We had to wait fourteen years for a sequel to The Incredibles, meanwhile we got three Cars movies. How is that fair? Especially when Incredibles 2 is so amazing and the Cars movies are so mediocre. Oh well, it is finally here, and you should go see it. It more than lives up to the original, and it manages to expand the Incredibles storyline in meaningful ways.
Unlike most Pixar sequels which take place years after first film, Incredibles 2 picks up exactly where the first film left off. With the Parrs (The Incredibles) fighting the Underminer. Sadly things do not go as planned, and the Parrs are once again on the outs with local law enforcement. Luckily for them Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) has a plan to make “Supers” legal again, and that plan is to show the world how great Superheroes are. All his plans hinge on the very marketable Elastigirl (Holly Hunter). Much to the chagrin of Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson).
While at first the setup for this seems lazy: Mr. Incredible stays at home and is an unprepared and jealous father, while Elastigirl goes out and finds new purpose in life with her career, but Incredibles 2 is able to start there and move in to deeper and more touching territory. Mr. Parr does have issues, but he doesn’t give up, and he works on being a better dad. Mrs. Parr is able to remember the joy of helping and saving the day. At the same time proving why she is a top tier “super” and not just some sidekick. The kids? They are just great kids with normal kid problems. Except for Jack-Jack, who has all sorts of fun issue causing powers.
Apparently Brad Bird didn’t spend the last fourteen years just ignoring The Incredibles, he was finding a story worth telling, and it worked. While I didn’t like waiting a decade and a half, I am pleased with the results. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another fourteen years for Incredibles 3. I don’t know if I can make it through Cars 4-6.