I DON'T GET IT

Rating: 5/10 (19 November 2004)

This movie had great animation and some exciting action scenes. However, there was nothing new here. We've seen all these super heroes before. We've seen them all use their super powers in the exact same way.
Then there are the drawn out, cliché ridden, sopa opera-esque meaningful family talks where they stand around discussing what they all mean to each other. I don't even think the rest of the audience liked it. The theater full of kids were running around and talking and crying and screaming during all these scenes (and there were a lot of them) -- but then another action scene came along and all was forgiven. The film makers managed to avoid any of these mind numbing scenes towards the end of the film, so I guess everyone forgot how bored they were throughout.
What's most confusing is how much people LOVED it. Have you noticed that when it comes to PIXAR, no one even seems to make distinctions between their films? I liked TOY STORY and NEMO and BUG'S LIFE -- but wasn't crazy about MONSTER'S INC or THE INCREDIBLES (although I liked the director's other film IRON GIANT). But when you talk to most people they just sort of look at you starry eyed and say "YES! ALL PIXAR IS WONDERFUL! THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY OF THEM! THEY ARE THE LIGHT AND THE WAY!" It's strange. It's like they all drank the Kool-Aid or something.
Anyway, I guess part of my problem with both MONSTERS and INCREDIBLES is that they both seem geared towards a very specific (and unusual -- although clearly not nonexistent) audience -- toddlers and their parents who have been changing diapers for the last few years. It's a very strange demographic. No, I don't have kids, so maybe that's the problem. Not every movie needs to be directed at me. That's fine. But I think of myself as pretty empathetic -- but I still don't get it.