There was essentially no way The Incredibles 2 was going to feel especially cutting edge amongst the superhero genre as it did in 2004. After fourteen years, writer and director Brad Bird’s follow-up to the hit Pixar film feels more content to further develop its characters, going as far as to immediately pick up right where the first story left off in the family’s ensuing battle with the Underminer (John Ratzenberger).
The ensuing battle alongside fellow crimefighter Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) is an exciting and logical opening that picks up into a fun caper. Though this sequel follows a few similar beats to its predecessor in terms of its plot, the different themes on display combined with an entertaining new supporting cast establish it as its own original thing.
Despite the (unwanted) assistance of their children, the lightning-fast Dash (Huck Milner) and the shy forcefield creator Violet (Sarah Vowell), Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Helen Parr/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), the titular clan’s rescue effort against Underminder results in too much collateral damage to the city’s bank.
Seeing as “supers” remain illegal, fed Rick Dicker (Jonathan Banks) relocates them to a motel for their safety- while also, unfortunately, wiping out the memory of Violet from a cute boy at school (Michael Bird). The conversation that the Parrs share at the dinner table, in spite of the film’s over-the-top premise and story, still feels believable and natural due to the strength of the writing and characterization.
But the superhero-loving telecommunications bigwig Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his tech-savvy sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) still believe that these caped figures still have a place in the world. With the help of Frozone, he reaches out to Bob and Helen in the hopes of improving the reputation of supers and overturning the ban.
Deavor appoints Helen as the face of the campaign over Bob, and Mr. Incredible bristles with envy. While Elastigirl is eager at the opportunity, the looming threat of a monitor-hacking hypnosis villain called the Screenslaver gives her and the entire family far more trouble than they expected.
As opposed to simply satisfying his hunger for crime fighting in the first Incredibles, Bob’s insecurities are rooted in his fears of no longer being a reliable father or an effective superhero. Early in the film, Bob is overwhelmed and losing sleep as a stay-at-home husband, in a role reversal from the first movie where Helen dealt with family life while Bob reconnected with his inner hero. Mr. Incredible juggles his time between helping Violet reconnect with the boy at school, Dash’s math homework, and the multiple blossoming superpowers of baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile).
Between his epic battle with a raccoon rummaging through the garbage and taking influence from Brad Bird-voiced fashion guru Edna Mode (livid over Helen’s new costume from a rival designer) when she babysits, Jack is immensely entertaining and easily steals the movie at many points. He’s featured prominently in the advertising for a good reason.
Aided by a jazzy score from Michael Giacchino, much of the art direction in Incredibles 2 has an odd retro quality to it, lending it an almost timeless feeling. It feels modern, but not as decidedly contemporary as your average MCU film.
Even when the story takes a darker turn, the color scheme still remains vibrant and appealing. (although I should give a warning that one scene might result in epileptic seizures for some viewers, so be cautioned) The fun, stylized designs of not just the original characters, but also newer supers like Krushauer (Phil LaMarr) Reflux (Paul Eiding) and Voyd (Sophia Bush) are also good examples of this.
It’s remarkable just how non-dated and exciting this sequel comes off amongst what’s essentially a major superhero boom in pop culture. The improved technology is certainly a benefit, but the sharp writing and warmth of the cast are what elevate this film- it knows when to take its time and develop the characters.
As frustrated as Bob is, he always comes off as someone who wants to be the best person possible. Helen makes some key mistakes but never comes off as bumbling, while Dash is bratty but never obnoxious, and Violet has a ton of sweetness underneath her growing pains.
Unlike other recent Disney and Pixar films like Coco, Zootopia or Finding Dory, there’s nothing overtly tear-jerking in Incredibles 2 (I can’t say the same for Bao, a charming short about a living dumpling before the main feature), but you’ll certainly feel for and have no issue rooting for the Parrs even after a decade-plus out of action.
I can easily recommend it even if you’ve had your fill of the usual from DC and Marvel. Brad Bird’s take on the genre is incredibly distinctive and memorable, and the energy and passion the voice actors lend to these characters cements that.