The Incredibles (2004)
This is my sisters fav Pixar because of the sheer, unadulterated delight! Although its not my fav I love it too! Everything about it from the artistic design, to the bombastic score, to the twists and turns of the plot, to, perhaps most of all, the fantastic characters, is a complete joy to experience.
So how to go about reviewing a movie that is so close to perfect? Well, since we’re still a movie behind in reviewing right now (and I want to watch the next Disney this evening without feeling guilty), I’m not going to go on and on. I totally could, but for now I will just focus on one aspect of the film that, to me, makes it so special, and you can just assume that whatever else you love about this movie, I probably love too and could write a sonnet about, but won’t just now. The thing I will focus on, however, is how The Incredibles manages to seem both new and old at the same time.
Exciting, but comfortable; futuristic, but nostalgic; familiar, but totally original - these are all adjectives you could apply to The Incredibles. This was an action adventure superhero movie before that genre (or the most recent iteration) really took off - Iron Man didn’t kick off the obsession with superheroes until four years after The Incredibles was released - and yet there’s already a hilarious amount of self-awareness in the film, of which the ‘No Capes’ rant and Syndrome chastising himself for ‘monologuing’ are probably the best examples.
And Pixar achieves this feat of making you comfortable in a world you didn’t even realise you needed until now, in every aspect of the film. The art design is ‘The-Future-but-how-we-wished-it-could-be-in-the-60s’ - so, better in every way than the real future. The music is brilliantly over-the-top, sounding in some ways like a Bond movie and in others like the theme tune to an old TV thriller, but with a sense of humour about itself.
The characters also continue this theme - they’re ‘supers’, yes, but washed up supers. There is something about having the characters already past their glory days that anchors you in the world so much more effectively than the endless ‘origin stories’ that Marvel and DC churn out. And there’s a sprinkle of Pixar-dust in there too. Even though Mr Incredible and Elastigirl are superheroes, they’re battling everyday mum and dad issues, just like you! I mean, she’s a mum whose superpower is flexibility! How beautiful is that?! This is what I mean when I say the movie fits in beautifully to the Pixar way of doing things, and the Disney way too. Because although the film is quite plot-heavy and endlessly exciting, it’s still grounded in the Parr family and in the recognisable themes of getting older, balancing family and work, and living up to your potential.
So yeah, I love The Incredibles. The self-aware tone, stunning visuals, exciting plot and heartwarming themes come together perfectly in this movie. It’s got all the elements you need for a great Disney movie (lovable characters, fabulous music, stylish animation, outrageous, likeable villain) and something more that’s a little bit special: the power to make you nostalgic for something you never even knew about (Walt would love this!).
P.S. It also has Edna - nuff said.