Incredibles 2 is an entertaining, family film that has a lot of heart, action, comedy and spectacle.
Incredibles 2 (2018) picks up seconds after the first film ends, where our “Incredible” family is fighting the Underminer, as he uses his gargantuan drill to dig under the streets to get to the banks and rob them of their money. The Parr family (Incredibles) do their best to keep people safe and prevent the drill from destroying entire city blocks. But, despite their best efforts, the Underminer eludes escape, leaving millions in collateral damage, with the Parr family front and center as the ones to blame.
Fueled by a concerned public and disapproving law enforcement, the Parr family are yet again forced to hang up their costumes and return to their (semi) normal lives. However, not too long after, Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) and Helen Parr (Elastic Girl), with Lucius Best (Frozone), are approached by Winston Deaver, a successful businessman and owner of a telecommunications company, whose enduring love for superheroes encourages him to improve the public perception of superheroes.
Deaver then tasks Elastic Girl to fight crime and showcase her heroics, wearing a body camera that gives a first-person view of what obstacles she must overcome to save the day. While Elastic Girl is saving the world one day at a time as well as proving to the public that superheroes are needed, Bob Parr is transitioning into full-time Dad mode, helping the kids with homework, reading bedtime stories, and doing his best to minimize the challenges that come with caring for a super-enhanced baby. Bob and Helen have their missions, but the question is: Are they up for the task?
Back in 2004, The Incredibles premiered in theaters and was released to critical acclaim. Both critics and audiences loved the tale of the incredible (pun intended) superhero family who worked together to save the day. Not only was it a good movie for kids to see, but adults could get a lot out of it from its relatable drama and fleshed-out characters. It was no surprise that writer/director Brad Bird won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Because of the success of the first film, many fans wondered when a sequel would be released. Fast forward 14 years later, the long-awaited sequel to the animated hit has finally come out. But, the question that comes up is: Was it worth the wait? Answer: INCREDIBLY YES! Incredibles 2 is an entertaining, family film that has a lot of heart, action, comedy and spectacle.
Written and directed by Brad Bird, Incredibles 2 exceeds expectations and will entertain longtime fans of the original movie. Bird reminds us why we love the first film in the way of touching upon the same themes (family drama) and plot elements (concerned public) that made the 2004 movie so moving. Like the first film, Incredibles 2 focuses on the Parr family, as they try to live out normal lives. Scenes of Bob Parr adopting to his new role as a full-time Dad are compelling and funny to watch, especially the scenes of Jack Jack experimenting with his powers. As viewers, we easily sympathize with his plight and want him to succeed. Helen (aka Elastic Girl) takes on a prominent role in saving the world to show why her and other superheroes are needed. Elastic Girl’s plot thread has political undertones and surprising social commentary. Admittedly, the scenes of Elastic Girl wearing a body camera are great to watch but can divert the attention of viewers who recall the news surrounding police brutality and the enforcement of body cameras. Fortunately, these scenes are short, which allows viewers to get back to enjoying the incredible characters onscreen. Brad Bird did an amazing job of giving each of his heroes enough character development, allowing characters to shine and resemble actual people. On the flip side, Screenslaver is an underwhelming villain. Despite Screenslaver’s sympathetic motivations, the character would have benefited from more screen time. At times, Screenslaver feels more like a plot device than an actual character.
From a directorial standpoint, Brad Bird once again delivers great action and spectacle in Incredibles 2. Many of the action sequences feature Elastic Girl using her quick-wits and intuition to save the day. These scenes not only highlight Elastic Girl’s unique ability to contort her body, but also show how her intelligence keeps her on track on overcoming the death-defying situations she faces. Plenty of suspense come from these scenes and viewers shouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves on the edge of their seats.
Overall, Incredibles 2 is a great family film with balanced amounts of drama, comedy, and action. It took 14 years for the sequel to hit theaters. Many wondered if this was going to be good or if it was going to be a letdown. Fortunately, the movie possesses the same elements and lovable characters that made the first film so great. Admittedly, some people may consider the first film to be better. However, there’s no doubt that Pixar—with writer/director Brad Bird—once again delivers an incredible animated film that people will talk about for years.
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