Review of The Incredibles (2004) by Edgar C — 08 Aug 2014

The Incredibles is an outstanding animated film, and if we make a deep analysis, it is unique within its genre. It is definitely not our normal superhero movie, but it is a hilarious action-packed comedy with style. Brad Bird superbly directs his second feature film after The Iron Giant (1999) which was a spectacular animated movie, and notably succeeds. The Incredibles received 4 Academy Award nominations including Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Best Achievement in Sound Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing and Best Writing, Original Screenplay, winning the first two. It was certainly an easy year for The Incredibles since the other two films that got that nomination were Shrek 2 (2004) and the enormous Dreamworks sh!t called Shark Tale (2004). Hauru no Ugoku Shiro (2004) is one of the best movies I have ever seen, and although it got a nomination next year, it unfairly lost against Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). Yeah, I know... the Academy can make MORONIC choices sometimes.

This clever story deals with Bob Parr, (A.K.A. Mr. Incredible) who is the typical superhero that maintains justice on the streets and is the hero of the day, from fighting crime to saving a cat on the top of a tree. He later marries with his wife Helen (A.K.A. Elastigirl) and, just before they know it, endless lawsuits arise againts superheroes, forcing them to live normal and anonymous lives. They have three children: Dash, who runs at an incredible speed, Violet, who can create force fields and has the ability of being invisible, and little baby Jack Jack, whose abilities I won't dare to spoil. However, an old villain tries to destroy Mr. Incredible for the first time...

This film is unique and brilliant in several aspects. First of all, the animation quality has considerably improved over the last 9 years considering exclusively feature films. The handling of graphics and open spaces are extraordinary. Distances and angles are perfectly created and animated, and awesome special effects and sound effects accompain them. My only complaint with this film are the human designs. Just take a look at the cover... The design is less developed than the previous films. Remember Andy? Remember Boo? Remember the boys from Monsters, Inc. (2001)? Those were well made. Even The Polar Express (2004) is better in that aspect. Even so, the characters are classic, and will surely last for several decades to come.

This film is also a comedy, and a pretty funny one, since it offers a perspective we usually don't see in superhero movies, and that perspective is to be witnesses of a family trying to live a normal life while raising children, who also happen to own superpowers. Some domestic scenes and situations are completely hilarious and pretty much clever. How many things can you imagine that may happen when a family with superpowers is having an arguement during dinner? You'll find out. The film has also some "Secret Agent" stuff and some spoofs, and that's one of the reasons why the musical score plays a very important role in it. Whereas previous Pixar films focused more on character development and/or trying to create a new world, this film is more action-oriented and is set on a world we are more familiar with and that may exist under our very noses... supposedly. It works perfectly.

The Incredibles is certainly action-packed. Several action sequences can be found throughout the film, specially on the second half. In fact, this is the only Pixar film that has received a PG rating, on which I disagree. However, the MPAA is formed by moronic monkeys. I agree that some scenes may contain too much intense action for little kids, but they are not violent. A Bug's Life had more intense violence and scarier scenes and it received a G rating. Even so, the action is very fun and breathtaking. The crew did a splendid job with the sound effects and the pace of the story is superb. This is the longest film Pixar has ever made, but that doesn't distract the viewer from its entertainment quality and from the terrific animated film it is. The characters are unique, and although they may have common superhero stereotypes we were familiar with before, all of them have cool and interesting personalities, and all of them can be funny in their own particular way, and that's definitely not something easy to do. The screenplay is extraordinarily developed as well, which includes awesome dialogues and funny lines. It may be my favorite Pixar screenplay so far.

All in all, Brad Bird did a splendid job adding another classic and memorable animated masterpiece to Pixar's beautiful and highly respectable filmography. This is not among the best films Pixar has done, and certainly not the worst either. It is exactly in the middle, just like Toy Story 2 (1999) is. Definitely worth-watching for anyone who is a fan of Pixar, animation films, Disney, superheroes or cinema itself.

FUN STUFF: Did you know that this film actually references Toy Story (1999) with the classic Pizza Planet truck? It can be seen for less than half a second in a highway scene. Also, it references a future Pixar project, which would be Cars (2006), just after Frozone freezes the water and Dash goes out flying. Can you find the two references to the number A-113?

83/100.