Pixar creates another winner

Rating: 8/10 (19 December 2004)

The animation team at Pixar has created another winner. In this fun, adventurous, and often hilarious film, they take the field of animation to new heights. During some of the scenes it was mind-blowing how fast-paced and sharply animated everything was, especially in the climactic chase. The film's director, Brad Bird, brings a new, adult depth to this Pixar installment that was never present in this fullness before. Both kids and their parents can enjoy the movie, although it will be different depending on who watches it. To kids, it will just be a cool, action-packed movie about superheroes saving the day, with many fun characters and locations along the way. To adults, the film will come across as a witty satire on pop culture and the world today, while still being a joy to watch.
The movie centers on Bob Paar, an insurance clerk who has a wife and three children. Bob has a past as a superhero, Mr. Incredible, but had to put it behind him fifteen years before after several mishaps turned into lawsuits. The resulting Superhero Relocation Program tried to blend the "Supers" in with the rest of the world, but so far for Bob it hasn't worked out very well. He can't seem to escape his urges to help other people, and because of his actions his family has been moved several times. After three years at his present location, however, he again becomes bored and starts longing to go on another Superhero mission. He gets his wish when a mysterious woman named Mirage invites him to an island in the middle of nowhere to fight a giant robot and dismantle it. That's just the beginning.
Bob's family consists of wife Helen, formerly known as Elastigirl; daughter Violet, who is able to use telekinetic powers to create force fields; son Dash, who can run as fast as The Flash; and infant Jack-Jack, who has no powers to speak of yet. The voice talent in Pixar films is always very good, and the roster for "The Incredibles" is no exception. Craig T. Nelson lends depth and humility to his role as Mr. Incredible, and he is aided by Oscar winner Holly Hunter as Elastigirl, Samuel L. Jackson as Frozone, Bob's best friend who can freeze even the moisture in the air, and Jason Lee as Syndrome, the twisted villain of the film. Director Bird himself plays Edna Mode, a fashion designer who makes suits for superheroes and is a very humorous character, looking frighteningly similar to Old Hollywood costume designer Edith Head.
While some plot points are predictable, mostly the film's structure veers off on its own course. I had no real idea what the film was about until I saw it. Bird spent four long years getting this made, and every frame is so beautifully animated and conceived that I wish I had a pause button so I could stop and look at some of the painting-like shots the animators have created. Pixar has proved once again that their name is synonymous with quality movie-making, and I tip my hat to them