Released in 2004 the incredibles is one of Pixar's latest offerings and is further proof of the ever growing animated band wagon. In a time of big budget explosions and CGI if you're going to get a computer to generate something unbelievable, why not make it obvious that your tongue is in your cheek?
The Incredibles is a clever and well written story. It follows the story of two superheros who marry in secret and start a family (Mr. Incredible and Elastogirl). At the height of their fame and influence Mr Increible is sued by someone he saved, who apparently didn't want saving (a very funny take on today's blame culture). This law suit breaks him and more follow towards other superheros. In the end they are forced underground and have to agree to never be supers again.
We forward 15 years and Mr. Incredible is at a very low ebb. The world is going to pieces around him, he's stuck in a dead end job and he's piled on the pounds. His only enjoyment is sneaking out at night to fight crime secretly but even this can't last, suddenly he gets a call from a mysterious organisation who need his help and he's the hero again, full of life, little knwing that he's a fallen into a trap. The last 40 minutes are fast paced with Mr Incredible, Elastogirl and their two children, Dash and Violet, having to use the powers which have lay dormant in order to one again save the world.
Firstly this story is very funny and hits the right notes regarding a number of topics. The characters are familiar, you have the strong man, the invisible girl and the stretchy hero, infact the only difference between this and the fantastic four is that the human torch is replaced by the speedy young son Dash. You also have Mr Incredibles best friend 'Frozone' who's basically a black iceman and is voiced superbly by Samuel L. Jackson.
As well as warming to the central characters and their comic dysfunctionality, you also have an entertaining villian in 'Syndrome' who had attempted to be Mr Incredibles sidekick back in the day and had been shunned (he has no powers but is a great inventor - a bit like Batman).
However with such likable central cast it is also testimoney to the writers that my favourite character is a secondary one - Edna Mole, the diva costume designer for the superheros who steals the few scens she's in and is incredibley voiced by the male director.
The plot is acceptable for a cartoon and sets up the jokes and the action sequences well. There are alot of stereotypes in the movie, such as the evil volcanic lair, but the film can get away with these because it's aimed at a younger audience and so isn't trying to be anything new or clever. As well as using these familiar plot points the writers also waste no time in poking fun at them, notabley when a villan starts 'monologing' or Edna's speech on why the costume can contain 'No Capes!'
Audiences will feel for the respective characters and their individual weaknesses and the interviews at the start of the film are a nice touch. I found this to be a good comic, antimated look at what can grow wrong when you don't face up to growing up and growing old and the family values are there.
The jokes are good enough for children, but also there are a few which are aimed more at the adult audience and that's a nice touch that Pixar seem to put into all of their films, making a cartoon accessable for adults in the audience means it isn't such a chore for a parent. There is one laugh out loud joke at the end involving the Increibles third child 'Jack-Jack' which ended the movie perfectly for me.
I would completely reccommend this film to the young and the young at heart. I have one seem the DVD extras once so can't comment on them fully, although there is an excellent short with the baby and the baby sitter called 'Jack-Jack attack' which is funny and also links well into the off screen action in the film.
Pictures of The Incredibles (Collector's Edition) (DVD)
The Family
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i love this film i got the 2 disc set as well, couldn't wait to see it when i saw it advertised was great. Really great review, deserving E. Well done x
dempsey_review 17.03.2006 09:49
great review Peter, I still can't believe I aint watched this, dempsey :-)
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Giant, filmmaker Brad Bird joined top-drawer studio Pixar to create this exciting, completely entertaining computer-animated film. Bird gives us a family of "supers,...
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