The Incredibles (2004)

“Incredibles 2” is only two days away! After 14 years of hype and speculation, the long-awaited sequel will finally hit UK cinemas. So now is the perfect time to look back at a film that is one of Pixar’s greatest movies, one of the best superhero films ever made and one of the most dynamic and entertaining films in cinematic history! That movie is “The Incredibles.”

I adore this film! From the brilliant writing to the spectacular action and the amazing voice cast, this masterpiece excels at everything it does. It manages to deliver huge action set-pieces alongside more intimate character moments coupled together with excellent direction and an outstanding score.

What holds “The Incredibles” together is its array of diverse and memorable characters. From Bob Parr/ Mr Incredible to Dash’s teacher (“Coincidence? I THINK NOT!”), every character, big or small, leaves an impact on the film. The relatability of the Parr family grounds the otherwise fantastical story in a believable setting. The struggles and conflicts of the central characters drive the narrative forward, helping the audience relate to the everyday lives of the supers. Whereas many superhero movies follow gods, aliens and billionaires, the protagonist of “The Incredibles” is a depressed man in the midst of a mid-life crisis.

Every character is perfectly written, making them iconic and likeable. The standouts include Edna Mode, the costume designer with a wise outlook on life (voiced by director Brad Bird), Frozone, the coolest character in the Pixar canon and Jack-Jack, who manages to be my favourite member of the Parr family without saying a word!

Many of the Pixar films are funny, but “The Incredibles” is undoubtedly the most humorous. The film doesn’t rely on character’s quipping every 5 seconds, but on their personalities and their situations. My favourite scene in the movie (Edna’s rant about capes) uses Meta commentary on superhero movies to its advantage, which is astounding considering that the superhero genre was still in its adolescence in 2004.

Frozone’s quest to find his supersuit is perfection too masterful to explain or dissect here. It’s cinematic artwork!

These excellent sequences represent the brilliance of the script and the range of the talented cast. These scenes are unique and original, adding a hilarious side to a film that contains attempted suicide, a failing marriage and genocide!

I love all of Brad Bird’s films; he has consistently proved that he can turn any idea into cinematic gold. Whilst “The Iron Giant” was his first movie (which is a criminally underrated masterpiece), “The Incredibles” set Bird on the map and brought his work into the public eye. He brings so much style and wit to every single frame, the perfect pacing ensures that it is impossible to feel bored whilst watching “The Incredibles.”

The score in this movie is phenomenal! It sounds like a combination of “James Bond” and “Mission: Impossible.” Every single jazzy note elevates the film to greater heights and adds to the wonderful 1960s aesthetic!

“The Incredibles” is probably the most well written Pixar film; it effortlessly balances light-hearted scenes with darker more sombre moments. The plot is complex and mature enough to keep more seasoned movie fans engaged without alienating younger viewers. In fact, during my dozens of re-watches over the last few years, I’ve picked up details and themes that went completely over my head when I was younger.

Nearly every line is quotable and T-Shirt-Worthy, I love throwing quotes from the movie into everyday conversation!

One of the many, many aspects of “The Incredibles” that makes it so incredible (pun intended) is its marvellous villain, Syndrome, who, in my opinion, is the greatest villain in any animated movie ever! His awesome costume, entertaining characteristics and egotistical excitement make every scene featuring him even more compelling. Even though Syndrome’s origin story has many similarities with other superhero films (“Batman Forever”, “Iron Man 3”, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” etc.), it is the most effective use of the “Hero annoys nerdy villain; villain returns for vengeance” plot.

The film uses Syndrome as a way to poke fun at the supervillain tropes; his resources, maniacal laughter and “monologuing” manage to be self-aware and natural at the same time.

The action sequences in “The Incredibles” are eye-widening. The perfect structure of each sequence ensures that every character has something to do; the audience always know who’s doing what. The camera cuts rapidly between areas and situations without confusing the audience.

This has been an extremely difficult review to write because there are so many scenes, characters and themes that I want to discuss but can’t as a 3,000 word review is probably unreadable. I haven’t managed to say nearly as much as I wanted to, as every second of “The Incredibles” runtime is masterful.

I absolutely love “The Incredibles!” It’s a thrilling, exciting and entertaining film with fantastic characters, jaw-dropping action and brilliant writing! I’ve waited over a decade for a sequel to this outstanding film and now it’s almost here!

“Are we nearly there yet?” “We get there when we get there!”