The Incredibles

Rating: 8/10 (22 May 2006)

Pixar's sixth feature-length film is a very different approach to what they are usually associated with  instead of going with the "cute and funny buddy-movie", they have instead gone for a more action orientated approach, resulting in an unfamiliar yet no less entertaining film.
The story centres on the Parr family, consisting of Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl  who were forced to go into a superhero relocation programme when the weight of the American legal system crashed down on them after Mr. Incredible is sued for rescuing a man who didn't want to be saved from jumping off a building  and their three children. Fed up with working in a dead-end job as an insurance clerk, Mr. Incredible longs for the good old days of saving lives and stopping villains. When a message comes through asking for his help he finds himself unable to resist the call to duty, but finds himself and his family in more trouble than he thought.
The inspiration for The Incredibles is obvious, as it takes off from just about every superhero film ever made, and sometimes it is even possible to guess exactly what film was the inspiration behind a particular scene. However, what the story lacks in originality is more than made up by its personality. The film is quite stunning to watch, raising the bar yet again for computer animation to follow (putting even Shrek 2 in second place), and the action scenes are all incredibly well put together. The script is also excellent, and although it is primarily an action film, the comedy that Pixar is so famous for has not been left out, with some truly laugh-out-loud moments dotted throughout the film (special mention must go to Edna, a 'Q' style character voiced expertly by the film's writer-director Brad Bird).
The Incredibles does not, however, try to give too much to the audience by simply piling on action-scene after scene relentlessly; it's too clever for that. In fact, after the beginning sequence, the superhero powers and costumes are not really showcased again for most of the first half of the film, allowing a slower paced introduction to the Parr family's new life. This is probably where the adults in the audience will find the most memorable scenes  it is a clever satire on the American legal system and an amusing take on suburban life, playing more like a domestic sitcom than anything else.
Both halves of the film, although made up of almost separate genres, mould together perfectly and result in a satisfying film to watch, which will certainly entertain all age-ranges. It may not be as classic or as funny as Pixar's other films like Toy Story, but it certainly proves that they are capable of more than just repeating their usual buddy-movie formula and provide some variation to their work. Pixar, it seems, are still going from strength to strength.
Rated: 8/10
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