As cliché as it sounds, this movie is Incredible.

Rating: 10/10 (8 August 2010)

It is often said that there are 2 things in this world that are guaranteed: death and taxes. I would like to argue that there is a third: Pixar movies will be an instant classic. Ever since the first Toy Story was released in 1995, I have eagerly awaited the release of each new movie. When The Incredibles was released in 2004, I could not get to the theater soon enough, and needless to say, I was not disappointed. In a time when generic superhero movies are released every few months, Pixar created a superhero movie with an engaging story that focuses more on the characters than watching the heroes save the world from total destruction.
The story focuses primarily on Mr. Incredible and his struggle to find meaning in life after a series of lawsuits has caused superheroes to go into hiding. The once loved superhero spends his day working a monotonous desk job and his evenings listening to a radio scanner with his friend Frozone in hopes of reliving the glory days. The story connected with me because I believe we all have the desire to live for something greater than ourselves and to find purpose in life, yet we find ourselves sitting behind a desk and never reaching our full potential. The "superhero" story revolves around Mr. Incredible attempting to save the world from his one-time #1 fan, now turned villain, Syndrome. This challenge brings the Incredible family together and helps them realize the importance of working as a team and realizing that their abilities should not be hidden, but used to make a difference in the world.
Another area where Pixar shines is in their character development. From the insecure adolescent with the ability to disappear to the super busy mom who can stretch herself to accomplish whatever task is needed, the characters powers were brilliantly chosen to fit what power one would expect someone in that stage of life would need. Even the villain was someone that I could relate to. I'm sure most people have had someone they looked up to let them down, and although most of us do not become that person's arch-nemesis, I could feel sympathy for the guy. If anything, Syndrome's back story shows how much of an impact we can have on people who may look up to us.
All of this plus the stunning computer animation, intelligent humor, and wholesome fun helps continue the company's streak of top-notch movies. It challenges the viewer to find their purpose/meaning in life while also encouraging them to accept and use whatever gifts he or she may have. Six years after its release, this movie still remains at the top of my list of favorite Pixar movies and in the top 5 of my all-time favorite movies.