surprisingly delightful

Rating: 10/10 (20 November 2004)

I praise Pixar for bringing animation films to a totally new level. It never ceases to amaze me how they roll out products that continue to amaze a wealth of generations and backgrounds, while somehow bringing them all back on the same page for a wonderful night out that is sure not to disappoint.
The Incredibles is a film that is surprisingly multi-faceted, striking chords in ways that I didn't even expect. The plot is simple: Mr. Incredible, a superhero who is all about glamour and power back in the days when superheroes were normal in everyday society (there's an interesting thought for you...) is forced to retire when he gets sued because he injures a man trying to commit suicide by grabbing him by the neck when saving him. Sounds like such a modern day dilemma.
As a result, not only is he forced to retire, but the government officially shut down the superhero business permanently. As a result, to save the numerous superheroes who basically lost their jobs, they're granted amnesty and forced to relocate and mesh in everyday life. After this 'tragedy,' we join Mr. Incredible who is now married to his superhero wife Elastigirl, and now has to live life with three kids, a dead-end job, and a mid-life crisis seemingly so depressing that makes me feel sorry for him as a young adult!
But, that's all I will share with you. With it's recognizeable Pixar trademark action sequences, as well as its relation to humanity and the values we hold dear such as family and normality (this is the first Pixar film to portray humans), the Incredibles surprisingly delights for kids and adults. The kids may miss some of the deeper themes embedded in this film, but the adults should pick them up real easily, with the kids enjoying more of the action sequences especially out of the kids in the Incredible family.
If you're looking for a great night out, give the Incredibles a try!