Review 30: The Incredibles
The Incredibles is an incredible animated film and a childhood favorite of mine,
Robert Parr (Craig T. Nelson) is the father of three kids Dash (Spencer Fox), Violet (Sarah Vowell), Jack Jack and is married to Helen Parr (Holly Hunter). Robert was a famous superhero back in the day named Mr. Incredible and Helen was known as Elastigir but their actions have consequences forcing the government to create a "Supers Relocation Program", forcing the Supers to fit in among the civilians and not use their superpowers., and Robert never got over it, he misses his glory days.
Then one day after getting fired form his job as an insurance claims adjuster, he gets a call from an anonymous company who give a chance to help people again, and he accepts. But what he doesn't realise is that the owner of the company is a old jilted aquaintance of his who has devastating plans to take revenge on him for an old affair. Therefore Mr Incredible must bring his family together to defeat Syndrome (Jason Lee) and stop his plan to fraudulently become a superhero and replace the supers that he had killed off.
The plot is just incredible, so much fun and a love letter to comic book fans. It’s also a multilayered, heartfelt piece that
At its core, The Incredibles is a story of finding true contemptment: Robert “Bob” Parr yearns for the days when he was a superhero which had to give up to raise his family and accommodate for the program
Sometimes the thing you’re searching for your whole life is right there by your side.
Another theme of The Incredibles is Overcoming mediocrity to do something exceptional with your life.
Parts of the film feel amost autobiographical, Bob's conflict between yerning for the glory days and his family responsibilities
Writer/director Brad Bird's animation direction is unbelievable making the 115 min narrative move at an appropriately, incredibly breakneck speed, complete with action, humour and heart.
The animation is gorgeous, giving the the score by Michael Giacchino is , the action scenes are spectacular, exciting , it has an incredible sense of humour, the character design is incredibly unusual - in the best ways. The production design is fantastic, Metroville has a wonderful retro late 50s early 60s aesthetic The Omnidriod is a elemental sphere shaped robot which proves to be more than a match for our titular heroes. Nomanisan Island, Syndrome's
The voice cast is equally incredible, Craig T. Nelson is funny, witty and brings plenty of depth to Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible; struggling with his newfound suburban responsibilities as a family man while at the same time trying to hide his super-enthusiasm.
After the Supers Relocation Program is initiated, Bob looses his sense of self, things that use to come easily to him are now tedious and in the process becomes a washed-up and forgotten superhero anxious and eager to return to his life of world saving adventures. He resents when ordinary people try to make themselves seem extraordinary. He’s so caught up with trying to relive the glory days instead of appreciating what’s in front of him. He’s willing to prioritise being a hero over every other aspect of his life. He also insists on working alone and over the course of the film has to learn the value of trusting and relying on other people.
Holly Hunter is fabulous voicing Helen Parr/Elastigirl, Helen is extremely dedicated to her family and is the main force pulling everyone together. Her earlier scenes with Nelson’s Mr. Incredible suggest a classic Batman/Catwoman-esque dynamic between them.
Spencer Fox Dash is driven by curiosity. He's reckless, impulsive, impatient, competitive and likes to show off how fast he can run, but most of that is in part because he feels held down (and rightly so) by constraints placed upon him and his family by the Supers Relocation Program which makes him feel that he shouldn't have to hide
Sarah Vowell is Violet is a very shy character with little self esteem and who desperately wants to be like everyone else, to blend in with normal people and not to stand out. Over the course of the film, Violet learns to be calm and overall confident in herself. Realising that her self value comes from inside herself and not from wether a guy in High School likes her or not.
Samuel L. Jackson is a true highlight in this film voicing Lucius Best/Frozone, one of Mr. Incredible's oldest friends and a long time friend of his family. They fought together side by side during the Golden Age of Superheroes and is the only "Super" who socialises with Bob & his family following the banning of Superheroes.
There is also this eccentric fashion designer who creates Superhero costumes, Edna Mode (Brad Bird) and the character and Bird's voice acting in the part is joy to listen to. She too yearns for the glory days, since the Supers Relocation Program, she's successfully shifted her skills to becomes a prestigious fashion designer that's allowed her live quite comfortably. However, she's clearly board of her new lifestyle and craves a challenge. One she gets when Bob approaches her to design a new suit for him.
As Buddy Pine/Syndrome, Jason Lee makes for a simply nasty villain. Starting out as a fan obsessed with Mr. Incredible, he becomes embittered after being blown off by his idol no less and has now focused all of his considerable genius on getting revenge for being rejected to be his sidekick. He's very much the perfect negative example of a self-made man.
As the self-described No. 1 fan of Mr. Incredible, Buddy felt that automatically made him entitled to be his sidekick. Unfortunately, Buddy was too focused on the “super” part of superheroics, not the “Hero” part.
Due to him being shunned by Mr. Incredible, he now believes that he can't count on anyone except himself and as a result values no one but himself and his fame.
He's also extremely cynical and as he believes that the only way to get respect is to become a villain.
He has so much intelligence and such a creative mind and yet he squanders it on a petty grudge adding to the impression that he never really grew up exemplified by how he has a very childish and immature look of what a hero is.
Both Syndrome and Mr. Incredible are presented as opposites, Bob has super strength and whilst Syndrome doesn't possess any inherent powers, he has his brain that he used to invent weapons and become filthy rich in the process whilst Bob, on the other hand, lives a simple suburban life with his family.
Both of them were gifted individuals during the Golden Age of Superheroes with Bob being a respected and established hero and Buddy very much being a genius in his own right and craving to be one.
Writer/director Brad Bird's animation direction is unbelievable making the 115 min narrative move at an appropriately, incredibly breakneck speed, complete with action, humour and heart.
The animation is gorgeous, giving the the score by Michael Giacchino is , the action scenes are spectacular, exciting , it has an incredible sense of humour, the character design is incredibly unusual - in the best ways. The production design is fantastic, Metroville has a wonderful retro late 50s early 60s aesthetic The Omnidriod is a elemental sphere shaped robot which proves to be more than a match for our titular heroes. Nomanisan Island, Syndrome's
The voice cast is equally incredible, Craig T. Nelson is funny, witty and brings plenty of depth to Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible; struggling with his newfound suburban responsibilities as a family man while at the same time trying to hide his super-enthusiasm.
After the Supers Relocation Program is initiated, Bob looses his sense of self, things that use to come easily to him are now tedious and in the process becomes a washed-up and forgotten superhero anxious and eager to return to his life of world saving adventures. He resents when ordinary people try to make themselves seem extraordinary. He’s so caught up with trying to relive the glory days instead of appreciating what’s in front of him. He’s willing to prioritise being a hero over every other aspect of his life. He also insists on working alone and over the course of the film has to learn the value of trusting and relying on other people.
Holly Hunter is fabulous voicing Helen Parr/Elastigirl, Helen is extremely dedicated to her family and is the main force pulling everyone together. Her earlier scenes with Nelson’s Mr. Incredible suggest a classic Batman/Catwoman-esque dynamic between them.
Spencer Fox Dash is driven by curiosity. He's reckless, impulsive, impatient, competitive and likes to show off how fast he can run, but most of that is in part because he feels held down (and rightly so) by constraints placed upon him and his family by the Supers Relocation Program which makes him feel that he shouldn't have to hide
Sarah Vowell is Violet is a very shy character with little self esteem and who desperately wants to be like everyone else, to blend in with normal people and not to stand out. Over the course of the film, Violet learns to be calm and overall confident in herself. Realising that her self value comes from inside herself and not from wether a guy in High School likes her or not.
Samuel L. Jackson is a true highlight in this film voicing Lucius Best/Frozone, one of Mr. Incredible's oldest friends and a long time friend of his family. They fought together side by side during the Golden Age of Superheroes and is the only "Super" who socialises with Bob & his family following the banning of Superheroes.
There is also this eccentric fashion designer who creates Superhero costumes, Edna Mode (Brad Bird) and the character and Bird's voice acting in the part is joy to listen to. She too yearns for the glory days, since the Supers Relocation Program, she's successfully shifted her skills to becomes a prestigious fashion designer that's allowed her live quite comfortably. However, she's clearly board of her new lifestyle and craves a challenge. One she gets when Bob approaches her to design a new suit for him.
As Buddy Pine/Syndrome, Jason Lee makes for a simply nasty villain. Starting out as a fan obsessed with Mr. Incredible, he becomes embittered after being blown off by his idol no less and has now focused all of his considerable genius on getting revenge for being rejected to be his sidekick. He's very much the perfect negative example of a self-made man.
As the self-described No. 1 fan of Mr. Incredible, Buddy felt that automatically made him entitled to be his sidekick. Unfortunately, Buddy was too focused on the “super” part of superheroics, not the “Hero” part.
Due to him being shunned by Mr. Incredible, he now believes that he can't count on anyone except himself and as a result values no one but himself and his fame.
He's also extremely cynical and as he believes that the only way to get respect is to become a villain.
He has so much intelligence and such a creative mind and yet he squanders it on a petty grudge adding to the impression that he never really grew up exemplified by how he has a very childish and immature look of what a hero is.
Both Syndrome and Mr. Incredible are presented as opposites, Bob has super strength and whilst Syndrome doesn't possess any inherent powers, he has his brain that he used to invent weapons and become filthy rich in the process whilst Bob, on the other hand, lives a simple suburban life with his family.
Both of them were gifted individuals during the Golden Age of Superheroes with Bob being a respected and established hero and Buddy very much being a genius in his own right and craving to be one.
When the Supers Relocation Program was enforced, neither of them gave up their desire to experience the glory of being a superhero but while Bob is motivated by a strong, unshakable sense of justice and duty to the people, Buddy is in it purely for the recognition and praise. Also, while Syndrome stages his own heroics using his Omnidroid to cause destruction, the collateral damage caused by Bob during his genuine heroics is unintentional.
The Incredibles more than lives up to its name and Pixar's reputation, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic
The Incredibles more than lives up to its name and Pixar's reputation, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic
Comments
Post a Comment