‘Incredibles 2’ is a Sequel That Returns for Fine Fun

Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – If you liked Pixar Animation’s original “The Incredibles” of 14 years ago, then you’ll find a lot to like with this sequel, which puts these “supers” back in their suits for another go around to save the world. The action in “Incredibles 2” picks up almost immediately after the original film left off.

Supers (as they’re known here) are still illegal, and The Incredibles who used to save the day are left to deal with the path of destruction they’ve left behind fighting the bad guys. But the eccentric head of a telecommunications firm (voice of Bob Odenkirk) has a plan to change that. He wants to give supers a dose of good public relations by installing cameras in their new super suits so the world can see their heroic feats in action.

The Supers are Back in ‘Incredibles 2’
Photo credit: Walt Disney Pictures

So The Incredibles Mom, Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), is the one who’s front and center in this new PR campaign. That leaves Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) in Mr. Mom territory, left home caring for the kids which include Violet (Sarah Vowell), who is upset about her dad’s government handler erasing the memory of a boy she liked, Dash (Huck Milner), and little baby Jack Jack, whose untold powers were only hinted at in the first movie.

Nearly all the original voice cast returns this time around, to continue to give their familiar characters the chemistry of a family. Writer/director Brad Bird recreates his retro-futuristic world with an almost Wes Anderson like attention to detail, and a soft spot for the whimsy of 60’s electronics. Plus he knows how to use his character’s abilities inventively… Elastigirl chases a runaway monorail on a new super cycle while ignoring the laws of physics, but she’s a hoot turning herself into a parachute one minute, and stretching herself on two roads at the same time the next. And soon she uncovers a new arch villain, the Screen Slaver (Bill Wise), who is hypnotizes people through their ever present screens… the ones we all seem to be stuck in front of for so long each day. Kids will be properly dazzled, and this is sure to be another in a long line of Pixar Animation hits, plus their Moms and Dads won’t mind taking them to the theater for this one either.

Baby Jack Jack is Powerful in ‘Incredibles 2’
Photo credit: Walt Disney Pictures

However, there is one other point. While the original “The Incredibles” seemed like a dazzlingly alive film, this is more like another trip on a familiar road. It’s along the lines of the other Pixar sequels such as “Finding Dory,” which are still fine pieces of entertainment, but can’t quite achieve that first-film superiority. While outside of “Cars 2,” the Pixar factory hasn’t produced any genuine clunkers, this is a perfectly fine outing that’s only occasionally truly incredible.

[20]	By SPIKE WALTERS [21] Contributor HollywoodChicago.com spike@hollywoodchicago.com [20]