The Hidden Messages of The Incredibles

Rating: 8/10 (20 May 2005)

Where to start? The movie, written and directed by Mr. Bird, mingles superheros actions and mundane life. However, it is when you examine the mundane that you realize that Mr. Bird's own ideology is transferred to screen. Besides having an ineffective token African American character and a control freak stay-at-home mother, Bird likes to have ElasticGirl instill fear within her kids (probably justified given the circumstances of the film). She warns them that the villains at hand are not like the Saturday morning cartoons villains, they will not exercise any restraint because they are faced with children, they will kill them if given the chance. The following, very well done, chase, provides justification for her comments. But there has been so much fake creation of fear recently in real life that you can't but grind at such a suggestion.
The superheros are confined to inactivity at the beginning of the movie due to activist courts and lawyers, in spite of the fact that supers were saving Joe Sixpack's life on a daily basis. Sued for alleged incidents, Mr. Incredible is forced to retirement. Working, seemingly, with the government (the agent is present at Bob and Helen's wedding), the administration decides to go underground. The activist courts and lawyers reminds one of the Bush administration's recent claim that civil courts decisions to allow too much money in malpractice suits, for instance, cost society too much and is the reason insurance is so expensive. His next job as an insurance adjuster completes the picture. Interesting.
The movie, aesthetically, is an absolute wonder, though, good cover for a conservative message. Anyway, warmly recommended, so very good and, yes, can't wait for the sequel, if there is one.