Among my favorite Pixar films is The Incredibles (2004), for which I awarded a four star rating.  Fourteen years later, a belated sequel is finally here, taking place immediately after the end of the first film.  The story continues the theme that the government would prefer that superheroes remain closeted, and explores the mental and physical difficulties of superhero characters having to live a life without revealing themselves or using their powers for good.

Brad Bird’s film focuses on Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), who is given an opportunity to bring superheroes back into a positive public light.  The Parr family tries to live normally while Mom is out fighting crime, but things don’t go smoothly.  Violet (Sarah Vowell) has the most difficult time, but father Bob (Craig T. Nelson) has his hands full dealing with baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile), whose powers are beginning to blossom.  And Dash (Huck Milner) is as antsy as ever.  It is a family momentarily divided, until things get really complicated and the kids have to come to the rescue.

I like Incredibles 2 but I don’t love it.  The original was relentlessly fresh and fun, an animated James Bond-ish satire that hit all the right notes.  This one seems forced and stilted at times, and, frankly, I find the movie’s debate about the worthiness of superheroes absurd.  If there really were people with superpowers who fought against crime and corruption, of course the public would embrace them.  I’ve never bought the argument that superheroes, or X-Men mutants, would automatically be viewed as threatening to normal mortals, or reviled for their powers.  Maybe I’m naive, but that’s what I think.  And Incredibles 2 has the family shelved because the government thinks that not fighting the criminals is more cost-effective.  Right.

Incredibles 2 is stylish fun, and it is wonderful to revisit these characters again.  It is a funny, clever film, but I think it overplays its anti-superhero theme.  Its big surprise villain reveal was not surprising to me; anyone who knows the Batman legend should spot the villain quickly.  Its action sequences fly by all too rapidly; it isn’t easy to sort out what exactly is occurring.  Finally, the universal theme of a family trying to hold things together isn’t exactly new or fresh or riveting.  Still, this is a good film, if not the great one for which I had hoped.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  24 June 2018.