Brad Bird (THE IRON GIANT, RATATOUILLE) knocks it out of the park with what I consider to be the first truly successful superhero movie, and in many ways still the one to live up to. Playing off tropes laid down by the FANTASTIC FOUR, this classic animated film plays as fresh today as it did upon first release.
Bob and Hellen are loving parents, raising their precocious son, angsty teenage daughter, and newborn, in suburbia. the catch is, Mom and dad were once the superheroes known as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. After politicians passed legislature banning superheroes from doing that thing they do, namely, fighting crime, our do-gooders are forced into retirement. But Bob, and his his pal Lucius, once known as Frozone, can't put the costumes away. Sneaking out to thwart evil when they're supposed to be bowling, the time comes when their activities are exposed. Soon THE INCREDIBLES are back in action, and this time it is a family affair.
Taking cues from the aforementioned FANTASTIC FOUR, THE INCREDIBLES also borrows from a little known film called THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN INVINCIBLE ( a superhero is forced into hanging up his cape by bureaucracy, when he must make his return to fight villainy). That's not to say this Pixar film appropriates these ideas, it's to say it updates them, and makes them work for a broader audience, without dumbing anything down.
The climactic scenes, taking place on the island of the crazed Syndrome, the films main baddie, are as exciting as anything in a live action Marvel/DC movie, if not more so, even with it's highly characterized design and look. It's still all 100% believable.
The voice cast, including Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, and Wallace Shawn are equally amazing, and help to bring everything to vibrant, four color life.
I was lucky enough, thanks to a friend, to actually see this prior to it's release at Pixar Studios, in their state of the art in-house theater, and man oh man, what a memory. talking with some of the staff, even the janitor was telling me waht a great place Pixar was to work, and how everyone was at one point or another included in the story editing process. the beta testers are the employees themselves, and they install a team and family atmosphere for everyone. Walking around upstairs, we also got to look at the maquettes used for the film, and get up close and personal to the many awards encased along the hallway. What a great time! When I die, please, bury me on Pixar grounds!
A sequel is apparently in the works, which is, well, incredibly exciting news. Given Pixar and Bird's track record for quality and putting story first, I can only imagine the commentary it will provide in this era of the now all-powerful superhero movie franchises.
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