Following in the wake of a grand tradition of hit animated films like "Toy Story," "Monsters Inc." and "Finding Nemo," the dynamic duo of Disney and Pixar Animation does it again with "The Incredibles," a soon-to-be-classic that follows the story of an average suburban family that just happens to have super powers.
In the heyday of their careers, Mister Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson of "Coach" fame) and Elastigirl (voiced by Holly Hunter) meet, fall in love, and get married, all while saving the world that worships them.
Unfortunately, not all that are saved are grateful, and soon Mr. Incredible finds himself in court, being sued for saving a the life of a man who did not want it saved.
The city soon turns against the superheroes that protect it and quickly their secret identities become their only identities. Mister Incredible is now simply Bob Parr, married to his lovely wife Helen. Their children, Violet and Dash, are born with super powers, but are taught to suppress them.
The pressure to conform is not welcomed, but is nevertheless accepted by the Parrs for some time. Bob works at an insurance office by day, and by night, sneaks out with an old friend Lucius Best, once known as Frozone, to listen to the police radio and help save those that need a super hero.
Soon someone catches on to Mr. Incredible's desire to remain a hero, and recruits him for a mission of utmost
secrecy.
The plot twists and turns that ensue are nothing short of breathtaking. The story's greatness comes in the balance that is found between the Bond-like action sequences, the light-hearted comedy and the poignant family bonding.
"The Incredibles" is the first Pixar film to receive a rating of PG, and rightfully so. There are many instances of off-camera death of both hero and villain, and some scenes are scary for adults and children alike.
While the storyline is true to the originality which is making Pixar famous, the true charm of "The Incredibles" is in the long cast of characters that come together perfectly to create a wonderfully comic super hero movie.
The Incredibles are wonderful heroes, strong, individual, and most importantly, human. Both the advantages and disadvantages of being different are exposed in this film through the main characters, and ultimately, the power of individuality reigns supreme. The evil villain is both evil and ridiculous, though never unbelievable. It is the supporting roles, however - such as Samuel L. Jackson's superhero Frozone and Wallace Shawn's insurance agency boss Gilbert Huph - that complete the package. They enrich the film, creating a much deeper and complete picture of our heroes, and give many more reasons to laugh.
For children, the messages that are learned from this film are apparent, and are those usually present in most children's films: the importance of being yourself and loving who you are, and embracing the differences that make you special.
When Violet, the disappearing daughter with the ability to create force fields, learns this lesson, her hair is suddenly pulled back, she walks a little taller, and becomes a great lesson for pre-teen girls.
The message of family is present throughout the film as well. The Incredibles are not just a family, but a team, and need every member to help each other out.
But the reason why "The Incredibles" works, unlike so many other films that try to teach children these same lessons, is that it's not overdone.
The messages are woven seamlessly into the fabric, and never need to come right out and hit the audience over the head with its message. Because of this, there is no self-reflection that takes away from the splendor of the film.
The audience can simply sit back, enjoy, and laugh until it hurts.
