The Incredibles (2004)

THE INCREDIBLES (2004) 3 1/2 stars out of 4. Starring the vocal talents of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Dominque Louis, Teddy Newton, Wallace Shawn, Spencer Fox, Sarah Vowell, Elizabeth Pena and Brad Bird. Music by Michael Giacchino. Written and directed by Brad Bird. Rated PG. Running time: 121 mins.

What happens when superheroes are driven into retirement and forced to live the same kind of hum-drum, mundane daily existence as the rest of us?

That's the premise behind Pixar's latest feature, The Incredibles.

Brace yourself for something more sophisticated and definitely more adult. The Incredibles is not cut from the same touchy-feely, humorous mold as Toy Story, Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo.

The movie comes with more of an edge, and with a running time of a smidge over two hours, it may have the littlest filmgoers squirming.

Writer-director Brad Bird (The Iron Giant) aims his movie for an older, hipper audience. Incredibles is more a satiric adventure story than a child-friendly family film. Despite its PG rating, the movie is rather violent.

The movie takes place in a world populated by superheroes, whose efforts are supported by the government. But after a series of costly lawsuits initiated by a would-be suicide victim saved by Mr. Incredible, the feds pull the plug.

Our heroes are all banned from using their powers. They are relocated in the suburbs, where they are supposed to blend in as ordinary folk.

Bob Parr, a k a Mr. Incredible, is now a clock-punching insurance adjuster battling boredom and an expanding waist line. His wife, Helen, a k a Elastigirl, is a contented housewife cooking meals and taking care of their growing children, Dash and Violet, and trying her best to keep the kids from utilizing their special powers.

Bob and his best friend, Lucius, a k a Frozone, even sneak out at night on the pretext of going bowling to monitor police radio calls.

Bird milks the satiric premise for all its worth, creating a situation in which Bob can again dust off his uniform and get back in action.

His newest adventure eventually involves his family and while saving the planet, they finally bond. Bird's use of satire even extends to character names: in civilian guise, the Incredibles are the Parrs.

The name of the villain, a former "biggest fan" of Mr. Incredible is Buddy Pine, a k a Syndrome.

Technologically, the movie has expanded Pixar's computer-animation capabilities: some scenes even look as if they'd been filmed on actual sets.

Also helping advance the movie are the vocal talents of Craig T. Nelson as Mr.

Incredible, Holly Hunter as Elastigirl, Samuel L. Jackson as Frozone and Jason Lee as Syndrome. They are ably assisted by Wallace Shawn, Elizabeth Pena, Teddy Newton, Spencer Fox, Sarah Vowell and Bird himself as Edna Mode, fashion designer to the superheroes.

The camera work is more fluid, the lighting more naturalistic and the characters more graphically enhanced. And while they are exaggerated, there is something humanely appealing about them.

The Incredibles is a lot of fun, even though it does run a bit too long. It's an animated adventure with heart and laughs, that adults can appreciate as much as older youngsters.

Just leave the littlest ones at home. Pixar is growing up and, at least with The Incredibles, targeting an audience that is doing so as well.

Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be reached by e-mail at bbloom@journalandcourier.com or at bob@bloomink.com. Bloom's reviews also can be found at the Journal and Courier Web site: www.jconline.com Other reviews by Bloom can be found at the Rottentomatoes Web site: www.rottentomatoes.com or at the Internet Movie Database Web site: www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom

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X-RT-RatingText: 3.5/4