Incredibles 2 Review — The Odissean Experience

PG
2hr 5min
Adventure | Action | Animation
July 2018
Brad Bird

President George Bush gained a second term in office, social networking site ‘Facebook’ came into existence and a Pixar film called ‘The Incredibles’ was released in cinemas. For some the year 2004 may feel a long time ago or not long enough for others, but what is for sure is Incredibles fans will say it has felt like a lifetime.

This time round, Incredibles director Brad Bird looks to continue the ‘in vogue’ trend of female leads by making Holly Hunter's "Elastigirl" the centre of the movies action sequences. This fits well in an age of strong heroine figures such as Gal Gadot's Wonder-woman, Scarlet Johansson's Black Widow and Brie Larson's upcoming Captain Marvel.

Speaking of Super-heros - born in an age beset with high-octane antics from both Marvel and DC Characters, today's audiences have had their expectation bar set astonishingly high in terms of action sequences. Clearly inspired by this backdrop (as well as his working relationship with Tom Cruise on Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol) writer and director, Brad Bird, ensures that Incredibles 2 delivers in spades in this department.

The movie jumps straight back in to where its predecessor left it fourteen years ago as the Parr family suit up to tackle the terrorising Underminer. However, after a damaging encounter with this new foe, the question of whether superheroes provide the necessary impact rears its head once more. With the future of those specially gifted looking bleak, superhero fanatic Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) offers Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) and our leading couple a chance to show their worth to the world. The first responsibilities are given to Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) who must leave Mr Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) at home with the kids.

Since the original explored the theme of the legality of superheroes, the recurrence of the same issue in this chapter can feel slightly repetitive. Whereas, the heroics of fatherhood does provide a relatable plotline for audiences. Indeed, witnessing Mr Incredible battle some of life’s everyday challenges demonstrates that being parents can be as hard as saving the world. Therefore, teamwork appears to be fundamental within a marriage highlighted by the revealing nature of character differences when the partner is away.

Credit: Pixar Animation Studios — *Credit:* Pixar Animation Studios

Funnily enough with all the great voice talent on show, it is a character who can’t speak that grabs the most attention: the youngest member of the family baby Jack-Jack. As teased in the original, Jack-Jack is still finding his feet in terms of his special abilities. This leads to a number of comedic moments that embrace slapstick humour as well as the birth of a hilarious duo in Jack-Jack and Edna Mode, the latter voiced brilliantly by the film’s director Brad Bird.

Incredibles 2 offers many memorable action scenes that showcase the character’s powers to create gripping and at times tense moments, accompanied by Michael Giacchino’s score that once again fits the setting perfectly. Furthermore, although the original film still holds up today from an animation standpoint, Incredibles 2 clearly shows the vast improvement and attention to detail that Pixar can now deliver. For example the strands of Dash’s hair or the ice produced by Frozone contribute to the films stunning visuals.

Unfortunately, one of the film’s major flaws comes in the form of its villain The Screenslaver. The character seems to offer an interesting reflection on society, but the revelation that proceeds is far too obvious and even younger viewers will foresee the outcome.

All in all, despite a few flaws and quibbles with predictability, Incredibles 2 wears its 14 year hiatus with grace, delivering a truly satisfying spectacle for both children and adults alike. Time will tell if it ranks as better than the Original. What is clear is that it is certainly equal to its predecessor. A great summer view.