Disney graciously sent us to an advanced screening of the incredible (sorry, I had to) Incredibles 2. Check out our film review below!
Film review by: Chloe Palka
Yes, it really is incredible. Incredibles 2—the follow-up to the beloved 2004 Pixar film The Incredibles—may have taken fourteen years to come together, but the action picks up as if it were yesterday (and it’s well worth the wait). After a showdown with the Underminer, the sequel spins off into a wild adventure for the Parr family that’s, well, super—super smart, super funny, and super fun.
The Parr family—including mom Helen/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), dad Bob/Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), 14-year-old Violet (Sarah Vowell), 10-year-old Dash (Huckleberry Milner), and baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile)—are still living under the radar, keeping their powers hidden with increasing frustration. When the Underminer situation goes awry, Helen and Bob conclude that one of them will have to go back to work. While what they have in mind is a “regular person” job, a different and much more interesting opportunity comes knocking courtesy of telecommunications tycoon Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk).
Deavor thinks it’s time to get superheroes back in the public’s good graces. With some help from his sister, tech wiz and designer Evelyn (Catherine Keener), Winston launches a PR campaign that puts Elastigirl front and center. While Elastigirl warms up to the spotlight, stopping a runaway train and generally killing it, Mr. Incredible tries his hand at being Mr. Mom. Unfortunately, between Violet’s boy problems, Dash’s struggles with schoolwork, and Jack-Jack’s burgeoning powers, it’s a role that proves more than a little challenging for Bob. (On the bright side, his struggles lead to an emergency visit to Edna Mode—again voiced by director Brad Bird—who, along with Jack-Jack, absolutely steals the show.)
While Elastigirl works to fight crime and build public goodwill for superheroes, a new villain quickly emerges. Screenslaver, a clever creation who controls minds through screens—which, of course, are everywhere—stands out not only for their nefarious deeds, but for their subversive message. This bad guy isn’t wreaking havoc just for the heck of it. We won’t say too much here, but suffice to say that this villain kind of has a point.
While Incredibles 2 can feel a bit too close to the plot of its predecessor at times, the film also builds on that formula, taking some of the themes further to a satisfying conclusion. The animation and Michael Giacchino score are top notch, particularly in the action scenes, which embrace the various superheroes’ powers to defy convention.
But it’s the characters who truly make this story something special—from a batch of interesting new supers to the ones we know and love (including the unforgettable Frozone, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson). Each member of the Parr family has truly come into their own since embracing their powers, and it’s so fun to see what that means for them both individually and as a family. As previously mentioned, Jack-Jack and Edna are absolute standouts, offering some of the film’s most delightful and hilarious moments.
Incredibles 2 is an absolute must-see for fans of the first movie and, well, just about everyone else. It’s fun for all ages with an interesting and important message at its heart—not to mention a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the superhero genre, continuing to reinvent and innovate. It’s not only a perfect summer movie, but a true gem that we can’t wait to watch again.
