Pixar fans have been waiting 14 years to find out what happens after The Underminer arises from below in The Incredibles. In the animated sequel, they finally get that answer.
Incredibles 2 seamlessly picks up right where its predecessor left off, following the Parr’s in their struggle to keep their superhero family a secret. When Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) is given the opportunity to bring superheros back, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) must stay out of the action and become a full-time parent.
Unlike the first movie, Mr. Incredible is the stay at home parent, while Elastigirl is the one chosen to save the superheroes of the world — but that doesn’t make Mr. Incredible any less relevant. His sad attempts at helping his son Dash (Huck Milner) with math homework, trying to solve his daughter Violet’s (Sarah Vowell) boy issues and keeping baby Jack-Jack at bay, give the audience a good laugh. Mr. Incredible struggles with tasks that Elastigirl would have normally been able to tackle, so seeing him all worn out and exhausted was a major wake up call for his character. Despite his parenting faults, Mr. Incredible stepped up as a dad so his wife, and ultimately whole family, could live their best lives as superheroes.
The film alternates between Elastigirl’s action-packed crime fighting and Mr. Incredible’s comedic disaster of parenting skills. The chase and battle scenes are particularly more impressive in the sequel because new abilities among the family are introduced, especially in baby Jack-Jack.
In the first Incredibles movie, it was revealed that Jack-Jack was a superbaby of many abilities, but even more powers are discovered in the sequel that surprise the family at every turn and give the audience a good laugh. Jack-Jack’s curiosity for his newfound powers provides scene-stealing moments throughout the film.
While Incredibles 2 brings back favorite characters like Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) and Edna Mode (Brad Bird), the film also introduces several new superheroes with powers not yet seen in either Pixar movies. They don’t play a huge role in the film, but adding new characters to Incredibles 2 gives the audience people to watch on screen that they’re not used to and might even enjoy. Relationships are made between the Parr family and the new supers, so it’s possible they could have more screen time if director Brad Bird decides to make an Incredibles 3.
It’s nostalgic hearing the Incredibles score play throughout the film followed by all the laughs and action the movie packed into an hour and 58 minutes. Audiences will not be disappointed with this near-perfect sequel about what it means to be a superheroic family.
Rating: 4.5/5
