When The Incredibles came out back in 2004, I was 10, mesmerised by the action animation sequence, the humour and the fancy James Bond-esque score. Fast forward to 2018, I’m now 24 and nothing has changed except that I think I like this one better than the original. This is rare people! Mr Bird, well done. 

Picking up right where the last film left off, the Parr family is trying to stop the Underminer from robbing a bank. But instead of receiving thanks from the city officials, they’re interrogated and told to retreat back to their non-super lifestyles. Apparently the bank was insured and nothing needed to be done. I don’t know about you but if I were a child under 12 this would’ve washed right over me. Anyone who says that this is a movie just for kids, they are very mistaken, please inform them.

We’re reminded that being a super is still illegal and that after the events of the last movie, with no housing and no financial income, either Mr Incredible (Craig T. Nelson)  or Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) has to start looking for a job. For an animation movie, this is more real than any of the other DC/Marvel superheroes. Where does Captain America get his income from?! Does he charge people to save the world? That’s a tad unethical but I digress. Luckily for them, a tycoon called Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) who are fans of supers want to make supers legal again. Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) sets up the meeting and they decided Elastigirl would be a better spokesperson for their legalise supers campaign, much to Mr Incredible’s dismay.

While Elastigirl is off saving the world from Screen Slaver (villain name and social commentary in one, genius!) with a tiny camera attached to her new Alexander Galbaki (to Edna’s annoyance) supersuit for the purpose of transparency for the campaign, Mr Incredible is adjusting to his new role as a stay at home dad.

He deals with Jack Jack’s newfound polymorphic superpowers, Dash’s math homework and Violet’s adolescent boy troubles all to varying degrees of failure.With some time, severe lack of sleep and some help from Frozone and Edna Mode (Brad Bird), he slowly gets the hang of it, biding his time for his turn to be a superhero once again. These were the best parts of the movie. Sure the action sequences were breath taking but damn, this was way fun and funny to watch. Edna Mode was a revelation in the first movie, she still is in the second movie dahlings. Jack Jack is another revelation, his baby laugh and antics can cure even the most cynical of cynics.

With a 2 hours 5 minute running time, it’s longer than the average animation film but it went by in a blink of an eye. The story flows from scene to scene with a clear purpose, nothing in this film was unnecessarily added in. The dialogue between the Parr family and Jack Jack’s battle with a raccoon were comedy gold and the action sequences slicker and cooler than the frozen coke I was drinking. Going into the cinemas, I was on 3 hours of sleep, telling my friend to nudge me if I nodded off. By the end of the film, I was walking towards the toilet with a skip in my steps. This movie exceeded my already very high expectations. I fell in love with the Parr family all over again as I did 14 years ago.

 

P.S. Pixar’s short film Bao was amazing. Maybe it was the lack of sleep but I already had tears in my eyes 20 seconds into it.

P.P.S. Screen Slaver scenes involve a lot of bright flashing light/colours, epileptics take note.