Movie Review by Vivienne Messenger
Starring: Craig T Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L Jackson, Jason Lee, Wallace Shawn
Director: Brad Bird
Pixar Animation Studios (FINDING NEMO, MONSTERS INC, TOY STORY) unleash yet another blockbuster phenomena, THE INCREDIBLES, and what an incredible and innovative movie it is setting yet another landmark.
Director/writer/actor Brad Bird never lets the pace dip keeping it fast and with a witty and snappy script backed up by a talented ensemble cast this captivating story unfolds about a family of superheroes led by Mr. Incredible aka Bob Parr (Craig T Nelson). Often accompanied by his wife Helen aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and others like them, these masked superheroes fight against global crime and evil until they are retired by law and forced into the Superhero Relocation Program to become everyday citizens.
Fifteen years later Bob and Helen live a suburban life and have a son Dash (Spencer Fox) and daughter Violet (Sarah Vowell), but Bob is bored with his mundane paper pushing job with an insurance company and pines for his Mr Incredible days. Then totally out of the blue he is recruited by a seductive woman called Mirage (Elizabeth Pena) who works for a technology company interested in hiring him for his superhero skills in retrieving a renegade security defense mechanism from their island base. Decidedly unfit but ignoring his expanding waistline, he discretely leaves his inconsequential existence behind and unbeknown to his family embarks on a rejuvenating superhero mission with life altering implications as he meets his nemesis Syndrome (Jason Lee), once his number one fan but now hell bent on annihilating all superheroes.
The plot cleverly introduces the superheroes and their particular strengths and capabilities and is expertly delivered. The CGI animation has to be seen to be believed. In a league of its own THE INCREDIBLES is a truly sensational movie that will keep you under its spell. It’s thoroughly entertaining and extremely funny. My favourite character is Edna Mode (Brad Bird) the designer/stylist to the superheroes who steals the limelight here – totally darling! Holding you in suspenseful awe, you’ll want to see it again and again. Here’s hoping there will be a sequel!
