As it turns out, Disney / Pixar's newest animated feature is very aptly named, but so that I don't sound redundant, I'll sum up The Inredibles in another single word....Awesome.
Who ever doubted it? Since their first foray in the feature film arena, Pixar's efforts to create fun and poignant stories seems to have come naturally. They've never had an unsuccesful movie. Their last 5 films have grossed a minimum of $150 million in ticket sales and The Incredibles is well on it's way, clearing 71 million it's first weekend. That's primarily because in a sea of celluloid crap, The Incredibles is good. Really good. Here's why.
Comic book super heroes are nothing new to film. Hollywood has seen a slew of 'supers' come and go, mostly go and despite the overwhelming lack of success they've had, they just keep coming. Pixar created a hype for this film at the height of publicity for movies like The Hulk, Daredevil and rumors of new Superman and Batman flics. Their trailer however failed to show an angst ridden, dark character, fighting inner demons while trying to juggle a public life and take down criminals as a masked wonder. Instead, we get a balding man in his 40's wearing tight spandex and attempting, despite clear super strength, to buckle a belt around the spare tire that hero retirement has earned him. That's comedy.
The story starts us in a 50's era metropolis with plenty of super villians and heroes flying, leaping and generally swooshing about saving the town. Two such heroes enter into a bond to fight by each other's side, but not necessarily against crime. Mr. Incredible (super strength) and Elastigirl (super stretchy body) tie the knot in a little super ceremony before hitting the streets again to take down the latest arch enemy of truth and justice. All is well until lawsuits start popping up. People who don't want to be saved, collateral damage and disgruntled cops lash out against the city's heroes forcing them into a super hero relocation program. They must assume their secret identities, for good, and try to live normal lives with limited government protection.
Flash forward to present day. Bob (Craig T. Nelson) and Helen Parr (Holly Hunter) go about their lives with 3 children under tow. Bob is an insurance policy reviewer who barely fits into his cubicle and towers over his miniscule boss, even when getting chewed out. Helen stays at home cooking, cleaning and taking care of Violet, Dash and baby Jack Jack. Bob not so secretly longs for the old days when he and his best friend Lucius (Sam Jackson) fought side by side as Mr Incredible and Frozone. They head out weekly to listen to the police scanner in hopes that they can, at least secretly, save the day one last time. Of course, they tell their wives they've gone bowling. In the meantime, Helen struggles with teaching their super fast son Dash why they must keep their super powers secret. Violet on the other hand exudes teen angst, but she can hide her feelings, not to mention everything else, by turning invisible. She can create force fields as well, but has problems getting a handle on them. Finally baby Jack Jack is the most unusual of them all. He's normal, no powers.
So there you go. Not so typical suburban family, just trying to get by, same as everyone. When a face from the past shows up though, things are turned upside down and our faithful couple must once again don the spandex in order to save the city, and really, who didn't see that coming? Normally, I would say predictability kills a movie faster than movie theatre chili, but The Incredibles is so full of character and genuine wit that it tends to be over way too quickly. The movie is riotously funny at times all the while keeping the action in the leagues of a Die Hard movie. Audiences are fed a moral, but in small bites you don't notice that emphasize family togetherness. From a technical standpoint, human facial animation is top notch, though still cartoony which suits the film well. Special effects, for example wet hair and bodies, explosions and some of the lush jungle sets are spectacular.
I can't recommend The Incredibles enough. It has more than enough entertainment packed into it's 2 hours, the longest animated feature to date, and easily appeals to every age. I have no doubt that this will be a serious contender come Oscar time for Best Animated Feature. Here at Media Geeks, we are, for the first time in a long time, looking forward to a sequel. Director Brad Bird could very well have the beginnings to his own Toy Story franchise.
