By Nadia Ranaputri
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson, Huck Milner, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener.
Incredibles 2 may have taken 14 years to return on the silver screen, but that doesn't seem to be the case for the continuity of the story. When Incredibles 2 opens, we're taken back to the exact moment our super family suits up and faces off against the Underminer, who we first saw in the very end of the first film. From there on, Bird has set the stage for the epic return of the well-known super family. And boy, it's a blast.
Picking up from where the first film left off, the superfamily known as the Incredibles face yet another challenge: the government. As their last showdown leads to more damage, the government decides to ban all superheroes in the city in fear of impending threats and casualties from any major oncoming battles should there be one. The Incredibles, being the cause of this ban, are forced to return in hiding, masking their real identities whilst letting go of their superhero ones. As Bob/Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) and Helen/ Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) struggle to find the best solution for their children, they're offered another chance at bringing superheroes back into the light with the appearance of tech tycoon Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his tech genius sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener). However, it's Helen who takes over the role of superhero duty, leaving Bob with the kids and an array of complications in taking care of the family on his own.
This time, it's Elastigirl who gets most of the spotlight and the action, having been given the oppourtunity to shed the more positive light on superheroes. As she leaves to pursue her opportunity to do so, Bob is left on parenting duty, taking care of the raging teen hormones of his daughter Violet, who blames him for intervening her relationship with her crush Tony; Dash, who wants nothing but actually take part in any kind of superhero action, such his fascination with his father's infamous incredi-mobile. The most boisterous of the bunch though, is Jack-Jack; who's having a blast with his newfound powers: being able to multiply himself, turning into the demon-like creature that we first saw in the first Incredibles, and willing himself to combust into fire.
Role-reversals may not be something new nowadays, since it's something of a current theme, but Incredibles 2 gets along with this just fine. It doesn't undermine the gender roles the way the 2015 Ghostbusters might have done (the whole women rule, men suck type of thing), but encourages them to challenge themselves when they're needed to take over the other's role. Bob for example; has taken over parenting duty, and finds that it is not as easy as it seems. He realizes the struggles of parenting kids who are going through adolescence and puberty, something that Helen had to go through in the predecessor. But through it, he finds a newfound motivation and even meaning for his family. Elastigirl, on the other hand; finds that some missions aren't worth going through alone. It sets a new kind of depth to the role revearsal theme.
And it isn't the only pressing issue of the film. Following similar steps to what Fox and Marvel had previously done with the X-Men, or the MCU with Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Captain America: Civil War, not everyone is happy to have superheroes on their side. The Incredibles may have saved countless lives in the predecessor, but the damages in the city that they have caused is severe, and worth investigating. Their fight with the Underminer had drawn the final straw on the government, resulting in the ban of superheroes, leading the superfamily to comply with their wishes in defeat rather than walk out in victory. This may not be the biggest pressing issue, as the film isn't fully flawless in presenting this issue, which is slightly unfortunate, since this is the main drive of the story and what lead to Elastigirl taking the task of bringing superheroes back into the light again. Since this is an animated film that clocks in under two hours, it's understandable that this isn't delved more than it did in the film.
But the "super" elements are also what drives the film alongside its more non-action elements. Brad Bird directs the action effortlessly. There's a whole lot of fun action going on here, and most importantly, it's cohesive. Bird just knows how to set the stage for an entertaining action setpiece that isn't all over the place and actually has a sort of cohesion to it. Even in both animation and live-action, Bird has a natural talent of bringing cohesion and endlessly entertaining action sequences that aren't repetitive of previous sequences or other films of the same genre, which is why scenes like Tom Cruise's harrowing climb on the Burj Khalifa from Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol or the Incredibles' fight against Syndrome in the first Incredibles film remain memorable setpieces. They're easy to follow but impeccably boisterous and entertaining at the same time. And because it's animation, there's plenty of limitless possibilities of crazy action scenes with fluid control over its camera shots that could never be achieved in live-action, no matter how grand the CGI is.
Incredibles 2 offer a new kind territory in terms of story, but remains grounded in terms of showcasing the things we loved about this superfamily. They need to be as tight-knit of a family as they are super, and the film, as well as its predecessor; presents this in a fun and heartwarming way. There's plenty of room for the family to click with us as an audience, and the film does that in incredible fashion. The film's freedom from the bigger picture of setting up a franchise of its own is also evident. Incredibles 2 is not bound in trying to set something that's to come in the next (if there even if a next film) like what most superhero films are doing noawadays. It is simply its own thing, hence why Incredibles 2 is a sequel worthy of standing alongside its predecessor.
Overall verdict: It's clear that Incredibles 2 isn't a film that exists to be a cashgrab, but a well thought-out superhero story that could rival even the best live-action films of its genre. The role revearsals give a bigger depth to the family dynamic without undermining both genders involved, and it remains grounded as it is super. There seems to be a lot of thought and care placed in nearly every single element of story, be it the action, the story, or even the issue that is raised. After 14 years of waiting for this incredible superfamily to return, it's safe to say that this is a sequel worth waiting for.
Stars: 4.4/5
Trailer
 |
| Image source: Variety |
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson, Huck Milner, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener.
Incredibles 2 may have taken 14 years to return on the silver screen, but that doesn't seem to be the case for the continuity of the story. When Incredibles 2 opens, we're taken back to the exact moment our super family suits up and faces off against the Underminer, who we first saw in the very end of the first film. From there on, Bird has set the stage for the epic return of the well-known super family. And boy, it's a blast.
Picking up from where the first film left off, the superfamily known as the Incredibles face yet another challenge: the government. As their last showdown leads to more damage, the government decides to ban all superheroes in the city in fear of impending threats and casualties from any major oncoming battles should there be one. The Incredibles, being the cause of this ban, are forced to return in hiding, masking their real identities whilst letting go of their superhero ones. As Bob/Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) and Helen/ Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) struggle to find the best solution for their children, they're offered another chance at bringing superheroes back into the light with the appearance of tech tycoon Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his tech genius sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener). However, it's Helen who takes over the role of superhero duty, leaving Bob with the kids and an array of complications in taking care of the family on his own.
This time, it's Elastigirl who gets most of the spotlight and the action, having been given the oppourtunity to shed the more positive light on superheroes. As she leaves to pursue her opportunity to do so, Bob is left on parenting duty, taking care of the raging teen hormones of his daughter Violet, who blames him for intervening her relationship with her crush Tony; Dash, who wants nothing but actually take part in any kind of superhero action, such his fascination with his father's infamous incredi-mobile. The most boisterous of the bunch though, is Jack-Jack; who's having a blast with his newfound powers: being able to multiply himself, turning into the demon-like creature that we first saw in the first Incredibles, and willing himself to combust into fire.
 |
| Image source: AceShowbiz |
Role-reversals may not be something new nowadays, since it's something of a current theme, but Incredibles 2 gets along with this just fine. It doesn't undermine the gender roles the way the 2015 Ghostbusters might have done (the whole women rule, men suck type of thing), but encourages them to challenge themselves when they're needed to take over the other's role. Bob for example; has taken over parenting duty, and finds that it is not as easy as it seems. He realizes the struggles of parenting kids who are going through adolescence and puberty, something that Helen had to go through in the predecessor. But through it, he finds a newfound motivation and even meaning for his family. Elastigirl, on the other hand; finds that some missions aren't worth going through alone. It sets a new kind of depth to the role revearsal theme.
And it isn't the only pressing issue of the film. Following similar steps to what Fox and Marvel had previously done with the X-Men, or the MCU with Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Captain America: Civil War, not everyone is happy to have superheroes on their side. The Incredibles may have saved countless lives in the predecessor, but the damages in the city that they have caused is severe, and worth investigating. Their fight with the Underminer had drawn the final straw on the government, resulting in the ban of superheroes, leading the superfamily to comply with their wishes in defeat rather than walk out in victory. This may not be the biggest pressing issue, as the film isn't fully flawless in presenting this issue, which is slightly unfortunate, since this is the main drive of the story and what lead to Elastigirl taking the task of bringing superheroes back into the light again. Since this is an animated film that clocks in under two hours, it's understandable that this isn't delved more than it did in the film.
But the "super" elements are also what drives the film alongside its more non-action elements. Brad Bird directs the action effortlessly. There's a whole lot of fun action going on here, and most importantly, it's cohesive. Bird just knows how to set the stage for an entertaining action setpiece that isn't all over the place and actually has a sort of cohesion to it. Even in both animation and live-action, Bird has a natural talent of bringing cohesion and endlessly entertaining action sequences that aren't repetitive of previous sequences or other films of the same genre, which is why scenes like Tom Cruise's harrowing climb on the Burj Khalifa from Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol or the Incredibles' fight against Syndrome in the first Incredibles film remain memorable setpieces. They're easy to follow but impeccably boisterous and entertaining at the same time. And because it's animation, there's plenty of limitless possibilities of crazy action scenes with fluid control over its camera shots that could never be achieved in live-action, no matter how grand the CGI is.
 |
| Image source: AceShowbiz |
Incredibles 2 offer a new kind territory in terms of story, but remains grounded in terms of showcasing the things we loved about this superfamily. They need to be as tight-knit of a family as they are super, and the film, as well as its predecessor; presents this in a fun and heartwarming way. There's plenty of room for the family to click with us as an audience, and the film does that in incredible fashion. The film's freedom from the bigger picture of setting up a franchise of its own is also evident. Incredibles 2 is not bound in trying to set something that's to come in the next (if there even if a next film) like what most superhero films are doing noawadays. It is simply its own thing, hence why Incredibles 2 is a sequel worthy of standing alongside its predecessor.
Overall verdict: It's clear that Incredibles 2 isn't a film that exists to be a cashgrab, but a well thought-out superhero story that could rival even the best live-action films of its genre. The role revearsals give a bigger depth to the family dynamic without undermining both genders involved, and it remains grounded as it is super. There seems to be a lot of thought and care placed in nearly every single element of story, be it the action, the story, or even the issue that is raised. After 14 years of waiting for this incredible superfamily to return, it's safe to say that this is a sequel worth waiting for.
Stars: 4.4/5
Trailer
