Review: Fun Runs in the Family with 'Incredibles 2'
This review was originally published on UW Film Club, but has since been reuploaded here with the author’s permission.
—
After 14 years, Pixar has returned to the series that helped establish them as a household name. Since then, the animation studio has leaned into their franchises and produced more sequels in their last 8 years than they did in their first 15 years if existence. To the dismay of many, these sequels have not lived up to the pedigree of the originals (sans Toy Story) as films like Cars 2 & 3, Monsters University, and Finding Dory have received mixed reception. Of all their franchises, The Incredibles always stood as one of the films that would be easily positioned for a sequel, but now we finally have it, and while it doesn’t live up to the masterful achievement that is the original, it is still a highly entertaining film.
After the events of the original, the Parr family still faces public condemnation. Their rampant destruction has caused the government to shutter the relocation program and uphold the ban on supers. In the aftermath, Bob (Mr. Incredible voiced by Craig T. Nelson) and Hellen (Elastigirl voiced by Holly Hunter) receive an offer from Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), a mogul who wants to carry out a publicity campaign to make supers appreciated again. After agreeing, Deavor focuses on promoting Elastigirl first, causing Bob to become a stay at home dad who solves family problems for Dash (Huck Miner), Violet (Sarah Vowell), and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) while Hellen tackles the new threat, the Screen Slaver.
Returning to direct is the ever-demanding craftsman, Brad Bird. This return comes after his brief stint in live-action, and even though his last film, Tomorrowland, wasn’t well received, his directorial role is duly noted as the film hones in on the Parrs and makes them the stars of the show. Bird seems to be keenly aware of this and uses them to further their pre-established relationships, networking scene interactions so we get insights into who they are and what stands to be changed in the sequel. For example, Bob reluctantly becomes a stay at home dad who gets more interactions with the kids, and in doing so, he finds out that his identity isn’t entirely tied to his superhero persona.
Unlike the first film, Incredibles 2 opts out of emphasizing emotional moments in favor for something more fun and enjoyable. It is a film we’ve been anticipating for a long time, so seeing the Parrs back in action again is something that is both nostalgic and welcomed. The banter of family arguments, the challenge of overcoming daily routines, and their ultimate unity are what makes the Parrs so lovable and these moments not only make for great moments of comedy, but also build the core of the film. Like the original, this feature is by default a super hero film, but more prevalent is ‘the family film’ where mother, father, son, daughter, and baby all mix and mingle to reveal inherent truths about the modern family. The core family unit is still front and center here and serves as one of the key differentiators to other super hero films. Also as an aside, Jack-Jack get much more screen time and he ends up stealing the entire, namely with two scenes that involve fighting a raccoon and meeting Edna Mode for the first time. It’s hard not to find baby humor adorable and funny at the same time.
It’s a shame that with such a lovely nuclear family that the villain isn’t all that good. Whereas Syndrome had a clear motive that tied in directly with Mr. Incredible, the Screen Slaver (and the real life identity of this individual) is lacking as the character feels like a prop to facilitate Parr family action rather than any meaningful existence. The film flies closer to the norms of super hero films today, but the Parr family is front and center here and their dynamic is enough to exceed the emotional shortcomings of the narrative.
Within that narrative though, we do get more of Holly Hunter’s Elastigirl and a pro-feminist message to boot. While Bob stays home and takes care of the kids, Helen goes out and fights crime. It’s a gender role reversal that is welcomed and discussed through Bob’s initial reluctancy to accept this maternalistic position and subsequent change of heart later on. Elastigirl gets moments to shine at large while Mr. Incredible provides many moments of humor as a struggling dad who is trying to fill the roles Helen usually does. This angle of a prominent female hero is something that is lacking within the genre dominated by male heroes, and offers another point of differentiation between Incredibles 2 and bland superhero films.
Incredibles 2 is a fun family film with super hero elements. While it has faults within its villain and a deemphasis on emotion, the film is nothing short of a good time. The Parrs have a lovable ‘je ne sais quoi’ to them as they exhibit the conflicts of the every family, and the film has poignant messages of what it means to be a hero. Whether you’re young or old, Pixar has made another enjoyable film for everyone. Just not their best one.