Incredibles 2 (2018) - Review

14 years later and Disney/Pixar are back with their crime-fighting family. Does it live it up to the 2004 classic?

In Incredibles 2, ex-superhero's Bob (Craig T. Nelson) and Helen (Holly Hunter) Parr are still struggling to raise their kids in a world where superheroes are illegal. When Helen is approached by a media-savvy super fan (Bob Odenkirk) and his tech-genius sister (Catherine Keener) in an effort to change the public's perception of heroes, Helen must don the Elastigirl costume and leave the utterly-unprepared Bob to look after the family.

As a huge fan of the original film (seeing it in theaters when I was 10), I am happy to report that Incredibles 2 does live up to the decade and a half of hype. While not as deep nor as tight a script as the first film, this sequel does a fine job of staying true to the original tone and themes, while also taking the series in interesting new directions.

While The Incredibles was Bob's film, diving into the stagnation of his 9-to-5 life post-Mr. Incredible, Incredibles 2 is Helen's film. Elastigirl is front and center, and Holly Hunter crafts an even more sympathetic and endearing character than in the previous installment. The movie's change of central characters differentiates itself. While there are some marital and familial spats that seem somewhat repeated from last time, viewing them through Helen's eyes sheds new light on these issues, and keeps the movie realistic. In my review for The Incredibles, I applauded the accurate depiction of middle-class families, and Incredibles 2 continues that. Sure, coming together to defeat Syndrome fixed some issues, but family is more complicated than that. In this outing we deal with Bob losing his job and needing to step down as the bread winner and step up as the caregiver which is comedically yet tastefully done. Bob struggles with taking the back seat to Helen after being THE GUY for years, and it's both sad and heartwarming to see him try.

Meanwhile, teenage adolescence is another key issue, as Violet contends with her powers getting in the way of her blossoming love life. While these plot threads are not as thick and juicy as those of The Incredibles, they serve the narrative and provide the rest of the family with something to do while Helen is off saving the world.

The new characters are welcome additions as well. Odenkirk and Keener are a good duo, and the new superheroes introduced are fun, particularly Sophia Bush's (One Tree Hill represent) Void.

The devious Screenslaver is a formidable foe. Utilizing hypnosis to subdue their foes, Screenslaver trades in Syndrome's excellent motivation for downright creepiness. That is not to say that Screenslaver does not have a worthwhile motivation, in fact it is one of my favourite scenes in the film. To discuss it would be to spoil the villains identity, but suffice it to say that eagle-eared viewers will be able to deduce the alter ego early.

The animation is terrific. Colours pop, the action is faster and with more moving parts, and the character models all are more detailed than their 2004 counterparts. While in my last review I zeroed in on the degradation of CGI over the years in one series, I am pleased to say that Incredibles 2 only shows improvements. Brad Bird's direction is wonderful. While some animation can feel more TV than cinematic, Incredibles 2 NEEDS to be seen on a big screen for the best viewing experience.

Michael Giacchino's score is back, and once that Incredibles theme kicks in you will feel like a kid again, watching these heroes for the first time. The score evokes blues and jazz themes from film noir, giving the feel of the golden age of comics from the 1940's and 1950's. The choice to set the series in the 1960's is inspired. Much like the Batman 1990's cartoon, this is truly a timeless period that can be relatable no matter how far in the future. It is a money aesthetic.

While a shallower experience than the original, Incredibles 2 does so much right that the more surface level story can be ignored for the great entertainment the film offers. 14 years later, and this sequel is just as incredible. FULL PRICE. I can only hope it doesn't take another 14 years for us to get Incredibles 3.