Incredibles 2
Composite Score: 84.14
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Catherine Keener, Eli Fucile, Bob Odenkirk, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Bird, Sophia Bush, and Brad Bird
Director: Brad Bird
Writer: Brad Bird
Genres: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi, Superhero
MPAA Rating: PG for action sequences and brief mild language
Box Office: $1.24 billion worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Incredibles 2 is the sequel to Brad Bird’s highly praised 2004 animated superhero film, The Incredibles. The sequel picks up almost immediately where the first film left off, with a quick action scene between the titular super-family and the Underminer before taking us into the heart of the plot of this new film. As the film unfolds, we see Mrs. Incredible/Elastigirl/Helen taking the lead on a new initiative to change the law that has outlawed superheroes and, in the process, getting caught up in another plot to get rid of superheroes forever, this one launched by the mysterious Screenslaver. At the same time, Mr. Incredible/Bob is left with the task of keeping the family running, helping Dash with homework, fixing Violet’s love life, and unveiling the many new powers of baby Jack-Jack. The blend of superhero action film, procedural mystery, and family comedy that worked so well in the original film is back here, hitting the familiar beats well, while introducing enough new pieces to keep the audience engaged. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, losing out to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It stands out as one of the better recent Disney Pixar outings and is definitely a solid sequel for fans of the original.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
While a successful and even satisfying sequel, Incredibles 2 does not venture far from the formula of the original beyond flipping the roles of Bob and Helen. It features one of the parents working as a superhero and getting tangled in a plot to bring superheroes as a collective down while the other deals with the more mundane tasks of parenting until they make a discovery that leads them to set out on their own to rescue their spouse, prompting the kids to launch their own rescue mission that ultimately ends with the whole family (and Frozone) fighting the villain(s) to stop a massive disaster and save the day. It even has a showdown with the villain at high altitude and a villain with childhood trauma that has left them callous toward supers. While Bird’s script does still work, and the comedy still works wonders at keeping the audience engaged, the new characters and locales don’t necessarily do enough to distract you from the fact that this is basically the same exact story as the first film.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Incredibles 2 is a high-quality family film – delivering comedy and action on levels that are approachable for all audiences. With new superheroes and villains in the mix, the team at Pixar really got to show off some fun powers that look great on-screen – with Voyd’s portal powers being the clear standout. All of the Jack-Jack sequences – him fighting the raccoon, Bob discovering all his different powers, his friendship with Edna – end up being the highlight of the film. They bring the right mix of comedy and creativity to the film, keeping the pace moving in moments where it might otherwise lag. Does the backyard fight with the raccoon feel a little bit like a short thrown in the middle of a different film? Sure, but it brings you back to the film when the pace slows down in the rest of the story.
Additionally, the team at Pixar continues to improve their animation skills – here exhibiting an improved ability to portray real-to-life human characters amid stylized settings. The 1950s-esque cities and suburbs of the world that the Incredibles live and operate never feels out of place or unreal – just reasonably distant – thanks to the work of the animation team. They also put in some truly human moments for all of the characters, giving them features, expressions, and stances that look like reality even though their body types and head shapes are still so stylized. It’s fun to watch.
The constant improvements of the Pixar animation team combined with Brad Bird’s solid blend of comedy and action help keep Incredibles 2 familiar and worth watching, deserving of a mention next to the other film greats. While its story might feel a bit too similar to the original at times, the new bits that Bird and his team have brought to the film keep things light and fun. This film is currently streaming on Disney+ for anyone looking to check it out in the coming days.
