(3.5 / 4)
With the same embrace of unadulterated fun as its predecessor mixed with some exploration of timely issues, Incredibles 2 is a dazzling thrill proving that the extensive wait for this entry was well worth it.
Of the extensive pantheon of Pixar films, The Incredibles always seemed to be the ripest story for a continuation, as the original was a fantastic origin story that set the groundwork for more adventures with the super-powered Parr family. This made it all the more surprising to me when other Pixar sequels seemed to take priority, such as Finding Nemo, Cars, and Monsters, Inc. Although The Incredibles is quintessential Pixar with the story being unafraid to tackle adult themed stories such as marital problems and midlife crises, the series offered a distinct flavor that its peers never had, prioritizing the thrill of action and adventure over the deeper sentiment possessed by other Pixar films. Returning writer and director Brad Bird understands that this embrace of adventure and fun is what makes The Incredibles so special and Incredibles 2 continues in this spirit producing possibly the funniest Pixar film to date.
After almost 14 years since the original, Incredibles 2 isn’t afraid to jump right back to where the last story ended with the Parr family, composed of Bob (Craig T. Nelsen), Helen (Holly Hunter), Dash (Huck Milner), Violet (Sarah Vowell) and baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile), facing off against the supervillain Underminer (John Ratzenberger) as he attempts to rob the Metroville Bank. In their effort to thwart Underminer’s plan, the family inadvertently causes catastrophic damage, leading to the shutdown of the “Super Relocation” program, essentially making it illegal to be a superhero. Although distraught by this development, it isn’t long until Bob, Helen, and the family friend Lucius (Samuel L. Jackson) are contacted by the telecommunications mogul Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his genius inventor sister, Evelyn (Catherine Keener) who propose to win the favor of the public and legalize superheroes once again.
Due to her track record of causing the least amount of damage, Winston requests Helen to be the one to undertake this task, much to Bob’s displeasure. After some moral deliberation Helen decides to once again don her Elastigril superhero persona as she battles a suitably creepy new villain known only as the Screenslaver, who has the ability to hypnotize and control anyone who views the screen he projects. The story simultaneously tracks Bob’s struggles with serving as the primary caretaker as he must help Violet and Dash with their romantic and school issues respectively, while also figuring out how to best manage Jack-Jack’s burgeoning superpowers.
This seemingly simple role reversal proves to be a fantastic continuation of the story as both Bob and Helen are exploring new territory. On paper this may not sound like the most creative approach, but it provides the film with arguably the funniest gags of any Pixar film as well as tackling some relevant topics. Much of the humor is generated through watching Bob grapple with everyday problems, with Jack-Jack’s new abilities being hilariously unexpected in how they manifest. Jack-Jack manages to steal every scene he is in, which is quite unexpected considering the miniscule role he occupied in the original film. Also of note is a hilarious sequence with returning favorite superhero fashion designer Edna Mode (voiced by director Brad Bird himself), and the surprising bond she forms with Jack-Jack. As with the first film, Edna’s presence is fleeting making you yearn for the character to have more screen time. As an aside I’m still waiting for an Edna spinoff one day as she is possibly one of the best characters Pixar has produced.
The action sequences also deserve praise as they were fittingly exhilarating and vibrant with much of the environments depicted being beautiful. I would even dare to say that the action featured in Incredibles 2 rivals many of the recent superhero films. Between an invigorating rescue scene involving Elastigirl and halting a moving train as well as some unexpectedly creative battles between fellow superheroes, I was on the edge of my seat during every rousing sequence.
In the midst of these zany moments and riveting action sequences, Incredibles 2 also explores some timely issues, elevating the film as more than just an action spectacle. Helen’s conflict with her husband over becoming the superhero in the spotlight has obvious parallels with the gender pay gap movement, but the film even delves into the idea of consumers being overly reliant on technology and how it is impacting society, as well as media manipulation and its effect on legislation. Those are extremely weighty topics, even for a Pixar movie and the film manages to touch upon each of them without once having to hit the brakes.
Although being a joy to watch from start to finish, Incredibles 2 isn’t without some mild hiccups, particularly as it pertains to the villain. Without giving too much away, the Screenslaver villain’s reveal was extremely obvious to me from the beginning, to the point where I was mentally hoping that the story wouldn’t go in this direction and that maybe it was obvious as an intentional misdirect. In addition to being very transparent, the reveal was also a bit too familiar as it followed the first film’s story beats more than I would have liked. There are also times during the film in which the transition from Helen and Bob’s distinct storylines feels a bit choppy as it was jarring going from one to the next when they seemed to have little to do with each other. The two stories do eventually intersect in an organic way though, making this a mild issue that is almost not worth mentioning.
Overall, Incredibles 2 manages to once again provide a layered examination of the lives of superheroes that gives most live action films of a similar subject matter a run for their money. The film is without a doubt the best of the more recent Pixar sequels and definitely concludes in a way that would foster even more entries into the series. I hope it doesn’t take another 14 years to witness the continuing adventures of the Parr family, or at the very least an Edna Mode centered spinoff.
