Finally!! Hallelujah!! It’s about time!! And some other assorted exclamations, etcetera. You animation/comic book fans know what I’m saying. The year was 2004, nine years after Pixar had turned the world of feature animation on its ear with the ground-breaking (first) TOY STORY. After breathing life into the toys, along with bugs, fish, and “bump-in-the-night” monsters, they were tackling a story that mainly consisted of human beings, No, better than “puny” humans, superheroes (to avoid copyrights on that phrase they were “supers”). THE INCREDIBLES was a box office smash, but the sequel “go ahead” was never given, it seemed. Pixar continued to bring out the hits and collect lots of Oscar gold. And several of those flicks got their follow-ups. There was a third TOY STORY (a fourth’s in the works), which may be the best of those “returns”. But fans wanted to get another romp with the Parr family. They didn’t care how Nike meet Sully in college, or how Dory got lost. Plus there were three, the original and two entries, in the CARS franchise (and it’s ‘sorta’ spin-off PLANES). There was a lot happening with the non-animated “supers”, too. Fourteen years ago, the X-Men had arrived and Tobey Maguire had webbed up the Green Goblin and Dr. Octopus as Spider-Man. Soon we’d go through the Nolan/Bale Batman trilogy, get two more Spideys, and see the rise of the Marvel Movie Universe (and a stumbling one with the DC characters, Wonder Woman excepted). The subject matter has gotten much deeper, so Pixar has gone back to that “first family of justice” with the long-awaited INCREDIBLES 2. Was it worth the wait? Well…
It begins with a quiet scene between two of the supporting characters from the original. Fade out and we’re in the thick of it, right when the first flick ended, so many years ago. Time hasn’t passed for the Incredibles as they face off against the mole-like Underminer (John Ratzenberger) right as the big school track meet has ended. Bob Parr AKA Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and his wife Helen AKA Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) instruct their kids, teenager Violet ( Sarah Vowell) and pre-teen Dash (Huck Milner) to watch their infant sibling Jack-Jack while they stop the villain’s massive drilling tank from destroying the bank district of Municiburg. Luckily Bob’s best pal Lucius AKA Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) lends an icy hand. Though the Underminer’s plan is thwarted, the battle has caused lots of damage. As the Parrs are arrested (“supers” are still outlawed), Frozone escapes, but is given a card by a friendly limo driver (who can the passenger be). Government “supers” liason Rick Dicker springs the Parrs and takes them to temporary digs at a local motel. But this is the last time he can help them. His division’s been cut and early retirement’s looming. .The Parr family’s spirits are lifted by a surprise visit from Lucius. Seems that the guy on that mysterious business card has a possible job for the adult trio. Donning their original uniforms, they travel to a massive estate. There they meet “super-fan of the supers”, Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), who has a plan to make the public love them once more, and repeal those laws that ban the heroes. They’re joined by his tech-savy sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener), who provides a “tricked-out” motorcycle to…Helen. Winston thinks that Elastigirl is the best person to lay the groundwork for his plan. While she goes to the crime-ridden city of New Urbem, Bob will hold down the new household (a mansion courtesy of Deavor). But Mr. Incredible faces his greatest challenge as he assists Dash with his math homework, deals with Violet’s budding romance with Tony Rydinger, and discovers that baby Jack-Jack has powers. Lots of them. Meanwhile their mom has her hands full when a new super-villain, the Screenslaver, begins a campaign of crime and destruction that may lead to the end of the “supers” for all time.
The original actors slip into their roles as easily as the supers slip into their masks (those tights on the other hand….). Hunter’s Helen has most of the action/detective beats this time out, but she’s still the nurturing force that holds the family together, even as she’s tracking down Screenslaver miles away. In the original we got a taste of her hero skills, but this time she’s really propelling the story with her “flexibility”. Nelson’s Bob may be the more emotional of the two this time as he struggles to keep the kids on track, a task his tremendous strength proves of little use. At one point he comes close to a breakdown as fatigue and worry become his personal “kryptonite”. Vowell still expertly voices Violet’s conflicting emotions and desire to become her own person while “crushing hard’ on schoolmate Tony. Jackson’s still the king of cool as Lucius expands on his role as Bob’s BFF to become a surrogate uncle to the Parr brood. Though Frozone not officially an Incredible, he’s an invaluable asset to the franchise. As for the “newbies”, Milner practically pops with energy as he takes over as the impulsive, eager, and a bit bratty Dash. And then there’s the Deavors voiced by two terrific actors (kudos again to Pixar for not going for high profile pop culture “flavors” as other studios might do). Odenkirk’s a delight as the ultimate ultra-rich “fanboy” who just might be the Incredibles’ twist on the ole’ “fairy godfather” (the look of joy as he sings the heroes’ theme songs is priceless). Equally superb is the fabulous Keener who brings exactly the right touch of snark and smirk as the Deavor who quickly bonds with Helen. Oh, and where would the Incredibles be, and what would they wear, without the design diva Edna Mode, whose sneers and “dahlinks” are provided once again by the film’s multi-talented writer/director Brad Bird.
So is talented an adequate term for the impressive triple threat that is Mr. Bird? After a foray into the world of live action ( MISSION IMPOSSIBLE-GHOST PROTOCOL was one of the best entries in that series. TOMORROWLAND was…a misfire), he’s returned to deliver another exciting romp, both a satire and a satisfying ode to the “long-underwear” genre. His script is not merely a retread of the first flick, but a further exploration of family and the pros and cons of having enhanced abilities. Bird even gets in a few digs at the newer “subset” of pitting heroes against each other (as in BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE and CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR). He’s also given us a villain, who despite his terrible actions and method, has a valid critique of society. First and foremost, Bird is an expert animation craftsman and gives us some of the best acting in a film this year. I’m not talking about the vocal work, but the expressions on the characters’ faces, and how they gesture and move. In a most memorable scene, Bob goes through the gamut of emotions as he explains his sleep-deprived near-collapse and remorse over his parenting skills. Though it was computer created, it is an honest, riveting performance. Needless to say, Bird has an army of talented artists executing his vision. The design work on the new characters is dazzling, especially with a new group of international supers. There’s even a senior citizen hero whose names and powers are one of the film’s best gags (literally). Once more, the settings, cars, fashions, and props have a “retro-futuristic’ feel, much like the first Tim Burton BATMAN flicks. Yes, there are cell phones and computers, but the furniture and autos are cool 50’s and 60’s streamlined. And is anything cooler than Michael Giacchino’s big brassy score? As with the original it’s love letter to the 60’s work of the great John Barry, particularly in the thrilling finale’ that echos THUNDERBALL. The music never overwhelms, rather it enhances the film by amping up the tension and sweetening the gags. Yes, it’s very funny, especially as Jack-Jack faces his first adversary. Unlike Pixar’s last triumph COCO this flick doesn’t pummel the heartstrings, but there are scenes of great tenderness (even with Edna) between the battles and bomb blasts.
So, to answer that earlier question: Yes it’s well worth the wait! Certainly, but I hope it’s not another 14 years before we catch up with the Parr family. Here’s to another super (and superb) entertainment to follow INCREDIBLES 2 (maybe Dash could intern at Pixar)!
5 Out of 5
