The Incredibles | Review

Pixar’s 2004 entry is best effort to date, but film gets too caught up with the dazzle.

Ever wonder what Superman does in his down time? Or how Wonder Woman stays in shape during an off-week or what L.P Robin whips out when he has got the blues? Brad Bird’s takes the behind-the-scenes approach to the family-orientated life of a defunct superhero and in the process he detonates an explosive CGI fest full of zesty colors. Pixar’s newest is what happens when you stuff a fruit basket down the shaft of a bazooka and shoot it out Pollock tableau style.

Making a serious, but easy run for animated film of the year title, Disney’s The Incredibles is a highly enjoyable for almost all children of all ages – marketable for the flashy stuff and some of the more headier ideas. The majority of the film is focused more on the action-packed dynamic with a James Bond appeal, but the comically arousing aspect to the animated comedy is better supplied when the film turns it down a notch with the midlife crisis scenario. Technically, this is the first Pixar feature to carry human characters; – Bird drops the cape and filters in some human feelings both good and bad. Despite the cherry red suit and super human capabilities, this is a family struggling through very adult ideas, – joblessness, depression, teenage low-self esteem and even a little suggested adultery reflect that imperfections that not only affect robot designs but your average Joe as well.

The Pixar name is synonymous with quality, creativity, originality and lastly, some damn good work. It may not be apparent from one film to the next, but since Toy Story the animation creators have perfected their technique – the colors are absolutely vivid, in one sequence showing off some wet family members at sea is unbelievably rich to look at. Much of the life of the film comes not from the overwhelming action sequences that zip at a NASCAR pace, but rather from the great voice-work done by Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter who play the roles of the super-hero parents. Another delight comes from the bit-sized, German-accent, costume designer Edna ‘E’ Mode, (voiced by Bird) an equivalent to 007’s Q. There are many things to appreciate from Bird’s style, such as in The Iron Giant there is a feel for an époque – the opening stock documentary footage is precisely funny for the older crowds and the more darker elements gives a tad more to the text – basically it’s a CGI trip that blasts off into regular territory but contains some more thoughtful, subtle stuff.

Unfortunately, The Incredibles could have benefited from more time with the regular home life of the family and featured more superhero conflicts in regular world before drilling in the unaffecting villain denouement. This is a masterful effort that supplies a tad too much TNT and shifts too drastically from ‘funny’ to ‘fun’ elements, but nonetheless Pixar knows how to deliver great stories in bubblegum forms and director Brad Bird is taking this kind of animation into new narrative territories.

Rating 3.5 stars