Maintains Pixar's perfect hit-rate

Rating: 8/10 (12 January 2005)

Writer/director Brad Bird (The Iron Giant) maintains Pixar Animation Studios' perfect strike-rate with this marvellous blend of domestic drama and action/adventure.
What if superheroes were forced to suppress their superpowers and live as ordinary citizens? The first half of the film focuses on the effects of this scenario on a superhero family: Mr Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), his wife Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and their superpower-endowed children. The second half of the film focuses on what happens when Mr Incredible accepts a call to return to duty on a mysterious island outpost without the rest of the family's knowledge.
The film's animation is distinctive, and distinct from other Pixar films. The retro stylings, gadgets, and locations recall James Bond films, Thunderbirds, and 60's film noir. On the other hand, the animation is sometimes photo-realistic (e.g. the vegetation on the island). And the action sequences put to shame those of many live action films.
The film's themes are worthy (but never rammed down your throat), the humour is subtle, and the pacing is perfect.
Wisely, the voice cast is not loaded with big-name stars (unlike the recent Shark Tale, for example), but chosen based on their suitability for the character. Craig T. Nelson is perfect as Mr Incredible. Holly Hunter is feisty and intelligent as his put-upon wife. Jason Lee is suitably sneery as the villain of the piece, while Samuel L. Jackson contributes a relatively minor turn as a superhero friend of the family. Bird himself delivers a hilarious turn as eccentric superhero costume designer Edna Mode.
There's the usual Pixar short film prior to the main feature - a particularly cute little number called Boundin'.