Pixar sequels have earned quite the reputation over the past eight years. Since Toy Story 3 was released back in 2010, Pixar sequels have failed to live up the massive hype that comes with their films. Cars 2, Cars 3, and most recently Finding Dory have all failed to enter the rare air of Pixar greats. Despite the failed claim of greatness by these films, there was always hope that one little film would change that. That film was a sequel that was fourteen years in the making, Incredibles 2.
Despite the gap between the original and this film, Incredibles 2 takes place seconds after the conclusion of its predecessor, as the Underminer and his massive drill emerge from the pavement. While taking him down, the Incredibles cause more harm than good, mainly a lot of city destruction. Determined to bring superheroes back to legal status, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl join forces with a billionaire brother-and-sister duo (Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener), to change the perception of superheroes and have the anti-hero laws overturned.
It’s rare that sequels even come close to matching the quality of their originals. While Incredibles 2 doesn’t quite match its predecessor, it sure comes close. The film doesn’t bring the element of surprise the original did; however, Incredibles 2 does provide the best sequence of the two films – one that will bring a new appreciation for raccoons.
Brad Bird, who is back in the director’s chair, stated that he did not want to release a sequel to the film unless there was a story that justified its existence. He is able to once again blend Pixar fun and real-life themes.
Incredibles 2 puts to light what happens when mom heads to work and dad stays home. As Helen journeys out there on a new mission of bringing home the bacon and saving her fellow man, Bob channels his inner Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom. While incorporating the struggles that come with being a stay home parent. The fact that Mr. Incredible is a super-competitive alpha male, slightly jealous, and mildly irritatingly chauvinistic about his wife’s new successes makes moments between him and Elastigirl quite hilarious to watch. Let’s add in his own realization that math is changing, Jack-Jack shows his powers and Violet’s boy troubles. The moments with Bob and the kids work so well that quite frankly, I looked forward to those scenes more than I did anything with Elastigirl’s mission.
Bird should also be commended for the originality of the film. Bird could easily have rinsed and repeated a clichéd superhero story; however, it is obvious that he was not interested in repeating the first film. As mentioned before, the film focuses on the struggle of raising a family and successfully does so in showing it onscreen, but when the action sequences do take place, the sequences seem more intimate and character-driven, rather than a sequence for the sake of action.
In terms of the animation, Incredibles 2 has advanced technologically. Each character is beautifully detailed, for example as seen with the small strands of hair on Bob or his five ‘o’ clock shadow during home scenes. The small attention to detail continues to show why Pixar is ahead of the game.
With Incredibles 2, Brad Bird enters a world a bit different than the one he first released when its predecessor came out in 2004. We are now in a world that is dominated by superhero films. One that is dealing with the over saturation of the genre but what makes this film special is that the situations he’s created in this film are relatable not just to kids, but adults as well. Incredibles 2 cements its place as the second best Fantastic Four of all time, and the best Pixar sequel since Toy Story 3.
Reel Talk gives Incredibles 2 4 reels
