Incredibles 2

I thought the span between "Toy Story 2" and "Toy Story 3" was long but then 11 and a half years separated "Monsters Inc." and "Monsters University" and there was a 13 year gap between "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory". Even that Pixar record between sequels didn't last long because in the case of the "Incredibles" franchise, there is a 13 and a half year-gap between films. I got to see the sequel as part of an IMAX double feature at the same multi-screen theater where I saw "The Incredibles" for the first time over a decade earlier so that was nice. Seeing both films back-to-back was quite special. Some would say "Incredibles 2" was long overdue. I was happy to wait. For a time, I had even accepted the possibility that there wouldn't be a sequel. I really didn't want the original film to have a poor follow up but thankfully, two-time Oscar-winning director Brad Bird didn't disappoint. Sure the film is not as good as its predecessor but considering how original "The Incredibles" was back in the winter of 2004, it would have been a challenge for anyone to make this sequel. Two minor flaws that made this film good instead of great are the villain and how the subtext of the movie was handled.

I love how Pixar is handling their end of the deal with Disney that was made in 2006, being that they had to produce some sequels. Unlike some other animation studios, Pixar doesn't want to make sequels just because they can or have to. Thankfully, it appears as though Disney has given Pixar the freedom to make sequels to certain Pixar films when they want so that the creative process and the desire to make the movie in the first place is not hindered. This is a professional level of trust that I admire and things having been working quite well since "Toy Story 3". Funny enough, to have a sequel released over ten years after its predecessor creates more anticipation and this level of expectation is a challenge that Pixar seems to enjoy. Their aspiration to maintain their reputation alone provides the motivation needed to make great movies. Because of all this, I am glad it took this long for Pixar to make "Incredibles 2" so that it could be done right. Brad Bird for a time was open to the idea of a sequel but he patiently brainstormed for ideas that were better than the original before proceeding. I was glad for that. Pixar could have made a sequel without Bird but it is obvious that they didn't want to. Bird is the key to success in terms of this franchise. The 13 and a half-year gap presented other challenges to Bird besides fan anticipation because since the first movie, superhero films have grown in popularity. Back in 2004, the X-men franchise and the first Spider-Man franchise were the current superhero movies but they were upstaged by the "Star Wars" prequels, the "Harry Potter" films and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Fast-forward to 2018 and the superhero genre doesn't have to worry about competition it seems. You have the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe among other superhero films. "Incredibles 2" is already the fourth superhero film released this year and it is only June. Bird wanted his sequel to be different from these other franchises. He also feared that the current popularity of the genre could have a negative effect in terms of how this new film would be received.

With this sequel, history is repeating itself in a few instances. The first film was bumped up in its release ahead of "Cars" and the same happened with "Incredibles 2" and "Toy Story 4". In other example, Syndrome was the last part of the story to be created for the original film and Screenslaver was likewise the last part of the story of the sequel to be finalized. The first villain that Brad Bird pitched to Disney for "Incredibles 2" was approved but then he went through more ideas before ending up with the final decision. Bird has good priorities in that he will even scrap some of his favourite ideas for the betterment of the movie. There are more comparisons to be made between both Incredibles movies. Back when the first movie came out, many in the media began to say that 2D animation was dead and were using Pixar films like "The Incredibles" as proof. The media are once again preaching a sermon that just doesn't seem true, especially considering that the preaching was being done before anyone saw the movie. The role reversal that Bob and Helen undertake in order to change public perception of supers was an overemphasized part of the movie's story leading up to the release but if Bird is making some kind of a statement, why are things back to normal at the end of the show? Why does Helen respect Bob's need to be the breadwinner as they talk by the pool? Why would Helen be willing to drop everything and come home if Bob is having trouble with the kids at home? Furthermore, we have seen the dad and mom role reversal premise on TV and in movies for decades prior to this film and just like in "Incredibles 2", it is done for comedic purposes. Bird has stated in an interview that his goal was not social commentary. He just wanted to have fun with Bob trying to raise the kids on his own. This is yet another example in 2018 of how the media and the public have taken a movie and made it into something it's not. Screenslaver, just like Bellwether in "Zootopia", is actually manipulating the heroes in order to win so you can't say that the role reversal, which happens because of the villain's manipulation, is Bird's way of sending a message to those watching the film. I believe he is trying to create originality and humour.

As I mentioned, "Incredibles 2" has a couple of little flaws that prevented it from being a great movie. I don't fully assign blame of the first flaw on Brad Bird because at least he was trying to avoid it. What made the first movie awesome was the subtext of a family in turmoil. The best superhero movies have a strong subtext that adds drama and "relatability". Bird once again sets out to continue the story of this family as they are now forced to take on unique challenges that even they are not used to. I feel however that the subtext was stronger on the first film. "Incredibles 2" feels more like your usual superhero movie despite Bird's best efforts. The second flaw has to do with something I have related before about films in this genre: heroes are only as good as their villains. Syndrome was fun and funny in the original film. I understand that Bird wanted to do something new with the antagonist this time around but I was hoping for something a little more entertaining, which is customary of him. It didn't have to be a super-villain to satisfy me because I liked "Captain America: Civil War" for example. Considering the kinds of characters Bird created for all his past animated films, I was expecting yet another great character in the form of Screenslaver. Don't get me wrong, Screenslaver is a formidable foe and a challenge for our protagonists but I wanted a villain like unto Kent Mansley, Syndrome or Chef Skinner. They all were a little quirky and that added to the entertainment value.

Putting the minor flaws aside, this sequel was still good to watch and worth my time. The opening logos were altered quite nicely. For Brad Bird, the animated performance is very important and he is very demanding in what he wants the final shot to look like. As a comparison, his CGI alter ego Edna has a similar approach to her work. He always wants his animators to do the best they can rather than regret not going the distance upon viewing their finished work. I think the best animated performance in the whole sequel is Helen excitedly talking to Bob on the phone about stopping the train. Bob's reactions to this are also well animated. Now that I own the movie on 4K disc, there are other examples I have seen of great character animation. In terms of the story for this movie, it was predictable but so was the plot for the original film. The returning cast reprised their roles very well. Craig T. Nelson once again has some funny moments and Holly Hunter gave a perfect performance just like last time. Sarah Vowell had a more confident version of Violet to bring to life this time and she did so very sincerely. Acting is not even her main vocation. Pixar usually does a good job when they have to recast an actor for a sequel. There is a slight difference between the voices of Spencer Fox and Huck Milner as Dash but not enough to make a difference. As a side note, I felt the filmmakers put Dash in a situation in the climax where he can't do much with his powers to help. Samuel L. Jackson was a famous name when he was in the first movie but now he is synonymous with the superhero genre thanks to the many times he has appeared as Nick Fury in the MCU. It seems like he more than anyone though wanted another chance to reprise his role from "The Incredibles" and he got it. We see a new side of Edna in this movie and Bird's vocal performance really helps us to accept that. John Ratzenberger's traditional role in a Pixar film was a no-brainer this time around and I for one am glad to see the battle between the Incredibles and the Underminer. I love how he robs the bank by sinking it below ground. Bud Luckey's voice was so unique as Agent Dicker but unfortunately, Luckey was in retirement during production just like his CGI counterpart and he passed away the same year as the film's release (the show is dedicated to him). The new actor was just too different for me. I am afraid to say that none of the new cast members really stood out but I won't let that ruin my fun. Pixar is known for making advancements with every film, even when doing sequels. Things were quite hard on the first film as Bird pushed Pixar to do stuff that the computer wasn't perfect at yet such as human characters, explosions, hair, clothing, etc. It seems like effects animation was the element that Pixar chose to advance and additional viewings seem to confirm this so far myself but I might have missed something else. Void's powers could also have been a challenge for the studio. Also, those waffles sure looked good. The design work isn't as advanced as what we saw in Pixar's previous film "Coco" but this is done so that the sequel fits alongside the original. I try to look for what I call a "Wow moment" in every new Pixar movie. This is a point in the movie (not necessarily at the end anymore) where the characters or the story pauses in order to take in the complexity or beauty of what is happening. I have determined a few candidates such as the Parr's new house, the Screenslaver's apartment or Deavor's ship but none of them really made me say "Wow". I didn't see the Pizza Planet Delivery Truck but I did notice a "A113" reference in this sequel at the very end.

Beside Brad Bird, other filmmakers from the first film returned to work with him such as producer John Walker, supervising animators Tony Fucile and Alan Barillaro (the director of the Pixar short "Piper"), production designer Ralph Eggleston, composer Michael Giacchino and editor Stephen Schaffer. Teddy Newton (who later made "Day and Night") and Mark Andrews (who later directed "Brave") had big roles in the first film as a character designer & as the story supervisor respectively and their names are in the credits as consultants for the sequel. Of course, John Lasseter is the executive producer. Bird is a great example of an auteur director because he has a recognizable style and takes a very active approach to all aspects of the filmmaking process. His first sequel was an enjoyable experience and I was hoping it would win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. Considering how big of a home run the original film was though, I don't think even Bird could have matched its success. I wish "Incredibles 2" had a more entertaining villain and a more potent subtext but that is just me being picky. Pixar always strives for a great story with great characters as they push computer animation forward. I can't use the adjective "great" to describe "Incredibles 2" and perhaps Pixar was focusing more on "Toy Story 4" (the release dates were traded as I mentioned earlier). I would much rather have had "Toy Story 4" succeed and even though I was let down, I should be glad "Incredibles 2" worked well enough. It was an enjoyable continuation of the story of a family of superheroes.

4 Stars out of 5