The Incredibles Return

Rating: 8/10 (18 July 2018)

The Incredibles return in the highly anticipated sequel that fans have waited for 14 long years to arrive in theaters. The first Incredibles released in 2004 was a masterpiece of filmmaking for it's time and is part of Pixar Animation Studios's Golden Age of films along with past iconic titles Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo. What these films have in common is how they were able to touch the hearts of audiences across the world, as a result becoming cult classics. In the past, Pixar has produced sequels to their films from time to time, with the Toy Story franchise being the most popular and with the next sequel Toy Story 4 scheduled for a 2019 release, the franchise continues it's success. Cars and Finding Nemo both have had relatively decent sequels but this one was highly desired for the last fourteen years. That being said, there hasn't been nor will there ever be a case when a sequel to an adored iconic film is released that audiences especially fans of the original who hold it dear to their hearts will not perceive the sequel at first glance as inferior to the original. That can damage a film's reputation. Incredibles 2 does look different (the animation literally looks different) and yet is similar to the first film with a new twist. It's habit of bringing back the nostalgia that made the original loved is it's biggest strength.
The film picks up right where the first film ended with the first superhero family facing off with the villain the Underminer giving viewers the idea of the kind of film their about to watch. One thing this film does well is develop each character's powers to new levels. For an animated film, the action sequences are thrilling, sometimes heart pounding and super fun to view. The music is similar to how it was before giving exciting 60's spy movie vibes. The best moments of the film are the ones where Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible is watching over his children while his wife is away saving the world, something we did not see in the first film was his relationship with his children. The theme of wanting acceptance in a world that hates you is back, a relatable subject in today's world for some people, and just as in the first film, it's presented well. Incredibles 2 is an enjoyable action packed superhero fest with a coming of age aspect to it. All the characters are under pressure by the world around them that's telling them how they're supposed to live their lives creating sadness and desperation for them. As time goes by, they must choose what they want to be. Pixar has always included deep emotional topics like this in their films all to their credit.
Finally while the additional characters new to the film may not have been the most memorable Pixar has invented, it had an interesting story, entertaining action, a final act that pays off, humorous moments and seeing the characters return made the film worth the wait. It doesn't completely live up to the original though nonetheless it is a worthy sequel to one of the most successful animated films in history.