to help others (a fact Rick Dicker acknowledges). But it's an interesting idea I think they could play around with in another film.
And now for our feature presentation ...
It's been 14 years since we met the Parr family, Lucius, and of course Edna Mode. Was it worth the wait? My answer is a resounding "Yes!" While I don't think it fully recaptures the original magic, Incredibles 2 is still a terrific follow-up to a terrific original.
One of the best parts of the film is it has something for everyone. Is it a comedy? An action film? A story about family dynamics and parenthood? Or a story about superheroes? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. It's all of those things and balances them in a way that never gets old or feels forced. The story does borrow some elements from the original, but it takes them in a fresh direction that allows for further character development as well as the introduction of new characters.
And really, this is all about the great characters. Edna again steals the scenes she is in. Lucius is as cool as ever (forgive the unintended pun). As for the Parr family, we pick them up right where we left them. They have the same faults and hangups and are continuing to learn. They are just like a normal family ... only with superpowers.
Another fun aspect of this film is getting to see even more of what Elastigirl is capable of with her powers. She has some great action scenes. We also get more of what Frozone and Violet are capable of. The new supers are interesting too, especially Voyd.
I watched The Incredibles a few weeks ago to get ready for the sequel. And one of the most apparent things is just how much animation has improved in the intervening years. Pixar has especially excelled at humans and hair in those 14 years, and it shows. The original still looks good. But this one looks fantastic.
Also important, the music is just as good as the original. And we get introduced to theme songs for Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone.
Topping it all off, Incredibles 2 is funny throughout and flat out hilarious at times. Jack-Jack steals the show with his ever-increasing powers. But the rest of the family, Edna, and Lucius have lost none of their own wit. Neither have the film-makers.
The film is rated PG for some mild language and peril. It seemed on par (on Parr ... get it?) with the original in terms of the action and danger. The mild language flew past me the first time I saw the movie. Then it was pointed out in a review I read. I guess it is the kind of stuff I'm too used to hearing.
If you haven't already seen Incredibles 2, what are you waiting for? Go see it.
*** Spoiler Section ***
I don't know if there will be an Incredibles 3. I'm certainly up for the idea if they can come up with a story. And I hope we don't have to wait 14 years for it.
Without being heavy handed about it, the film does leave open a couple ways for the story to continue. First off, the Underminer is still on the loose. We can't leave that unresolved forever, right? Second, the Screenslaver does pose an interesting question that the film doesn't truly answer. Why should people simply trust the supers? Sure, we know that Bob, Helen, and Lucius are in it because they truly want to help others (a fact Rick Dicker acknowledges). But it's an interesting idea I think they could play around with in another film.
Quotable Quotes
- "Num num, cookie?" -- Bob to Jack-Jack
- "How's Jack-Jack?" "... He's in excellent health." -- Helen and Bob
- "Combustion imminent? What does that mean?" "It means fire, Robert." -- Bob and Edna
- "No firing the baby in the house." -- Bob to Dash and Violet
- "I renounce my renunciation." -- Violet
- "You want me to un-crush?" "What? Nobody's ever asked that before?" -- Krushauer and Bob
ISFS
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