Can you imagine a world without superheroes?
Probably not.
The sequel to 2004’s Pixar hit animated film “Incredibles” tries to answer this question. What would happen if we no longer have superheroes? Will society collapse without our caped crusaders?
Although it borders on being subversive, Brad Bird’s latest movie raises a valid question. Does it really matter if we are left to solve our own problems?
“Incredibles 2” takes off from the events of its predecessor, when the Parr family is forced to go on exile because superheroes are illegal. But when a criminal named Underminer wreaks havoc in the city, the Incredibles are left with no choice but to get out there and try to save the day.
It’s great how Bird tries to present the dilemma. In one scene, the police force actually berates Mr. Incredible (Craig Nelson) and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) by trying to stop Underminer. They were told that they made things worse by doing their job (much to their chagrin).
But thanks to uber-rich superfan, Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), the heroes were given the chance to get back in the action. With a strong backing, the Incredibles can now have another shot at becoming saviors of the city.
On a mission to make superheroes legal again, Deavor enlists Elastigirl to become the poster girl for his advocacy. And she does a great job even if it meant leaving Bob at home to play house husband.
This particular storyline was very interesting because it tackled a lot of issues from single parenthood to kids’ growing pains to identity crisis and how parents react to it to role reversal and gender equality.
That’s a lot of serious issues wrapped in a film that’s made for kids, so mad props to Bird for writing a script that touched on these without being too overbearing.
In its entireity, “Incredibles 2” is one heck of a fun film. Should we be surprised? Pixar animated films are always entertaining and have that right mix of being funny and heartwarming at the same time.
It didn’t forget that it is a family film and we got enough dose of that–from Bob struggling with keeping his urge to fight the baddies to let his wife have her taste of the limelight and juggling taking care of three kids who aren’t exactly easy to watch over to teenage romance and defiance.
Of course, there’s the most important theme: family sticking together. And that’s what it all boiled down to. At the end of the movie, after laughing, gasping at Jack-Jack’s newfound powers, wondering whether or not we really need superheroes or simply gushing at the cuteness of Violet and her crush, you will realize that the core of the film is the single-most important truth: family matters most.
