The Incredibles
Writte and directed by: Brad Bird
Starring (the voices of): Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Vowell

I’m convinced that Pixar Animation Studios must be the most fun place on earth to work, and the love that these people have for what they do comes through in every single one of their films. There’s just so much talent and creative energy bottled up within the company that I tend to think it is virtually impossible for them to produce a bad movie. The Incredibles is yet another stellar film to add to their impressive portfolio, and was there ever any doubt that it would rule?

My only real concern about The Incredibles was whether or not the superhero theme would still be relevant by the time it came out, and whether or not they could pull off the satirical elements without being seen as just another comic book spoof. Fortunately, the timing of the movie is perfect, with Hollywood still at the height of its current comic book fever, and the humour brings a fresh new angle that hasn’t really been done before: the superhero as an average all-american family. It’s kind of like Spy Kids meets the Fantastic Four, but with director Brad Bird’s (The Iron Giant) own unique sensibilities shaping it.

In the movie, superheroes are outlawed after causing too much damage to public property and saving people “who didn’t want to be saved”. Superheroes like Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl are forced to assume a normal married life trying to raise a family of superpowered kids. Mr. Incredible is hopelessly depressed and unfulfilled working his job as an insurance adjuster. When a mysterious employer offers him an opportunity to get back to saving the world he just can’t resist. Little does he know it’s part of an elaborate plot concocted by an old acquaintance who harbours a grudge.

The Incredibles takes a while to really get going in terms of action, but once it hits its stride, it’s easily as thrilling as anything else similar that I’ve seen this year including Spider-Man 2 or any other comic book movie. You’d think we’d be at a point now where fully computer generated films wouldn’t be such a big deal but the technological breakthroughs continue to astound and the animation in The Incredibles is pretty mind-blowing stuff. Although the art design is obviously cartoony, a lot of the scenery is beautiful and things like the water are uber-realistic.

Pixar’s movies are always the most fun because of their sense of humour, particularly the high-brow comedy aimed at the parents. The Incredibles is not a laugh-a-minute film but it is still filled with a lot of clever jokes and amusing characters. A lot of the fun comes from the voice performances, where Pixar always excels at picking the best person for the role, without necessarily resorting to the most bankable celebrity. Which is why we get someone like Jason Lee in his first ever voice performance as the evil Syndrome; someone at Pixar obviously had the foresight to realize he would make such a great villain with his smug overdramatizing. Then there’s “Coach” himself, Craig T. Nelson, who gives a solid performance as Mr. Incredible: booming and heroic but with just a touch of fragility underneath. Even Brad Bird himself voices one of the most memorable characters in the film, Edna Mode, the fashion consultant specializing in superhero costumes.

It might have been nice to have a bit more of a supporting cast in the film. Samuel L. Jackson’s Frozone is one of the most fun characters but he’s not in the movie nearly enough and his funniest scene was previously spoiled in a trailer. In Pixar movies we’re used to having a million different characters inhabit the worlds they create (partially, I’m sure, so they can sell more toys), but this time around there didn’t seem to be the usual plethora of wacky personalities. Brad Bird decided to keep things simple, and while I’m sure the temptation was probably there to go nuts with the superhero schtick and create a cast of thousands, perhaps it was better to stay focused on the family unit after all. It helps reinforce the fact that The Incredibles is at its core, a story about middle-class family values.

The subtle little details in the characters and the environments are also part of the movie’s genius. Mr. Incredible with his thinning hair and bulging waistline, or Elastigirl with her exagerrated child-bearing hips — these clearly aren’t the superhero archetypes you’re used to seeing in movies and comic books. A lot of the barely noticeable mannerisms and movements are what end up making a huge difference in how well the characters are brought to life on screen.

Really there’s not much to say about The Incredibles that hasn’t already been said or, in fact, doesn’t even need to be said.Pixar are one of the only truly consistent entities in Hollywood right now and you know that everything they do is going to smell like quality. They’re in a league of their own, and even among their own films I’d rank The Incredibles up there as perhaps the best thing they’ve done to date. I’m already thinking I’d like to see it again in the near future. If you’re one of those people who still thinks that Pixar’s movies are only for kids, it’s time to get over it man, cause this movie shouldn’t be missed. — Sean

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