Shrek Meets A Lite Version of "Kingdom Come"

Rating: 9/10 (6 February 2005)

Unlike DC's futuristic graphic novel series "Kingdom Come" which implied the children of heroes and villains unleashed Armageddon, or even Marvel's "Earth X" which had similar results by the heroes own doing, the premise of "The Incredibles" is that the very people they sought to help were ungrateful jerks - When a suicidal jumper sues for the right to die! This one act leads to an avalanche of suits against numerous heroes and eventually their forced integration into Society As We Know It...
Thoreau spoke of men who lead lives of quiet desperation, little realising how apt it was for Bob Parr, the ex-Mr. Incredible (very well characterised by Craig T. Nelson, whose history as an ex-football jock turned coach as well as a Commissioner of Police groomed him well for this vocal role - BTW: Ironic that Michael Chiklis... also a former Commissioner... plays a superhero too, The Thing of the Fantastic Four from which this movie under review pays tribute to), now forced to be a Claims Adjuster for an insurance company with an appropriately blood-sucking little leech for a boss...
However, Bob chose not to let the song die in his heart unsung and live to fight another day! At first, it was very quietly, using the company's own intricacies against it, and then finally he chose the Johnny Paycheck route, and boy - he did so in Spades! As Bob, not Mr. Incredible, he goes "bowling" on Wednesdays with his buddy the ex-Frozone (equally superb casting with Samuel L. Jackson - who gave the movie's best quote: "Woman, where the hell is my Super Suit?"), but what they're really doing is listening to Police Scanners for minor crimes they can help "solve" with their "incredulous" abilities - an ultimate way of "chilling" with a buddy! Bob's son, Dash - short for Dashiell, like the man Hammett... an old private eye who was a real hero and and author - almost stole the show as the little Super who was not ashamed of his ability, and it's very obvious Bob is proud of his son. His sister Violet for most of the movie looked a bit like the Grudge...
One question remains begging is if Syndrome would still exist if Bob took Buddy under his wing, or maybe Buddy would be so much hamburger due to severe grandstanding? Perhaps that can be explored in future instalments? Their powers were Fantastic Four-ish (especially the creature who was obviously a take-off on "Mole Man" at the end). But the music amazingly was like James Bond, and yet it fit in well with the film, I hope they stay that way! This movie is good... but for the sequel? I think there should be an origin of ElastiGirl, Bob and Frozone and hopefully an expansion of Jack-Jack's abilities! Also I want to see more of Bomb Voyage, the idea of a French Joker looks rather intriguing!! Pixar did well, I hope they successfully break away from Disney altogether and do their own thing, they seem to need little impetus to do well on their own! http://tinyurl.com/3464k/