Review - Incredibles 2

Incredibles 2 (2018), PG, 1h 58min - I haven't had the opportunity to get out to many movies recently, but on the Fourth of July holiday I was able to check out my most anticipated Pixar sequel to date: Incredibles 2.  The original Incredibles (2004) is probably my favorite Disney/Pixar film and the story lent itself so perfectly to a sequel that it's been a little frustrating that it has taken fourteen years for this follow up to come to fruition while other Disney/Pixar franchises have churned out multiple sequels over that same time.

Incredibles 2 takes place not too long after the events of The Incredibles, with The Parr family - Bob/Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Helen/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner), and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) - trying to adapt to 'normal' family life as superhero activity is still illegal (despite the Parr's heroics at the end of the first film).  Bob and Helen are working undercover for a government division, but after the fallout of an Underminer (John Ratzenberger) attack, that program is shut down completely and they no longer have an outlet for the use of their super powers.  Shortly thereafter, Bob, Helen, and Lucious Best/Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) are approached by Winston and Evelyn Deaver (Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener) about spearheading a movement to make 'supers' legal again.  The Deavers' plan is based on analytics and public relations, and while they want all three supers on board, their plans begin with Elastigirl as she is the most relate-able and statistically safe of the three.  The Deavers feel that if they can manufacture enough good will with the public that they can get the law against supers overturned.  The plan starts off well enough, with Elastigirl thwarting an attack on a new railway system by a new villain named Screenslaver.  As it turns out, Screenslaver ends up being behind a number of the cases that Elastigirl is assigned to respond to, and their actions threaten to throw a wrench in the Deavers' plans to return supers to prominence.   

While Elastigirl is feeling a new sense of fulfillment from her new adventures, Mr. Incredible struggles with his adjustment to being a stay at home dad and all of the craziness that comes with raising three super-powered children.  He certainly has his hands full, juggling Violet's anxiety over a boy from school she likes, Dash's not understanding why they can't use their powers whenever they want, and the discovery that baby Jack-Jack has the craziest and possibly most powerful power set in the family.

Incredibles 2 may be well overdue, but just as the clip prior to the film suggests (that includes Nelson, Hunter, Jackson, and writer/director Brad Bird), the wait was well worth it.  It is a wonderful follow up to the original, and despite the fourteen year stretch between films it doesn't miss a beat.  It is a great, fun, family-centric story that anyone can relate to.  There is an important epilepsy/seizure warning prior to the film due to a handful of scenes that include the villainous Screenslaver.  If you or anyone you are with suffers from these afflictions you're probably better off avoiding this film.  Aside from that (which is unfortunate), Incredibles 2 gets a lofty recommendation from me.  Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

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