gorgeous animated tale

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2005)

The animated hit "The Incredibles" is a parody of superhero and James Bond movies sprinkled with cynical helpings of "Leave it to Beaver" and "Father Knows Best." This seems an odd sort of hybrid until one realizes that The Incredibles are really a crime-busting family made up of a dad named Bob (actually Mr. Incredible), a mom named Helen (aka Elastigirl), a daughter named Violet, and a son named Dash, each of whom comes equipped with his or her own superhero specialty.
As the movie opens, we see the family in full fighting regalia, battling criminals, rescuing the innocent, and earning accolades from the city's grateful citizenry. However, even a superhero isn't immune from the excesses of an overly-litigious society, and soon more and more of these superhero crime fighters begin to fall victim to law suits and out-of-court settlements. As a result, not only the Incredibles, but all the known superheroes are forced to withdraw from society, being sent to faraway corners to live out their lives in a sort of witness-protection-program-type anonymity. Safely ensconced in their suburban sanctuary, Helen wants the family to adopt a "normal" lifestyle, hidden away from the prying eyes of a judgmental society, but Bob is a superhero to the core and he cannot endure the stifling existence imposed on him by suburban domesticity. Thus, he spends most of his time sneaking around behind his wife's back, saving the world on his off-hours. When Paul finds himself in a spot from which even the great Mr. Incredible is not able to extricate himself, it's Helen and the kiddies to the rescue and the adventure really begins.
Although the humor in "The Incredibles" isn't as free-ranging and eclectic as it is in, say, the "Toy Story" or "Shrek" movies, the film still manages to generate a goodly number of laughs, primarily through the clever domestication of its superhero figures. Amidst all their battles with evil forces, the family still finds time for marital squabbles and sibling rivalry. But, rest assured, the time-honored themes of family unity and being true to oneself get plenty of play as well.
There's first rate voice-over work from Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter and Wallace Shawn et. al. But there's none better than Brad Bird (who also wrote and directed the film) as Edna 'E' Mode, a hilarious takeoff on elitist fashion designers who makes an indelible mark in the few scenes she's in. The film does suffer a bit from over length and the problem most action-oriented films have of loading on the special effects in the action scenes to the point where the characters and storyline tend to get lost in the shuffle. But that deficiency is more than made up for in the beautifully streamlined, high-tech look of the film which seems both state-of-the-art modern and a little bit retro at one and the same time.
"The Incredibles" is a little less ingenious than the "Shrek" movies, but it has a beauty and charm all its own.