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The Incredibles
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Director: |
Brad Bird |
Plot: |
After a spate of lawsuits
superheroes are forced into a relocation program
and told to get normal jobs. The No. 1 superhero, Mr Incredible, has a real
problem with this. Despite a family and a job, Mr Incredible feels trapped
until some mysterious goings on tempts him back into superherodom. |
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Writer: |
Brad Bird |
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Starring: |
Craig T Nelson |
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Holly Hunter |
| Jason Lee |
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Genre: |
Animated Comedy |
Cert: |
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Critic - |
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Review:
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Perhaps the most incredible thing about The Incredibles is that it is not,
in fact, incredible. What is incredible is the incredible reviews The
Incredibles has been garnering, and it is also incredible that I have been
able to use "incredible" a lot without getting incredibly confused. Anyway,
enough of this nonsense, onto more serious matters. The Incredibles is
largely entertaining, with standout moments throughout and well sketched
characters. The problem is, Pixar's standard is so high and their output of
such a quality that The Incredibles falls a little short of it's last
feature. Amazingly enough, though, is that unlike other studios who come up
shorter than previous efforts, Pixar have still managed to produce one of
the best films of the year. The animation is fresh and crisp, and the
sketching of the characters, large bodies and small legs, gives you the
impression they are slightly larger than life. The water effects are, once
again, absolutely astounding, although it doesn't capture the same awe as
Finding Nemo's luscious visuals. The film also employs a more adult
storyline and tone, employing character development over buddy comedy. They
manage to create characters who you can identify with, in spite of their
superpowers, and you can understand the trauma each character is trying to
deal with. As for the bad guy, usually the most important character in a
superhero movie, he is a nice caricature of all other super villains. The
one step above he has from his kinsmen is you feel sympathy for him, however
seeing him get his come-uppance still makes you smile.
The most important element in animation in allowing the audience to emote to
the characters are the voice cast. They are first class. Nelson's despair
really hits the mark with respect to the hum-drum lives most of us lead (how
many times have you wanted to throw your boss halfway through the building).
On the flipside, when he gets the chance to be "super" again, his tone
changes, and the regained confidence you see on the screen is matched in the
voice. Hunter, who I have never had much time for, provides Elastagirl with
a mix of homely wife-like whining and sultry "come on boy wink wink"
sexiness. The stand out, obviously, is the ever magnificent Jason Lee, a man
whom I genuinely believe should be in every film made. His manic mad genius
jumps from maniacal delight to self defecating doubt, although he always
delivers his lines with a panache that is only allowed when you're the
villain. I want more Lee!!
I am perhaps a bit harsh on The Incredibles, it is thoroughly entertaining
and consistently funny. Nemo, however, it is not. |
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