The Incredibles

Rating 5+/5

The Incredibles is hands down one of Pixar's greatest works and is a joy to revisit every time I watch it.

Once, the world needed superheroes to look after its streets and citizens. Famed protectors like Mr.Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Elastagirl (Holly Hunter) were just two of the many heroes who looked after their city. They were celebrated and loved by most, but after a series of mishaps involving supers, all the heroes were forced to go into hiding, suppress their natural abilities, and try to lead normal lives. For Bob Parr, the former Mr.Incredible, this proves to be quite a challenge for him and his children. Bob cannot let go of the old days, so when he hears of a secret program in need of his super strength, he doesn't hesitate to sign on, not knowing what dangers may be ahead for him or for his family.

For my own personal viewing history, there are few animated movies that live up to the greatness of The Incredibles. There are a handful that come close, some that are about on par with its excellence, and maybe only a few I can think of that could surpass it. What makes The Incredibles so special, is that it is not just a great movie by animated standards. It is a fantastic example of a stellar superhero film as well as a showcase of the power that can be found in the art of storytelling. The arc the characters take are exciting and at times quite dark considering the target audience for the film, and even though they are in a world created by Pixar, you are never fully sure of the characters' safety. Most children's films are quite predictable, but The Incredibles keeps you on your toes from beginning to end.

Pixar has a wonderful habit of creating incredibly unique and impactful opening sequences. Up is famous for it, and Inside Out is no slouch either. The before-mentioned films and The Incredibles all have a way of creating a type of prologue that will introduce you to the characters, let you know more about their lives before the main plot line begins, and completely pull you into their story. The first ten minutes or so of The Incredibles is honestly some of my favorite moments throughout the entire film. I love the vintage tone that is given off by the interviews with the supers, the intensity of some of the rescues that have to be done, and the chemistry that is introduced between Mr.Incredible and Elastagirl. Within those first few minutes, it is clear that, though this movie is intended for kids, the film will not be afraid to shy away from content perhaps deemed too intense by the standards set for other children's movies.

I've seen The Incredibles more times than I can recall, but on my most recent rewatch, I was really struck by how, if the characters were live-action and not animated, the movie could potentially be branded as an action film and not a children's one. In no way is this a critical statement towards The Incredibles, in fact, it's a compliment. I've said it many times in my reviews for children's films, but I will say it again. I always have appreciated when movies meant for younger audiences create stories that don't treat the viewers as if the only things they could enjoy are crude and juvenile humor. The filmmakers provide a story that has depth, intelligence, and just enough joviality to keep even the youngest of viewers happy. The Incredibles is not only entertaining to kids, but I feel it is respectful to them as well.

There's really nothing negative I could ever say about The Incredibles. It's sheer perfection in the form of computer animation. I loved it when I first saw it sixteen years ago, and I still adore it today, perhaps even more.

2004 Best Achievement in Sound Editing Winner-Michael Silvers, Randy Thom

2004 Best Animated Feature Film of the Year-The Incredibles