First rate

Rating: 10/10 (23 July 2010)

Bob and Ellen Parr are happily married with 3 children, but Bob is stifled in a demoralising office job. He fondly remembers the time 15 years earlier when he and Ellen were Mr Incredible and Elastigirl, successful super-heroes before too many lawsuits forced all super-heroes to retire. Then an opportunity arises to resume super-heroing and, before you know it, Bob and his entire family are in jeopardy.
The Incredibles is an excellent film, with plenty of action, adventure, humour, and superheroics, and a surprising amount of James Bond-iness (including musical references). At its heart is the family relationships between the Parrs, and the threats to this are shown to be just as important as the larger and more physical threats from the villain.
The animation is superb, the character design is brilliant, and the set design - particularly the island locations - is just stunning. The film is a visual treat. But the characters themselves are beautifully realised, too. The voice work is fantastic (if I had to single out anyone it would be Jason Lee, delivering a character which is funny and seriously scary at the same time) and the animation acting is always heartfelt and true.
If I had one criticism - and I do - it is that the film feels a little flat during the period while depressed Bob is working at the office. But this is a minor quibble about a film which, in all other respects, is a spectacular success.