Catching up on the movies for the Summer of ’18 and as expected, the season is filled with sequels. This one has been anticipated for over a decade but it was worth the wait. You can’t do The Incredibles without Brad Bird at the helm, he does have a reputation for quality as Pixar’s has declined somewhat (The Good Dinosaur, Cars #).
Brad delivered!
Incredibles 2 picks up where (or should it be when) the first movie ended; they do battle with the Underminer. Afterwards, they meet Winston Deavor (the ever great Bob Odenkirk) who wants to bring superheroes back, aka, let them operate in the open without fear of the repercussions. It doesn’t hurt that he’s always been a fan. Dealer’s plan? Get more positive publicity out there. How? Put cameras on their costumes (like a superhero GoPro) so the public has a better perspective on what the good guys are doing. Winston’s sister, Evelyn handles all the tech as Winston does the PR.
However, the grand plan needs to start small and with a hero who creates the least amount of collateral damage…Elasti-Girl. The Deavors outfit EG with a new costume (much to Edna’s annoyance) and a cool motorcycle. This leaves Mr. Incredible in the role of Mr. Mom handling the elusive Jack Jack (his numerous superpowers make him an exhausting baby to care for), Dash’s Math homework and Violet’s emotional roller coaster (her crush on Tony). Frozone pops in to assist.
I’ll stop there because I don’t want to give away anything further in the plot. Once Elasti-Girl conducts her second or third mission, it’s pretty easy to see who is causing the emergencies.
What makes Incredibles 2 shine is Bird’s execution. The comical timing across the whole movie is what I loved. Dash’s running, the villains’ superpowers, how EG utilizes her powers with the motorcycle and the best gag involves Violet being embarrassed. The Marvel people should give Bird a shot at directing a Spider-Man movie, he’s right up there with Sam Raimi on how to shoot a superhero’s movement.
Even if you don’t like superhero movies, Incredibles 2 is an absolute joy to watch since it’s a Pixar film first.
Alamo Extras: Ads for Colgate toothpaste starring Mighty Mouse, Funny Face drink mix, Kool-Aid tarring Bugs Bunny and the Monkees, and Alka Seltzer with spokesman Speedy; an odd Disney cartoon featuring a balloon race; a Tennessee Tuxedo cartoon; and a Namor cartoon from the Sixties Marvel Superheroes show.