Remember 2004? John Howard is still Prime Minister, so put that into perspective. It was an interesting time; the notion of a comic book being turned into a movie was just coming to fruition, with Spiderman and Fantastic Four already successfully in the can. Then Pixar comes along needing to follow up Finding Nemo and surprises everyone with one of the most resonating and loved films of their company – probably due to its appeal to both kids and adults – and at the time, the freshness of the concept. The Incredibles was a game changer and it’s taken 14 years for director Brad Bird to tackle the sequel – which is also aptly coming at a time where Marvel and DC have had a stranglehold on the market for a decade. So consider my curiosity piqued.
The Parr family is, of course, back for Incredibles 2, only this time it’s mum Helen (Holly Hunter) who is working while Bob (Craig T Nelson) stays at home and takes care of his two burgeoning teenage kids and a toddler whose terrible twos are potentially devastating enough to level the whole suburb. Balancing that with a mid-life crisis is not easy.
The film picks up essentially where the first movie ended and the energy is turned to eleven almost the whole flick. I can’t remember a time this year I’ve felt such consistent pacing coupled with pinpoint dialogue and very tight character development. The tone is on point, mixing the balance between humour and action, whilst addressing serious social issues and asking some daunting questions of our modern world.
Coupled with a superb soundtrack, jaw-dropping animation and the sense that a lot of time and effort was put into making the film, is a gift to the audience, seldom seen these days. I’m so glad they got Brad Bird back at the helm for this, expectations were high and I can say with confidence they’ve been met.
Pixar has had some misfire sequels of late, but this film, despite being about heroes, feels refreshing and a nice portrayal on what I’m sure a lot of filmgoers have been feeling recently about the modern landscape of Hollywood. Ironically enough, this will make Disney a mint for doing exactly that.
To top it all off, it is rare a film comes out that is for everybody – age or gender, and like the first, Incredibles 2 is impossible not to enjoy if you can understand the use of superhero cliché is to lambaste, not to be lazy. There are rules to be followed in genre, and while they are often used then abused, watching this film makes you feel the sense of a strong filmmaker, and it makes the experience that much sweeter.
8.5/10
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