Just Super

Rating: 9/10 (21 June 2018)

GRADE: B+
THIS FILM IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: A delightful animated romp with superheroes who save the day.
JIM'S REVIEW: Incredibles 2, writer /director Brad Bird's sequel to his original 2004 film, continues with the right 60's retro vibe from its op and pop art settings, its endearing family of superheroes, and its way-too-cool jazz-infused score by Michael Giacchino . Yes, it was a long wait for its return and the film delivers in its artistry and savvy animation.
The plot: It is now illegal to be a superhero. This law includes The Parr clan: Bob a.k.a. Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Helen a.k.a. Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) are in hiding and living in a cheap motel, along with their gifted children, moody teenage Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner) and Baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile). Soon they are called upon to legitimize their powers once again, this time by a rich businessman, Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk)) and his inventor sister (Catherine Keener) who will finance their reappearance. They decide to re-package and sell our crusaders to the American public, including their buddy, Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), and start their campaign by making Elastigirl the main focus of admiration. This shifts the family dynamics by having Mr. incredible become a stay-at-home dad who morphs into Mr. Mom with harried results, especially since Baby Jack Jack begins to develop his own lethal super powers.
Mr. Bird does a masterful job directing the film. His unmistakeable visual look of his film with its dated futuristic viewpoint is stylized pop via George Jetson. Script-wise, his characters' dialog is sharply written too, even if his story does meander, spending too much time with exposition about the arch villain, ScreenSlaver, and the introduction of other superheroes that barely register in personality or interest. Their only purpose is to somewhat complicate the plot and allow for more action scenes. But there is enough wit and humor throughout the movie to sustain the pure joy of gorgeously rendered chase sequences of dare-doings that flow with wonderful movement and clever details.
However, some wonderful minor characters are given short rift in this installment due to the narrative. One wishes the likes of Rick Dicker (Jonathan Banks), Underminer (John Ratzenberger), and especially Edith Head look-alike Edna Mode (the multi-talented Mr. Bird himself) had more screen time. If the film had devoted more expansion of those unique figures and less on other newly introduced ones, the film would have been all the more memorable. (Personally, the two highlights for me were not the many chase sequences, though they are so well edited and excitingly staged. No, it was the quieter ones that involved Baby Jack Jack and a feisty raccoon and a truly comic scene with Miss Edna, of course!)
Just as the colorful animation is outstanding, so is the voiceover work. Special kudos go out to to Mr. Nelson, Ms. Hunter, Mr. Banks, and the director for their vocal skills. All of the actors do a tremendous job of imbuing the characters so well, Particularly impressive is Mr. Nelson's sleep-deprived fatherly tirade moment which is a perfect blending of voice and animation.
Always highly entertaining, Incredibles 2 is a worthy successor in the series. It is a movie filled with much whimsy and one can only delight at all the mischief and antics on display and be in constant awe of the artistic talent emanating from Mr. Bird and the Pixar Studios.
NOTE: On a deeper level, this family film says a great deal about our polarized nation and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a conservative outcry about Hollywood's bias and that darn liberal agenda. But putting that bi-partisanship aside, the movie proudly celebrates the importance of family and the need to accept our differences and our individual multicultural talents. Politically speaking, the film's subtle message of unity is so apropos in these troubling times when we can use a courageous superhero (or ethical lawmaker) to change our world and speak out against injustice.