The Incredibles   

Mr. Incredible: Craig T. Nelson

Elastigirl: Holly Hunter

Frozone: Samuel L. Jackson

Syndrome: Jason Lee

Dash Parr: Spencer Fox

Violet Parr: Sarah Vowell

Written & Directed by 

Brad Bird

Pixar has done it again.  They have managed to create an imaginative, entertaining, and exhilarating movie that will appeal to people of all ages, but they did do it a little differently this time.  

The Incredibles throws us into a world inhabited not by bugs, toys, monsters, or fish, but by humans.  It's a superhero film that earned Pixar its first PG rating with intense action sequences, and the main characters are clearly adults.  But none of these things matter, because I am now convinced that everything Pixar touches turns to pure cinematic gold.  And every time I begin to doubt the direction they choose to go, they prove how foolish it is to question their ability.

Pardon the pun, but this movie is incredible.  At the beginning, Mr. Incredible, voiced by Craig T. Nelson, is at the top of his game saving lives and stopping villains.  He is helped out by his friend Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) and his soon-to-be wife Elastigirl (Holly Hunter).  Things change quickly, though, as the Supers start to face numerous lawsuits and a public clamoring for their removal from society.  They are then placed in a "Super protection program," and forced to live ordinary lives, keeping their superhero identities a secret.

Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl become Bob and Helen Parr, with kids Dash, Violet, and Jack-Jack.  Bob works in an insurance office by day and dreams longingly of the days when he would save the world.  Helen stays at home to raise the family, and some of the funniest scenes of the movie occur within this setting, as the difficulty of controlling a family with superpowers becomes apparent.

Bob eventually gets called to perform superhero tasks by Mirage, a representative of a secret agency, after he loses his job, and he keeps the secret from his wife as he pretends to go to work or a conference.  The jobs, however, turn into something a little more dangerous than he originally anticipated and the rest of his family is thrown into the fray.  

There are some surprising plot twists and some obvious ones, but as you watch this movie, it just doesn't matter.  The visuals are so engrossing, that you become fully engaged in the film, which makes it easier to just sit back and let the wondrous story unfold out in front of you without worrying about what's going to happen next.

There are some tense and scary moments and plenty of humor that works for both kids and adults.  The action sequences are cleverly thought-out and brilliantly realized.  The conceit behind the various superpowers is excellent.  The music recalls the John Barry scores for old James Bond films.  And the movie tackles mature themes such as alienation, midlife crisis, accepting yourself for who you are, revenge, honesty, love, and family.  But most of all, this movie is just fun.    

As with all the other Pixar movies, there are plenty of memorable periphery characters that inject laughs and dimension to The Incredibles: Edna Mode, the Vera Wang of superhero wardrobes, obnoxious boss Gilbert Huph, French villain Bomb Voyage, and sexy recruiter Mirage fill out the movie and the story perfectly.

But the driving force of the movie is Bob, and Craig T. Nelson gives his best performance since Poltergeist (and maybe the first seasons of Coach).  The exasperation is clearly recognized in his voice, followed by the sheer exuberance of someone finally getting to do what it is he is supposed to do.  Holly Hunter is equally good as Helen/Elastigirl, and Samuel L. Jackson really sinks his teeth into the role of Lucius/Frozone.  Casting remains the greatest element of the Pixar lineup, and the ability to let the actors make a complete and complex character its strongest asset.

I admit that I had my doubts about this release.  I had them before Finding Nemo, too, which should have taught me my lesson.  And you have to wonder when or if Pixar will hit the wall or stumble with one of its movies.  I'm willing to say it will never happen, but, regardless, it's not worth thinking about as you gladly take your kids, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, husbands, or wives to see this one again and again.  It's just that good.