Incredibles 2 is Incredible Enough

Brad Bird's super-powered family was another repertoire in Pixar's catalog in 2004. While superhero movies were common they weren't the blockbuster giants now seen today. That same year bestowed clunkers like The Punisher, Blade Trinity, and Catwoman. There was also Hellboy but was a mixed bag with viewers.  Next to The Incredibles, the only other superhero film that triumphed critically and financially that year was Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2. Being a nerdy bookworm in junior high I wondered when the next adventure of this incredible family would arrive. Fourteen years later, is Incredibles 2 worth the wait?

Meet Winston and Evelyn Deavor

Our story picks up precisely where we left our favorite crime-fighting family taking on the Underminer (John Ratzenberg in his 20th Pixar film). It's a hollow victory that shuts down any hope of supers being legal again. Enter Winston Deavor  (Bob Ondenkirk) an eccentric billionaire who wants to put his tycoon assets on bringing supers back into the limelight with Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) as the face of the movement. Aided by Winston's tech-genius sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener), Elastigirl goes on missions to help regain public trust in supers while also fighting the Screenslaver, a cyber-terrorist wreaking havoc via monitor hypnosis.

This put's a chagrined Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Hunter) in the role of the stay-at-home dad. Helping his super speedster son Dash (Huck Miner) with his math homework, trying to comprehend his invisible and force-field wielding daughter Violet (Sarah Vowell) going through teen angst and trying to survive baby Jack-Jack's developing powers that spiral at a random pace. (The callbacks to the Jack-Jack Attack short are cleverly incorporated as the little toddler delivers the movie's best moments.)

I don't need to say that the action and animation is incredible, this is the same man who did Ratatouille and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, so of course it is. While I've made no secret that Tomorrowland is my least favorite from Brad Bird the few good elements are present in this movie from the creative opening logos, closing credits, the visual flair and technological gadgetry. Don't forget the wonderful score from Michael Giacchino.

Would I rank this Pixar sequel up high with Toy Story 3 or down low with Cars 2? I'd place it in the middle, right under Buzz and Woody but just above Lighting McQueen and Cruz Ramirez.

What's lacking is the innovative spark of the first film in terms of story and themes. The opening sequence undermines (pun intended) the ending of the original with the Underminer sharing the same fate of the fiendish-French mime Bomb Voyage in the first film. I also felt it was a missed opportunity to have someone like Violet's crush Tony Ridinger (Michael Bird) of frequently interacting with the family as he could have provided the point-of-view of the average citizen in the presence of supers as it ties in to the motive of the Screenslaver who fears society will become too dependent on supers.

At least with Syndrome, Mr. Incredible made an effort to apologize for his cold behavior, not much is addressed here. I was reminded of Disney's other superhero film Sky High (2005) as it had people being courageous and save the day with feeble-looking or no powers. Again it relay's my point of having an ordinary character like Alfred from the Batman movies or Ned from Spider-Man:Homecoming helping the superhero save the day. I guess I was hoping for a Ratatouille moment of Remy's family lending a hand in cooking but ended with an empty invitation from Tomorrowland. It doesn't help when the reveal of the antagonist becomes really predictable and cliche like a generic Marvel villain.

With that said, I was still happy to see these characters again. Most of the cast reprise their roles with the only replacements being Jonathan Banks as agent Rick Dicker taking over for the late Bud Luckey-whom the film is dedicated-and Huck Miner as Dash whose vocals match perfectly with Spencer Fox from the original. Other familiar faces include Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) continuing to be a cool customer and superhero costume designer Edna Mode (Brad Bird) still following her no-capes policy. 

The screening I went to consisted of mostly adults and teenagers excited to see a movie they've waited for so long that it put a smile on my face. Even though it didn't live to the hype I still enjoyed the movie and with the Marvel craze perhaps we'll get a third film even if it takes another fourteen years. We waited so long, I think we can wait again.

You must have a hart of stone not to love this.

As for the short played before the movie Bao is perhaps the best Pixar short in recent memory. Be sure to arrive before the trailers start because if  Incredibles 2 proves to be being disappointing this dumpling of a story will be worth it. Have the tissues ready.

Final Verdict: (B+)