Like its predecessor, Incredibles 2 delivers in action, humor, themes, and pure fun

Rating: 7/10 (1 August 2018)

It really was worth the wait - Incredibles 2 has all the fun and broad appeal we've come to expect from the best Pixar movies. Despite juggling a surprising number of topics and themes (parenting, feminism, digitization, the relationship between power and laws controlling power, and many more) it never felt overwhelming. It's such a difficult balance to strike, but it did feel like a movie that functions effectively as a simple exciting kids movie and a more thoughtful character and superhero movie at the same time.
For me, Elastigirl and her interactions with Screenslaver were the highlights of the movie (though Bob's parenting struggles and JackJack's humor come in close behind). Elastigirl's interactions were fascinating evaluations of societal power structures as well as the cat and mouse game with Screenslaver protecting her identity. Everything unraveled a bit too easily at the end, after Screenslaver bringing so many powerful supers to her side. Regardless, it felt like one of the most unadulterated, joyful movies I've watched while also managing very real and threatening conflict, a movie everyone can be very happy that it exists.