The Incredibles (2004)

THE INCREDIBLES
**** (out of ****)
a film review by
Richard A. Zwelling

Move over Spidey. Pixar has another winner, and it is the studio's most thematically mature, generically aware, and deftly humorous film yet. As I exited the theater after seeing The Incredibles, all I could think was, "This is why I go to the movies". It's a good thing Disney Studios has Pixar's name attached to it; otherwise, it would certainly descend to the bottom level of creative hell.

There hasn't been much to write about this year in terms of new releases. After 2003 packed a voluminous amount of quality material, 2004 has proven to be, in my opinion, the worst year of movie releases in my lifetime. I looked to The Incredibles as a possible breath of fresh air after being underwater within an inch of my death, although I thought it unfair to expect too much after something as superlative as Finding Nemo.

However, not only is The Incredibles easily on par with Finding Nemo (if not better), but it is quite possibly my favorite superhero film of all-time. Yes, this includes the Superman films of the late 70s and early 80s, the X-Men movies, and all of the recent DC and Marvel comics turned into films.

It's hard to know where to start in praising this film, but perhaps most important is the obvious love and devotion its creators have for the genre. I'm not the biggest comic book aficionado, but I feel a strong attachment to the mythologies behind them. By that token, The Incredibles is overflowing with sly references, character subtleties, and unfettered flamboyance suggestive of the plethora of comic-book materials that have come and gone over the past 100 years.

The visuals are top notch, as one would expect from Pixar, but whereas the animation of Finding Nemo was entrancing in an almost mollifying way, that of The Incredibles is grandiose, relentless, and constantly in search of the "wow" response (which it effortlessly achieves on a number of occasions).

This is also the deepest, most meaty subject material of all the Pixar films thus far. It deals with Bob Parr, a.k.a. Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), a do-it-all superhero who at one time saved the city from the deeds of evil masterminds with his partner and wife, Helen, a.k.a. Elastigirl (Holly Hunter).

Circumstances arose that forced them into retirement, and now, 15 years later, the two have a normal, bourgeois life in the American suburbs (two boys and one girl included). While Helen adjusts comfortably, Bob suffers from the ennui of mediocrity, a feeling only compounded by his cookie-cutter office job at an insurance company. It's clear that Bob yearns for the glory and dynamism of his youth.

Of course, we anticipate that the burning desire can only lead to the reemergence of Mr. Incredible and his dashing heroics, but clever plot twists are not the point here. This is a clear case of the journey being the most important thing, not the destination. Despite the film's blinding speed and overwhelming energy, those who will gain most from The Incredibles are those who keep their eyes and ears peeled for the layers of subtext lurking beneath.

As such, I would have say that of all the Pixar efforts, this film will elude children to the greatest degree. Whereas the Toy Story movies, Monsters Inc., A Bug's Life, and Finding Nemo can be fully appreciated by people of all ages, the elaborate abstractions and double-edged humor of The Incredibles will probably only resonate with those at least into their teens.

Don't let that stop you from taking your kids to see this, though. This is more than just a good animated film to see with your family. This is a masterwork of visual spectacle that required an obscene degree of research and care, and will probably even enrapture the community of film theorists.

In a year filled with disappointments, The Incredibles not only shines out like a desperately needed beacon, but shoots right to the top of the heap and threatens to blow away any competition the next two months have to offer.

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X-RAMR-ID: 38998
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1338646
X-RT-TitleID: 1138441
X-RT-AuthorID: 7583
X-RT-RatingText: 4/4