"That was totally wicked!" (Review)

Every time a new Pixar movie comes out I think that it can’t possibly be better than the last one. When Toy Story 2 was released I thought it was just another Disney sequel money grab. After seeing it, however, I was convinced the sequel was actually better than the original. Then came A Bug’s Life. No way could it be better than the Toy Story franchise. Way. Monsters Inc. followed and again I was blown away by the unique story, incredible animation and hilarious dialogue. Finding Nemo was up next, proving that Pixar had once again upped the ante. And in fine Pixar tradition they’ve outdone themselves yet again with The Incredibles.

Mr. Incredible is just your average super hero, saving lives, rescuing cats and protecting the people of Metroville from countless villains. He’s one of many ‘supers’ living in a city where such heroes are almost commonplace. When a rescued citizen sues Mr. Incredible for saving him when he didn’t want to be saved it starts an avalanche of lawsuits that eventually forces the supers into hiding, giving up their powers in order to lead normal lives. Fifteen years later, Bob Parr, mild mannered insurance agent, is once again called into action and dons the suit of Mr. Incredible. But this time he’s got a wife and three super-kids to manage.

One of the things that makes the Pixar films so successful is that they’re all so different. Each has its own unique setting and premise that makes each film’s plot that much more enjoyable. Toys, bugs, monsters, fish, superheroes and, coming soon, cars. Each film is an entirely new concept and I think that plays a huge role in ensuring each movie is unique and exciting. Like all the other Pixar films, The Incredibles has terrific animation, an intelligent and witty script and fantastic voice acting. Put all these elements together and you get another ‘incredible’ animated feature.

The Incredibles definitely has a James Bond meets Superman flavour to it. The music alone inspires thoughts of bravado and wit in the face of danger. It’s an uplifting soundtrack that really adds to the experience. And like any good spy or superhero flick, it’s filled with plenty of fast paced action, right off the pages of a comic book or Saturday morning cartoon. The high speed chase with Dash in the third act reminded me of the speeder bike scene from Return of the Jedi. It’s thrilling and a ton of fun.

The 2-disc DVD is presented in an Anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Being a computer generated film, The Incredibles looks amazing. The colors are sharp and vibrant with nary a defect to be found. No complaints about the video quality here. The sound is also extremely well done. The film makes good use of the Dolby Digital 5.1 track and it put my whole system through its paces. Whether it was the deep, booming thunder of a 6-story renegade robot or the crisp, jazzy tones of the film’s score, the sound was phenomenal throughout.

A second disc includes a number of special features including a new Pixar animated short, ‘Jack-Jack Attack’. This little bit of bonus material is hilarious and I highly recommend watching it right after you’ve seen the film. Toward the end of the main feature, Elastigirl checks her messages and receives a number of bizarre and panicked calls from the babysitter. ‘Jack-Jack Attack’ sheds more light on the situation and is created to match the main film’s dialogue exactly. It’s brilliantly entertaining. As for the other special features…um…I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Bottom line, if you like Pixar films, you’ll love The Incredibles. It’s a new story, a new setting and a ton of fun. It still amazes me that this franchise can create such terrific movies without reusing any of the same gags or ideas. The newest feature, Cars, is slated to premier this summer. If the past is any indication, this new film should be even better than the rest but with The Incredibles the bar has been set awfully high.

The Incredibles gets 8 ½ capes (out of 10)

** Yes, I finally had to resort to using half-points.**

It’s showtime! Click here for ‘The Incredibles’ trivia.