Incredibly Gutsy

Rating: 8/10 (21 November 2005)

Imagine Pixar making one of their classic animated films but gearing it to an age group a few years older than their usual one-movie-fits-all demographic. With "The Incredibles," via a slightly advanced though not unpredictable plot-line and mature characterizations, writer/director Brad Bird has delivered such a film. This very engaging, fast-paced film is not for all ages, but for the 10-yr-old and above crowd it is entertaining, probably even intriguing.
The story goes something like this.
Bob & Helen Parr are ex-super heroes who, via a string of improbable law suits brought against all super heroes from insufferable plaintiffs, have been relegated to the Feds witness-protection program. Destined to live out their lives in obscurity, they reside in Anywheresville, USA, Bob toiling as an insurance claims handler, Helen doing her bit as housewife. Together they are raising their offspring: Violet, a raven-haired, wall-flower, teenager; Dashiell, aka "Dash," a precocious 9-yr-old; and their infant son, Jack Jack.
Naturally, their destiny changes when a mysterious, high-paying client establishes communication with Bob, aka "Mr. Incredible," encouraging him to supplant his meager income with some lucrative super-hero work vanquishing potential threats to humanity. Bob, who moonlights with his ex-super hero buddy, aka "Frozone," listening to police and fire department dispatches on his CB radio before racing off to do sub rosa pro bono super-hero work, is all ears.
Eventually Bob's secret super-hero as Mr. Incredible pits him against a rival whose powers are vast. Though these powers are all the result of inventions, they are far superior to Mr. Incredible's God-given gift of incredibleness, which, for all intents and purposes provides the super-hero with little more than super-human strength that enables him to sustain major butt-whippings until he can figure out how to out-wit or trick his opponent du jour. Seeking to exact punishment for a childhood insult, Mr. Incredible's rival captures.
That action draws Helen Parr, aka "Elastigirl," (her powers stem from super-human flexibility) back into the super-hero game. It also permits the Parr's gifted children, conniving "Dash" and horse-eyed Violet, to use the talents that they have had to suppress all their lives.
Dash's gift is super-human foot and hand speed. He would easily win every track race at school, if his parents would only permit him to do so.
Violet's more complex gifts are grafted from her circumspect, shy and inquisitive personality. Like any teenager who considers herself to be a nerd or geek or unattractive, Violet's every action is wrought from serious introspection. In some instances her motis operandi would be to simply disappear, in other instances, owing to her profound want to protect those she loves, she would want nothing but to shelter them from harm. Appropriately her gifts from the gods are the ability to disappear or the capability to throw an impregnable force-field around herself and family whenever the situation calls for it.
Together "The Incredibles" go to battle against Mr. Incredible's rival, who, of course, is also out to take over the world. I need not tell you who wins that battle.
The film's concentration on the development of each member of the Parr family elevates it from your simple Pixar-esquire, free-wheeling, family film to an unique animated film about an intricate, modest family of would-be super-heroes hoping to live a normal life out of the spotlight. Intertwined with Pixar's usual off-the-charts animation this development helps "The Incredibles" evolve into a film worthy of its title: incredible.