Whenever a sequel to a hit film comes out a very long time after the original, there’s always a certain level of skepticism from fans. Whether it was the return of the Star Wars franchise back in 2015, or even Pixar’s return to Toy Story with the third film in the series, there’s always going to be that resounding question: is it really necessary? Brad Bird’s 2004 animated film The Incredibles is, at least in my opinion, a masterpiece. Funny writing, great characters, some visual ingenuity, great vocal performances, and a fantastic score from Michael Giacchino all combined into one truly special cinematic experience. I was nervous about whether or not a sequel could live up, but with Brad Bird returning to write and direct (plus most of the original cast back to reprise their roles), I couldn’t deny my excitement. But did it live up to the heights of its predecessor?

Incredibles 2 picks up directly after the events of the original. Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) are approached by business tycoon Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), who wants to redeem superheroes in the eyes of the public and make them legal again. He enlists Elastigirl to do this, hoping her clean record and efficiency will help the public see the benefits of supers, which leaves Mr. Incredible at home to take care of the three children. But a mysterious villain known as the Screenslaver threatens Elastigirl’s operation, trying to keep superheroes permanently illegal.

There’s a lot to love about Incredibles 2. It’s impossible not to feel excited upon seeing these fun characters again after so many years, with an exciting opening action sequence that showcases all of their powers. We can immediately see the improvement in animation; this is a gorgeous-looking film. The animation is slick and lively, particularly during the film’s many exciting action sequences. Bird uses this fast animation to brilliantly highlight the various superpowers on display. There’s a terrific sequence where Elastigirl (riding her new bike, the Elasticycle) has to stop a runaway train, and it’s truly heart-stopping. The action is creative and fun, easily rivalling anything you’d find in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The film is also very funny, particularly with its slapstick. Bird takes advantage of the fast and detailed animation to create some stellar slapstick scenes, most of them involving baby Jack Jack (Eli Fucile). Jack Jack plays a much bigger role this time around, and the film’s funniest moments revolve around him. There’s a hilarious sequence involving Jack Jack using his powers to do battle with a raccoon that had me in tears laughing. But Jack Jack isn’t the only funny aspect of the film. Watching Mr. Incredible attempt to handle the stressful job of parenting is hilarious and, at times, touching. There’s a wonderfully funny moment where Mr. Incredible takes the kids to a restaurant where Violet’s (Sarah Vowell) crush works. The results are as hilarious and cringe-inducing as you’d expect. The film balances these funny parenting moments with Mr. Incredible and the action with Elastigirl very well.

All that being said, the film’s major weakness is its villain. The original Incredibles benefitted from the very entertaining Syndrome, who was charismatic, funny, and whose motivations were understandable. This time, we have the Screenslaver. This villain is pretty bland, lacking the clear motivation or screen presence of Syndrome. What’s worse is the reveal of this character’s identity is laughably predictable, and I doubt even young children will be surprised by the “twist.”

Despite all of what’s good about the film, the question still remains: was it necessary? And despite the fact that I did enjoy the film, I have to say no. The Incredibles is a fantastic film that smartly played with superhero tropes and made them into something new. Incredibles 2 doesn’t have anything new to offer, and is more or less a repeat of the original (minus the good villain). As far as Pixar sequels go, Incredibles 2 feels more Finding Dory than Toy Story 3; entertaining to be sure, but it doesn’t bring anything new or interesting to the table that wasn’t present in the original.

Brad Bird’s return to the Incredibles universe is fun, lighthearted family entertainment. It has a lot of laughs, a lot of heart, and some stellar action scenes that take advantage of the slick animation on display. But it does not live up to the heights of the genuinely incredible original, lacking the great villain and freshness of its predecessor.







Author Details Seán Flynn Contributor Seán Flynn is in his early twenties and lives in a small town in Ireland. His ultimate passion is film, and he spends a great deal of his time getting trains to Dublin City to see obscure indie movies. He works at a cinema, and also enjoys reading. Favourite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, and George R.R. Martin. He has written reviews for ‘Grand Central Magazine’.