Pixar’s newest release, “The Incredibles” is another audience-pleasing film to add to their string of successes. It is entertaining on several levels, and I feel comfortable recommending it to everyone. Adults, teens, and children will all leave the theater smiling.
No spoilers here, but the basic premise is a super hero and heroine are “retired” from super-service, married to each other, settled down to mundane suburban life and 2.5 children, when they are suddenly drawn back into super heroism. Super powers are apparently genetic, although decidedly non-specific, and the children’s unique super gifts are eventually enlisted as well.
Although the film’s pace is a bit lethargic at the beginning and some of the set-ups are redundant, “The Incredibles” quick-witted dialog and attractive animation keeps one’s interest. The dialog is in abundance too, which generally leads to sloggy and boring animation, as is the predictably the result here at moments, but the filmmakers keep the action flying (sometimes literally) so that most of it is forgivable.
An especially notable high point was a sequence where the mother, Elastic Girl, has an altercation involving a series of automatic sliding doors. It is nothing short of brilliant, and harkens back to the superb gag series moments in films by the likes of Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin.
Purged of the traditional fuzzy bunnies and show tunes, “The Incredibles” is ambitious and complex. The look and feel is nostalgic 50-60’s in style, but doesn’t feel out of touch with contemporary life. It shows a deliberate desire to broaden the scope of animated fare, with the hope of broadening the audience for CG animated films, and the Pixar team, led by Brad Bird (director of “The Iron Giant”) seem to have pulled it off.
© Aurelio O’Brien, November 21, 2004
1/2
(think of them as stars)
No spoilers here, but the basic premise is a super hero and heroine are “retired” from super-service, married to each other, settled down to mundane suburban life and 2.5 children, when they are suddenly drawn back into super heroism. Super powers are apparently genetic, although decidedly non-specific, and the children’s unique super gifts are eventually enlisted as well.
Although the film’s pace is a bit lethargic at the beginning and some of the set-ups are redundant, “The Incredibles” quick-witted dialog and attractive animation keeps one’s interest. The dialog is in abundance too, which generally leads to sloggy and boring animation, as is the predictably the result here at moments, but the filmmakers keep the action flying (sometimes literally) so that most of it is forgivable.
An especially notable high point was a sequence where the mother, Elastic Girl, has an altercation involving a series of automatic sliding doors. It is nothing short of brilliant, and harkens back to the superb gag series moments in films by the likes of Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin.
Purged of the traditional fuzzy bunnies and show tunes, “The Incredibles” is ambitious and complex. The look and feel is nostalgic 50-60’s in style, but doesn’t feel out of touch with contemporary life. It shows a deliberate desire to broaden the scope of animated fare, with the hope of broadening the audience for CG animated films, and the Pixar team, led by Brad Bird (director of “The Iron Giant”) seem to have pulled it off.
© Aurelio O’Brien, November 21, 2004
1/2(think of them as stars)
