'Incredibles 2' review: Glamouros sequel is better than most of your superhero movies

Movie: Incredibles 2

Cast: Craig T Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sophia Bush, Catherine Keener, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, and Samuel L Jackson

Director: Brad Bird

Genre: Animation, Adventure

Duration: 1hr 58min

Story:

We meet the Parr family right where we left them 14 years ago. They fight the Underminer at the beginning of this sequel and the government and public do not appreciate being saved at the expense of property damage. Therefore, the superfamily now has to move yet again in search of a normal life. Their super friend Frozone (Samuel L Jackson) meets this hotshot tech mogul Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener). They want superheroes to be legal again and they pick Elastigirl aka Helen Parr (Holly Hunter) to be the face of this campaign. 

While Elastigirl goes out to save the world, it becomes Mr Incredible/Bob Parr's (Craig T Nelson) responsibility to take care of their three children. Violet (Sara Vowell) is dealing with teenage heartbreak. Dash (Huck Milner) just wants to show off his power and learn maths on the side. Baby Jack-Jack is a surprise and the biggest challenge for Bob. 

Review: 

Incredibles 2 will thrive on the big boost from nostalgia. The audience has waited more than a decade to get the second instalment. Disney Pixar and Brad Bird’s direction does not disappoint, as far as engagement goes. When Elastigirl mounts her bike for the first time, we know we are in for a ride of a lifetime. The action scenes are mesmerising. Especially when Elastigirl is leading from the front. Spider-Man fans will be jealous to see her swing between skyscrapers with panache the web-slinger can only dream of. Fair warning for those who suffer from epilepsy -- a few scenes in the movie might trigger an attack. But those are the scenes in which Pixar takes the art of animation to next level. 

The attire is more real, sets have suave mid-century James Bond era touch with trap doors, multipurpose floors, massive mansions, boxed-up cars. Every single frame is glamorous.

The dash of gender equality is good for the movie. Both Elastigirl and Evelyn get more screen time than the female superheroes got in Avengers: Infinity War. The human element of the Parr family stands out. When status quo changes, one will struggle to adjust. Mr Incredible has to let go of his self-serving nature and Elastigirl has to miss Jack-Jack using his powers for the first time.

Violet is the teenage yo-yo who wants to use powers and then doesn't. Her boyfriend doesn't remember her because during the fight with Underminer he discovers her true identity and therefore his memory is wiped out. The pain of your crush forgetting your existence makes you want to hate your powers, but you put that hatred aside because your family needs you. Wish they had explored Dash beyond the comic relief and escape hatch. Parents will empathise with Mr Incredible over new methods of solving math. Jack-Jack is still discovering his powers and the family has to adjust accordingly. His rendezvous with a racoon in the garden makes for one of the best scenes in the movie. Edna Mode, the designer extraordinaire, takes liking to him and the bond this ice-cold, eccentric woman shares with the little super deserves a spin-off of their own. One of the characters that should definitely return is Void (Sophia Bush). She plays with different dimensions but has all the telling signs of an introvert. Elastigirl's gentle handling gives her confidence and that chemistry makes for her tag-team fight scenes with Elastigirl and other superheroes a good entertainment.

Bad point is, you see the villain and their destructive plan coming from a mile off. Evel-yn Deavor is not a subtle name to begin with. Her first interaction with the superheroes drops major hints and you know how the story will end. Yet, you go on this ride wanting to discover how it ends.

Verdict:

In this era of superhero movies, Incredibles 2 outshines tentpole films with a familial charm and brilliant animation.

Critic's Rating: 4/5

PS: Do not miss the Pixar short Bao that runs before the movie begins. Emotional stirring guaranteed before you dive into adventure chronicles.