In 2004, Brad Bird released Disney & Pixar’s The Incredibles, earning critical acclaim from many critics and movie goers alike. It went on to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature becoming the first superhero film in motion picture history to win an Oscar in the Best Animated Feature category. As I’ve mentioned in my non-spoiler review for The Incredibles, I considered this masterpiece as my personal favorite non-Marvel/Non-DC film. If you want more information, go check out my article about it. Don’t forget to watch the short film “Jack-Jack Attack” after viewing the first entry, because it’s strongly linked to the sequel.
A follow up to The Incredibles was put on hold over the course of 14 years. Pixar was busy working on various movies like Cars, its sequels as well as a spin-off involving Planes, other acclaimed works such as Wall-E, Up, Brave, Inside Out, & Coco, collaborating with Brad Bird to make Ratatouille, crafting a cohesive narrative to the long awaited Toy Story 3 & produced their first live action epic John Carter which turned out to be one of the biggest flops in Disney’s filmography. Brad on the other hand directed live action films starting with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Tomorrowland, another unexpected flop from Brad’s work besides The Iron Giant.
Devleopment officially began in 2014. After finishing Tomorrowland, Brad worked on a script, he finished it over the course of a year. The Cast from the first film were announced by Pixar as well as newcomers. Michael Giacchino was brought back to score the music. Animators worked their butts of to polish characters, environment and almost everything to bring the world to life.
Incredibles 2 is out right now. So far, it is currently making a lot of money at the box office and recently earned critical acclaim from movie goers and critics alike. By the way, a LEGO themed video game based on The Incredibles and its sequel is in stores right now. If you want to relive your childhood, go ahead and buy it.
Today’s review doesn’t feature no potential SPOILERS whatsoever. If you’ve never got a chance to see The Incredibles back on the big screen, feel free to read my non-spoiler article. I’ll have you know that Pixar always begins with a short film, consider it as an opening act before the band shows up to play.
Mighty & Weak Elements
Mighty: Cast Members from the first film reprise their roles and they once again did a fantastic job for their respective performances.
Newcomers to the sequel such as Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Huck Milner, (replacing Spencer Fox now that he’s a grown up) Phil LaMarr, Sophia Bush & Jonathan Banks (replacing Bud Luckey’s role as Rick Dicker) all did an amazing job for their respective performances. Bob’s role as Winston Deavor reminded me of his signature role as Jimmy “Slippin’ Jimmy” McGill/Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul. Every time I hear his voice, or his character resembling him, I can automatically picture Saul coming up with a pop culture reference.
Fun Fact: Speaking of Slippin’ Jimmy, if you’re a fan of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Bob Odenkirk & Jonathan Banks reunite, perhaps Brad Bird is a fan of both shows. Another thing, Samuel L. Jackson & Phil LaMarr reunite since they first worked together in Pulp Fiction. I can already picture Nick Fury & Samurai Jack in a movie. Gotta love pairing up a familiar actors known for their roles, fan fiction comes true!
In addition to reprising his role as Edna Mode, Brad Bird returns to write & direct the sequel. He did a fantastic job. Took him a long time to construct a Three Act Structure.
Computer Animation has drastically improved, upgrading technology to make a certain character look real as possible, rather than resembling an action figure from Pixar’s earlier works. Textures are fully detailed to the characters, super suits, lighting, just to name few. I’ll give the animators a truckload of Bonus Points after all that hard work. Somebody give them additional income for each animator
Action Sequences are fast paced in a balanced equation to match a character’s attribute connected to his or her distinctive ability.
Funny Moments involving Bob’s storyline to watch his kids kept me laughing. Jack-Jack on the other hand, stole the show with his powers. Every time you seen him, you know you want to see more of him using his powers.
My favorite line is when a character said, “Is she having adolescence?” I’ll give this line an Extra Point for making me laugh hysterically.
Michael Giacchino returns to compose music for Incredibles 2.
Violet & Dash’s Rome’s are expanded. Violet struggles to balance between a superhero and civilian who wants to be with her boyfriend Tony Rydinger. Much like Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2 who wants to spend time with his love interest Mary Jane Watson. Dash retains his role as The Comic Relief of The Parr Family. He uses his father’s catchphrase, “Yeah Baby!”
We finally get to witness what happened after the first film ended on a cliffhanger.
Now that we’re living in a world dominated by superhero movies over saturated to the general public, Brad vowed not to use superhero tropes found in its genre, relying only on The Parr Family’s problems with human society because superheroes are banned from the public eye ever since the first film established supers were banned as a result of collateral damage during battles or attempting to stop a particular crime.
To avoid recycling the first film’s premise, Bob is charge to watch Violet, Dash & Jack-Jack while Helen goes on missions assigned by Winston. Bob’s storyline is similar to Mr. Mom. It’s not an obvious rip-off, I think it’s a reality check for Bob, acting like an ego maniac since the first film without telling Helen. He earns himself bad karma much like Lightning McQueen in Cars. As they say, “Reality Ensues.” That’s what Bob gets for being a narcissist.
Screenslaver’s true identity is fully revealed. I can’t tell you who he is, you’re gonna have to watch to find out.
Pixar’s good luck charm John Ratzenberger, reprises his role as The Underminer. We finally get to see what crime he’s committing.
An iconic 60’s cartoon is shown on a television screen. I’ll give you a hint, it’s a show produced by Hanna-Barbera. Sometime in the future, it’ll be adapted into a live action movie.
One character almost said “The F Word.” I’ll give you a clue, he’s known for snakes attacking passengers in a specific aircraft. Could you imagine if Pixar made an R-rated film? If they did, Doug Walker/Nostalgia Critic will say “You know, for kids!”
A113 is shown. If you remember my review for the first movie, A113 is an Easter Egg for animators who used to attend a classroom numbered A113 located in CalArts.
Weak: As a critic myself, I couldn’t find nothing wrong, I’ll give this movie an Extra Point for Pixar making a flawless animated feature as possible.
The Final Verdict: A, FOR APEX!
Like its predecessor, Incredibles 2 lives up to all the hype. Everybody who worked on this sequel, did an amazing job. Computer Animation has improved featuring Pixar’s latest technology to bring life to all the characters we know in love. Brad Bird made a cohesive story that doesn’t recycled the first film or ripping off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (MCU for short)
If someone mentioned what’s better the first film or second? Personally, I would say the first film, because it was memorable from start to finish. I was gonna give Incredibles 2 an A- upon watching, it deserves an APEX grade after everybody demanded a sequel we wanted after 14 Years, and it was definitely worth the wait. If you have nothing else to do over the week, I strongly recommend you into seeing this movie with your friends and family!
Nickthemoviecritic.com 