Movie Review: Incredibles 2 (2018)

Over a dozen years since the release of the first movie, writer and director Brad Bird returns for Incredibles 2, the Pixar backed animated sequel. The Parr family, Bob, aka Mr Incredible (Craig T Nelson), Helen, aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell) and Dash (Huck Milner, replacing Spencer Fox), along with baby Jack-Jack, have returned to the public light, and to a world still unsure about the existence of superheroes. When pro-superhero business mogul Winston and his tech-genius sister Evelyn (Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener, respectively) offer Elastigirl to rebuild their public image, it leaves Bob as the stay-home dad to a family still wanting to use their new super powers.

+ great voice work, especially Holly Hunter as Elastigirl and Keener as Evelyn. A conversation between the two, with some startling real-world comparisons to boot, is perhaps the highlight of the non-action part of the movie. Fans of Frozone will be glad to hear that Samuel L Jackson is back, and as good as ever
+ thanks heavily due to new CGI advances, the animation is just fantastic, most notably as the various supers in the movie (the Parr family, of course, but the in-universe unknown supers as well) use their powers in a combination of ways. Superheroine-in-training Voyd (Sophia Bush), with the power to open and close mini portals for objects to traverse is a personal favourite
+ everything about Jack-Jack and Edna Mode (Brad Bird, pulling triple duty) is just the best. Edna was low-key one of the best parts of the original, so it was great to not only see her return, but return in such a fantastic way
+ thanks in part to the huge influx of superhero movies in our real world, the commentary in the movie’s plot is more relevant than ever. Sure, you could look into some of our real world gender roles, but I think that might be a looking into things a bit too much. Stick to the subversions of superhero tropes and you’ll be alright

This was basically Elastigirl’s movie

Winston, who may just remind you of Saul Goodman

The Screenslaver, aka a walking seizure warning

– the movie is very predictable. While I understand this is a kid’s movie (to a certain degree; lovers of the original could be well into their teens at a minimum), the twist was not just foreshadowed, but essentially outright spoiled thanks to some musical cues or “camera” work when characters said stuff. It was really disappointing

> Please, for your own sake, take the epilepsy / seizure warnings seriously. They are pretty intense.

Should you see this film: I am not going to imply this is one of the best movies of the year, or even necessarily “must see in cinema”. This long-time-coming sequel didn’t quite have the same effect on me that Toy Story 3 did, but if you liked the original then there is certainly reason to see this now that you are older and wiser. If you do want to see it in cinema, then do what I did and choose a late session, so those damn kids won’t ruin it for you.