Pixar has done it again. As I was watching their latest masterpiece I realized that it isn't just their talent for special effects that drives their success at making wonderful movies. No, their secret has nothing to do with computer animation at all. It's the stories.
This time, the story centers around Bob (voiced by Craig T. Nelson). Bob is a former superhero known as Mr. Incredible; former, because a string of lawsuits forced him and other fellow superheros into hiding when the government decided that it could no longer foot the bill. So Bob finds himself living a "normal" life, fighting traffic and dealing with an overbearing boss (overbearing in personality, not stature). He must also deal with the pains and strains of family life, being married to Helen (another former superhero, Elastigirl) and raising three children, Violet, Dash, and Jack Jack. However, something happens which spurs him to relive his youth and to start serving and protecting the world once again, as his unknowing wife suspects a mid-life crisis, or worse...
The character development in this movie is amazing. These are computer animated characters, but you feel like you know each one of them intimately. While the movie does center around the main character, Mr. Incredible, the others form a very important piece as well. Helen, the former Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), tries so hard to hide her family's super-powers and to fit in to society. Violet is a demure, young, teenage girl trying to find her own place in the world; she is as uncomfortable around boys as she is with her super-powers to disappear and to form a force-field. She is my favorite character in the movie. Dash is a young boy, full of energy and spunk, who finds it hard to accept his mother's demands to keep his super-speed hidden. Then there's Lucius (Samuel L. Jackson, who finds his way into just about every movie, doesn't he?) who is Bob's best friend with the power to freeze, giving him the superhero name of Frozone. And last, but not least lest he seek his revenge upon ME, is Syndrome (Jason Lee), the former "number one fan" of Mr. Incredible whose jealousy has driven him to become super-evil.
The story is fascinating and fun. We identify with the characters and regard most of them as our friends. And we go along with them on an exciting journey to save the world and to save the family. I really felt like I was watching a super-hero movie, and a spy movie too. I'd watch this over James Bond any day. All that, and it is hilarious at times too! And we have writer/director Brad Bird to thank for this. He also wrote and directed The Iron Giant which never did very well at the Box Office but is nevertheless a favorite in our family. I'll be on the lookout for anything else that he writes or directs, and you should too.
The story drives the film, but I don't want to take away from the visual effects here either. I've remarked in the past how with each movie Pixar seems to highlight its latest animation trick. With Monsters, Inc., it was hair and wind. With Finding Nemo, it was water and translucency. With The Incredibles, it is fire. Fire is featured in the bad guy's (Syndrome's) lair and is also featured in a campfire scene with Violet and Dash.
There is one scene I'd like to mention in particular. Not only is it my favorite scene of the film, but demonstrates how a movie can do so much more than just tell a great story...it can show you things that you've never seen before or even dreamed about. The scene involves no dialogue; it is completely action-based. Elastigirl is infiltrating Syndrome's lair and is putting her super-stretch abilities to good use. However, as she stretches through a series of rooms, automatic doors begin to close on her and she finds herself literally split between rooms. Her head is in one room while her arm is in the room ahead, groping around for a security card on the belt of one of the guards that will unlock the doors. Meanwhile, her leg is in another room trying to take out a couple of other guards. It was so perfectly done and, more importantly, suspenseful and extremely fun to watch.
I'd also like to mention the music. The soundtrack for The Incredibles is what really puts you in the mood. Michael Giacchino's score is reminiscent of James Bond or Mission Impossible themes. It uses a lot of brass and has a fast tempo, making it upbeat, exciting, and inspirational. I enjoyed it so much that I sat through the end credits just to hear more of it.
You walk away from this movie feeling good. This movie's message drives home the importance of family and of being honest with each other. However, the main point of the film, at least to me, is that of giving it your best effort, not holding back, and achieving your potential. To the Incredibles, that potential involves using their super-powers for good. To us, it might be slightly different.
I could go on and on about this movie, but I think I'll end with this...
This movie is incredible!
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