The Incredibles 2 Review

I've had some time to soak in what I saw last week in the theater with The Incredibles 2. Now, I've always considered the original to be Pixar's most overrated movie. Good, but vastly overrated. Going in, I was expecting it to be somewhat better, but it exceeded my expectations and is one of the few sequels that you can say is better than the original.

As a heads up, this takes place immediately following the end of the first one. Things go bad for the Parr family, but opportunity comes a knocking later. A businessman wants to bring superheroes back into the spotlight and get them to be legal again. With that, he has Helen Parr start building up the urge to keep the world safe with stopping crime again as Elastigirl. As for husband Bob, AKA Mr. Incredible, he has to be a stay at home dad with the kids.

Regarding the film, it's pretty lengthy. You're going to be spending a little over two hours at the theater and that is also including trailers and how long you show up prior to the screening. It stays on point and doesn't have many dull moments. They make good use of screentime for the family and provide a lot of laughs and and enough action to where one doesn't overlap the other. One important thing, however, is that it doesn't lose its identity in today's world of glorified Marvel popcorn flicks. It stays fresh and unique without needing to rely on call-backs. Also, it provides an interesting twist that you wouldn't think for a kids film.

Visually, it is an amazing sight to see. You can tell that Pixar has crafted their work into being better and better every since their inception in 1986 and The Incredibles 2 is maybe their finest work yet. One warning is that there is a few scenes that may trigger epilepsy for some people. Michael Giacchino did a great job creating the soundtrack. Both Holly Hunter and Craig T. Nelson are excellent as Helen and Bob, though Hunter sounded a bit more older at points. Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener are solid in their performances as the brother sister duo who want to make superheroes legal again. I'm a little disappointed at Frozone not getting much attention for this film, but Samuel L. Jackson is great for his few scenes.

With other characters, it is very solid, especially as the film continues. There isn't many complaints that I have to say about this. It's an all around excellent thrill ride that should please mostly everyone. Is it worth waiting 14 years? For fans, it is. Go see it in the theater. You will have plenty of time the next few weeks to see it. A rare time a sequel is better than the original.

Score: 9 out of 10