Incredibles 2 (2018, PG)

I suppose it was only a matter of time before this movie got a sequel, even if it wound up being a pretty long time.  Overall, I’d say it’s definitely worth it – I enjoy seeing Elastigirl take center stage, it has some interesting things to say, and every moment of Jack-Jack is gold – but, having rewatched the first film recently, I don’t think it’s quite as great as its predecessor.

Set immediately after the events of the first film, the Parrs are back on the superhero stage, even though using their powers to fight crime is still illegal.  Bob and Helen are courted by the Deavor siblings, a business tycoon and his tech-wizard sister, to take part in a program to relegitimize supers by reframing the public’s perception of them.  To Bob’s consternation, the Deavors only want Helen to start with, and he finds himself on the sidelines, staying home with the kids while she gets back on the streets.

It’s a superhero movie about parenting, working women/working moms, and taking on new roles.  The themes, while digestible for young audiences, are fairly sophisticated.  Bob certainly gets his share of “parenting-fail” comedy, but the film doesn’t ultimately frame him as the hapless dad who can’t raise his own kids while his wife is at work.  Instead, he discovers just what a demanding job being a stay-at-home parent is and applies himself to the task, meeting the steep learning curve head-on and always trying to do better.  (He’s put at a disadvantage by baby Jack-Jack’s newly-emerging powers – they are many, and they’re to a great extent out of Jack-Jack’s control.  Jack-Jack and his powers are everything.)

Meanwhile, Helen balances her love of superhero work and all that goes with it – a genuine love of helping people, being a role model for supers who’ve felt stifled under the current law, the adrenaline rush of stopping bad guys – with the struggle of being away from her family more and feeling like she’s missing out on the kids’ lives.  Alongside Bob’s combination of pride and envy at her work, we see Helen coming to terms with some of their past dynamic, which frequently positioned her behind him, as she’s now the one out front.

But even though it’s a really entertaining movie with strong action, fun jokes, and good themes, it doesn’t entirely recapture the fresh inventiveness of the first film.  To be fair, a good chunk of that is down to the different movie landscape, which has exploded in superhero franchises since the original Incredibles came out in 2004, but still.  The twists are pretty obvious, and some of the action outstays its welcome a little, dragging on too long.  Additionally, Violet and Dash feel a bit shortchanged compared to their parents.

Much of the cast from the first film returns here, with Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter continuing to lead the movie with aplomb and director Brad Bird offering a brief but hilarious return appearance as Edna.  Plus, we’re also treated to appearances from Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener, both effective as the Deavors.

Warnings

Violence, scary moments, and light thematic elements.