'Incredibles 2' Review

It’s been 14 years since the original was released in 2004 and the world was introduced to the Parr’s, a superhero family living in hiding after a governmental initiative to ban all ‘Supers’, forcing them to permanently live as their secret identities. After the adventures of Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl and their family enthralled the world and became an instant hit at the box office, fans having been waiting with baited breath for the inevitable sequel that the film’s ending teased at. Now the wait is over and the misunderstood ‘Supers’ are back in a brand new adventure that, in my opinion, was most definitely worth the wait!

The sequel follows the Parr family as they balance regaining the public's trust of superheroes with their civilian family life, only to find themselves up against a new enemy who seeks to turn the public against all Supers for good. The film sees the return of the whole family, Mr. Incredible aka Bob Parr (voiced by Craig T. Nelson), Elastigirl aka Helen Parr (voiced by Holly Hunter) and their kids, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack, who play a much bigger and more integral role than in the previous installment. With Helen out fighting crime and helping to restore the public’s faith and trust in superheroes with the help of a new PR team determined to reinstate outlawed Supers, it is Bob who left to hold down the fort at home and look after the kids. And that is certainly not without its problems! As if helping Dash with his math homework and guiding Violet through the ordeals of her first teenage crush wasn’t bad enough, now Jack-Jack is starting to show signs of his own superpowers which involve transformation into a devil-like creature reminiscent of The Gremlins, laser beams shooting from the eyes, immolation and the ability to disappear into the fourth dimension. And on top of all that, that doesn’t diminish the drooling, crying and nappy changing! And while Bob struggles with his emasculated confusion over the role reversal he suddenly finds himself in, it shows very powerfully that despite the fact that fighting crime and catching bad guys looks like hard work, and definitely is hard work, so is being a parent – and that’s why all parents are superheroes!

But that’s what I love about Pixar – within this fast-paced, family friendly, hi-tech adventure, there is so much heart with a story that touches on themes of gender inequality, family tension and consumerism. But the film is not without laughs, as Jack-Jack's antics provide many a comedic moment, including a rather ingenious altercation with a raccoon (you just have to see it to know what I mean!). The design and look of the film is as expected, wonderfully retro with Bond-like inventions and contraptions that makes you wish they were real. Michael Giacchino also returns with his fabulous and, I dare say, iconic score to add more to the action. And fans of the original will be pleased to know that familiar faces like Frozone and Edna Mode return for some much needed chill and sass!

Overall, it’s a brilliant film! Is it as good as the first? I’ll let you guys decide. Personally, for me, nothing can top the first but in a rare find, this film does what most sequels fail to do. It brings a new, exciting, relevant story that stays true to the roots of the original and doesn’t shy away from taking some risks. And I have to be honest, after Finding Dory, which in my humble yet widely unpopular opinion, was good but not great, I was a little skeptical as to whether it was even necessary for there to be a sequel. But the story is great. It fits perfectly, following off smoothly from the original, it’s relevant and interesting and above everything else, it’s fun! And that’s why, for me at least, it was worth the wait!