Dir.
Brad Bird, 2004, USA, 121 mins
Voices:
Holly Hunter, Samuel L Jackson, Craig T Nelson, Jason Lee
Whilst there is nothing new in The Incredibles' story of the imminent destruction of Earth saved by superheroes, this latest Disney/Pixar CGI animation is groundbreaking in depth, scope and attention to detail. Writer/director Brad Bird has not only had fun with character and script but has created an animation environment that is truly marvellous to behold. There's enough drama in this cartoon caper to keep children amused, and enough of life's ironies to make it work on an adult level.
After the life-saving heroics of superheroes backfire in lawsuits from people who don't want to be saved, our caped crusaders are forced to take up mediocre lives amongst the ordinary. Mr and Mrs Incredible become Bob and Helen Parr and move to the suburbs and raise three kids, who inherit their super powers. The family is forced to keep their powers secret to avoid detection until Mr Incredible is made an offer he can't resist. But things don't turn out quite how he expected.
Whilst the film deals with modern issues like litigation, job dissatisfaction and corporate slavery, the look and feel of The Incredibles is retro. The titles and graphics are springy, spidery and quirky in true Batman style, and our island dwelling villain is straight out of James Bond. The cities are skyscraper tall and newspapers spin out to greet us with screeching headlines. This adds a familiar friendliness to the animation which is both sophisticated and astounding.
Even a brief stay during the end credits gives an idea of the amount of people involved just to get the look and feel of fabric or hair. Recreation of water, wet hair, skin texture or chin stubble is exceptional, as is the movement of the characters that lends them individual personalities. Mr Incredible's hunched shoulders, the way he nervously fingers his earlobe, or his wife's swing-hipped walk, all make for wonderful characterisation. The most enjoyable cameo, however, is fashion diva Edna 'E' Mode. Voiced by Bird, she is a hilarious caricature of a fashion dictator complete with German drawl and a security system the FBI would be proud of.
The film's attention to detail is a delight, whether it's liver spots on an old lady's hands, Mr Incredible's receding hair line, his attempts to fit back into his superhero suit with an expanding waistline, or his wife's absorption into domestic drudgery. The use of light and shadow is also interesting, such as in a room lit by a single lamp, the light from a television, or a car's headlights, all contribute to a richly crafted story.
Being essentially a children's film, and such an exceptionally well-designed one, it hardly seems fair to criticise The Incredibles for its predictable story. Plus it raises some original ideas, like the public suing our superheroes for damages as a result of injuries sustained whilst disaster was being averted, our superheroes indulging in some life-saving on the side when their wives think they are bowling, and a look at deadly superhero fashion disasters through the years. The film's underlying message is positive if it is achievable, that life in the suburbs is boring and what is really good is to give in to your competitive nature and strive to be the best.
Craig T Nelson (Mr Incredible), Holly Hunter (Mrs Incredible), Jason Lee (villain Syndrome) and Samuel L Jackson (Mr Incredible's superhero pal Frozone) are just some of the very talented voice contributors. Some of the production team also add voices, such as Brad Bird himself and Lou Romano (production design).
The Incredibles is an extremely enjoyable two hours to spend on your own or with children - who will be so enthralled by the on-screen action they won't make a sound. It is worth seeing also simply to marvel at the technical skills of the animators and the incredible imagination and creative talent that has gone into making a truly amazing movie event.
Rebecca Kemp
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