REVIEW: Pixar’s incredible sequel 14 years in the making lives up to predecessor

“Incredibles 2” is Pixar Animation Studios’ 20th full-length feature film and easily its best since “Toy Story 3.” With Pixar throwing out every trick in their animation toolbox, the film lives up to its 2004 predecessor, “The Incredibles.”

With the perfect mix of comedy and action, the right amount of Edna Mode and the ability to include more Jack-Jack without causing the character to become obnoxious, “Incredibles 2” will please new and longtime fans.

Since 2004, Pixar fans have been clamoring for a sequel to Pixar’s Academy Award-winning film, “The Incredibles.” Now, after a fourteen-year wait, fans finally witnessed the next stage in the Parr family’s life.

The Brad Bird-directed film stars the voicework of Craig T. Nelson (Bob “Mr. Incredible” Parr), Holly Hunter (Helen “Elastigirl” Parr), Samuel L. Jackson (Lucius “Frozone” Best), Bob Odenkirk (Winston Deavor), Catherine Keener (Evelyn Deavor) and Sophia Bush (Voyd). “Incredibles 2” maintains almost the entire original cast with the exception of Spencer Fox who voiced Dash Parr in the original film.

The start of the film takes places almost immediately after the conclusion of “The Incredibles” with the Parr family taking on the Underminer. After the fight, Helen is recruited to help win back the public’s opinion of superheroes, while Bob has to figure out how to be a stay-at-home dad. Helen ends up in a fight with the new villain, Screenslaver, while Jack-Jack’s new powers turns the Parr’s home life upside down.

Even though the film is Pixar’s longest to date, both Helen and Bob’s storylines are incredibly intriguing, which causes the viewer to feel a little rushed at times. Additionally, Pixar fans might feel like the film is a bit of an animation show-off.

In every Pixar film or short, the animation studio always implements a new style of computer animation. In “The Incredibles,” Pixar had to deal with the issue of making Violet’s long animated hair behave like human hair. Fourteen years later, viewers see Violet blow drying, getting water in and constantly moving her hair around. Violet feels less like a character and more like an animation spectacle.

A staple of superhero films is the idea of a bad guy who is very much a bad person with evil aspirations. In “Incredibles 2,” the idea of what constitutes a villain is played with. When the villain is unmasked and gives their speech about why they are doing evil things, it feels relatable. Pixar proves with this film that the ends does not always justify the means.

“Incredibles 2,” much like its predecessor, is more than a superhero film and much more than an animated film. One of the major themes of the film focuses on the dichotomy between the inventor and the seller, and in the film’s case, this refers to the two Deavor siblings. This dynamic is one that occurs throughout history, and there has never been a clear answer. For example, Tesla and Edison both argued for their version of currents and while Tesla had the better product, Edison was the better seller. The film offers subtle explanations for both sides and lets viewers draw their own conclusions. By animating this thematic dialogue for the younger generation to digest is helpful for 2018 audiences.

While “Incredibles 2” differs from the original film in various ways, none are more obvious than the elevation of the woman. From the switch from Mr. Incredible as the film lead to Elastigirl, the fact Evelyn Deaver gets more screen time than her brother, the inclusion of Voyd as the most notable “other” hero and even Violet usurping Dash as the main Parr child, the female presence is strong. A female as the lead character has only happened in three other Pixar films, and female representation is still a major issue in the animation industry.

Additionally, women in “Incredibles 2” are highlighted for their strength. Helen steps easily into the role of superhero, while Bob struggles to do what Helen did around the house. Evelyn comes off as a smart and sophisticated woman, whereas her brother, Winston, comes off as naive and immature. Violet deals with the emotional heft of growing up, while Dash struggles with basic math.

With the film grossing over $180 million dollars in its opening weekend, “Incredibles 2” is already a box-office success. However, fans should not expect the numbers to guarantee a third film in the franchise. Pixar has already announced that the upcoming film, “Toy Story 4,” is the last planned sequel in Pixar’s slate of upcoming films.