The Incredibles

[aurelio]

Pixar’s newest release, “The Incredibles” is another audience-pleasing film to add to their string of successes. It is entertaining on several levels, and I feel comfortable recommending it to everyone. Adults, teens, and children will all leave the theater smiling.

No spoilers here, but the basic premise is a super hero and heroine are “retired” from super-service, married to each other, settled down to mundane suburban life and 2.5 children, when they are suddenly drawn back into super heroism. Super powers are apparently genetic, although decidedly non-specific, and the children’s unique super gifts are eventually enlisted as well.

Although the film’s pace is a bit lethargic at the beginning and some of the set-ups are redundant, “The Incredibles” quick-witted dialog and attractive animation keeps one’s interest. The dialog is in abundance too, which generally leads to sloggy and boring animation, as is the predictably the result here at moments, but the filmmakers keep the action flying (sometimes literally) so that most of it is forgivable.

An especially notable high point was a sequence where the mother, Elastic Girl, has an altercation involving a series of automatic sliding doors. It is nothing short of brilliant, and harkens back to the superb gag series moments in films by the likes of Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin.

Purged of the traditional fuzzy bunnies and show tunes, “The Incredibles” is ambitious and complex. The look and feel is nostalgic 50-60’s in style, but doesn’t feel out of touch with contemporary life. It shows a deliberate desire to broaden the scope of animated fare, with the hope of broadening the audience for CG animated films, and the Pixar team, led by Brad Bird (director of “The Iron Giant”) seem to have pulled it off.

© Aurelio O’Brien, November 21, 2004

1/2
(think of them as stars)

[Lacedaemonian]

It sounds great, I am really looking forward to seeing this film.

[Foxbat]

Me too. I have high hopes for this one

[Mark Robson]

I took my 5 year old daughter to see it the other day and she spent the next hour racing around like a demented greyhound pretending to be 'Dash'! I thought the film was great, with a lot of good underlying family values themed through the story. I definitely agree with Aurelio about the elastagirl scene - that was a masterpiece. For me, The Incredibles was family entertainment at its best.

[Devillishgirl]

Originally Posted by Mark Urpen

I took my 5 year old daughter to see it the other day and she spent the next hour racing around like a demented greyhound pretending to be 'Dash'!

After we took my two to see it, they were quite the same Mark. My son went through all of the superheroes and pretended he was each of them(all while we were out for dinner mind you). It was definitely a wonderful movie!

[aurelio]

One interesting side note is that I know the director, Brad Bird, and the villian IS Brad! He was pretty self-mocking about it too, because he had them caracture all his worst character flaws!

I thought that was pretty funny, although only if you know him. (geek trivia)

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Devillishgirl

After we took my two to see it, they were quite the same Mark. My son went through all of the superheroes and pretended he was each of them(all while we were out for dinner mind you). It was definitely a wonderful movie!

LOL! I tried to convince my daughter afterwards that I was really Mr Incredible, but she wouldn't believe me. She kept saying that my stomach wasn't big enough, so we ended up with a competition - she would say that to be Mr Incredible my stomach would have to be 'right out here'. (she would put her hand to indicate.) I, of course, would then proceed to push my stomach out until I reached her hand - even if it meant cheating a bit! But she still wouldn't believe me. I don't know - the things I do to try to be a super hero!

[Rane Longfox]

Certainly looking forward to seeing this several of the best films in recent years have been animations... a good film must be one that brings out the kid in everybody