14 years after the ground breaking, spectacular original, Bob, Helen, Dash, Violet, and baby Jack-Jack return for possibly the single most anticipated and craved for sequel of all time.
The wait is over for millions of fans as we finally get to uncover what happened when the Underminer rose from ground and announced himself to the world...
Straight from the off, it feels as if these beloved characters have never been away. The story starts from the moment the original finished, almost as if Frozone (Samuel L Jackson) has had it on ice all these years. Instantly washed with waves and waves of nostalgia, it feels as if you as an onlooker has been transported back to 2004, in such a way that it's almost impossible not to think back to the first time you watched the original (if you can).
However, 14 years is a long time. And although the characters and the meticulously well crafted world created by writer/director Brad Bird has been on pause, the real world has not. So it was imperative for the film to feel like it has modern strands woven into its core of nostalgia. And Bird cleverly and almost effortlessly finds his route into 2018.
Upon being approached by millionaire businessman Winston Deavor, played with his usual gumption by Bob Odenkirk (Breaking bad, Better call Saul) and his tech savy sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener), and once having finally closed the mystery of the Underminer that's been on everyone’s minds since 2004 (you can sleep easy now), the older generation of heroes, Mr Incredible (Craig T Nelson), Elastagirl (Holly Hunter) and Frozone are offered the chance to change the law that has kept them in hiding for over a decade, with Elastagirl labelled the 'best hope' for heroes everywhere, much to the surprise of the macho Mr Incredible.
Forced to stay at home and take care of the kids, Mr Incredible's masculinity takes some hilarious blows throughout the two hour spectacle that unfolds in front of your eyes. He has to come to terms with a growing teenage daughter in Violet, her erratic younger brother Dash, and most crucially the undoubted star of the Movie, baby Jack-Jack. Bob must come to terms with his youngest child, who seems to be discovering new powers every other scene, all be it in the most hilarious of fashion, every single time. Each scene between Bob and Jack-Jack is crafted to perfection, from laser eyes, to the 'demon baby' to spontaneous combustion, these scenes are the heartbeat of the film and nothing but Pixar at its very very best, appealing to children, teenagers and adults alike. These sequences seem so off the cuff and spontaneous that it's easy to forget how impeccably hand crafted the script is by Bird, who refused to be drawn on a sequel until he had the 'perfect' idea. The always dry and excellent Edna Mode (voiced by director Brad Bird) also makes a cameo befitting her introduction to our screens all those years ago, minus the quotable moments.
From the story, to the re-introduction of some of Pixars most beloved characters, to the introduction of new heroes and villains, to the jokes, and to the emotional heartbeat that runs through every Pixar film, Incredibles 2 is a sequel that does not disappoint, and just like its universally beloved predecessor, this effort will only get better on repeat viewings. This film is fun, spectacular, hilarious, and an instant classic, and most of all, its like the Incredibles have never been away.
5/5
