'Incredibles 2': Movie Review

Movie sequels are tricky. Old audiences have to be convinced that the original story merited a sequel in the first place, and upon sitting down to view one, have to be convinced that the plot of the movie is worthy of bearing the name of the first. There is also the issue of relevance, which is usually why sequels come out soon after the first movie with a gap of 2 or 3 years. In recent times, franchises like Marvel have shaken it up with sequels to their blockbuster series The Avengers having a gap of around 5 years between each installment, which makes sense given the massive hype surrounding each installment in the series.

Imagine then, the level of excitement millions of people felt around the world when after 14 long years, Incredibles 2 was announced and subsequently released to widespread jubilation.

Incredibles 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the 2004 hit The Incredibles, and delves back into the Parr family, as Bob (Craig T. Nelson), Helen (Holly Hunter) and their three children, Dash (Huck Milner), Violet (Sarah Vowell) and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) deal with superheroes being declared illegal. The film picks up right from where the last one left off, and after a massive conflict, the family is forcefully reminded of their place as superheroes. However, after a mysterious individual approaches them, saying that he wants to bring superheroes back and makes them an offer, Helen slips into the role of Elastigirl to combat a new threat that calls himself Screenslaver. This leaves Bob to watch over the kids, a job that soon proves to be a villain in its own right.

Due to the frequency of sequels in the digital age, we tend to denounce sequels at first glance, calling them mere cash grabs or a grab at prolonging the fame of a series or movie. I’m pleased to report that Incredibles 2 is none of these things, and in fact is a solid film that lives up to the standards set by its predecessor. Despite the 14-year time gap, the characters feel fresh and unique, and the audience is never reminded of the fact that they are re-appearing on movie screens after a long absence. The plot, while somewhat similar to the first movie in certain aspects, certainly has its own originality, largely due to Elastigirl and how she conducts herself as a superhero. She is without a doubt the main focus, with most of the action-heavy scenes being dedicated to her. It was great to see her powers used in such unique and inventive ways, and I was happy to see that practicality was finally brought to the forefront of how superhero powers were used.

This isn’t to say that Mr. Incredible doesn’t get his chance to shine. Seeing him flounder after Jack Jack and trying to deal with all of the kids’ problems, like Dash’s math homework and Violet’s love life, left me in stitches. It’s a cliché plot that’s been done so many times in cinema before, but it's executed so well that the fact that it's been seen time and again is only a passing thought and not a sore thumb that sticks out. Throw Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) into the mix and you’ve got yourself a great ensemble for comedy that can, at times, be heartwarming and endearing. And honestly, that’s the entire motif of the movie—sure, it’s a superhero movie by virtue of its characters, but it's also the story of a family, and something that director Brad Bird has done so well with this movie and it's predecessor is never let the audience forget the fact that even though they’re superheroes, they have normal family problems and run into unfortunate everyday situations that are common to everyone. You really feel the struggle that Bob is going through with his kids as he tries to succeed so that he can prove to Helen that he’s capable of being a good father, and at the same time, it's so easy to gaze in wonder when Mr. Incredible is trashing up the bad guys. It’s a delicate balance, but this movie has achieved it perfectly.

A word has to be said about the plot of the movie, however, as it suffers from being incredibly (no pun intended) predictable. The twist was apparent from a mile away, and while I cannot fault the movie completely for it, I nevertheless felt a twinge of disappointment as a more complex ending did not reveal itself. However, it speaks volumes when the only legitimate criticism I can levy at this movie is that I wanted the story to be a little more complicated.

Overall, Incredibles 2 is a solid animated feature that checks all the right boxes. Its action packed, funny, and emotionally satisfying. In the theater, a young girl was sitting next to me and I heard her loudly clapping and cheering at the action on screen. It reminded me of when I had first watched this movie, and no feeling was better.

Score: 7.5/10