The Incredibles

Year: 2004

Running time: 115 minutes

Certificate: U

Language: English

Screenplay: Brad Bird

Director: Brad Bird

Starring (voices): Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee

Dave.

Bob quietly reflects while imprisoned by
Syndrome.

With every feature they make, Pixar prove that when it comes to making films that are bright, rich in story, gorgeous to look at and funny as hell, they have a pretty much unrivalled track record. The fact that the films are computer animated is irrelevant - as has been said before, animation is a technique, not a genre. Take The Incredibles, which is certainly not the best Pixar release. Superheroes the world over are forced to go into hiding when Robert Parr ('Mr. Incredible', voiced by Craig T. Nelson) is sued for saving the life of a suicide who didn't want to be saved, which in turn opens the floodgates for lawsuit upon lawsuit. Banned from 'hero work', he is forced into keeping his powers under wraps and raising his family with wife Helen (formerly 'Elastagirl', voiced by Holly Hunter). It's hard to decide whether the people at Pixar are all lunatics or geniuses. Probably a little of both.

You're never far from another beautifully rendered scene that will put your jaw on the floor, but this being Pixar, the shiny animation while undoubtedly without peer in its field, is simply the tip of the iceberg. The characters are, despite being secret superheroes, entirely believable, and the scenes of the Incredibles just being a family are suffused with a realism that will ring true with many people who are married with children. Even the minor characters are an absolute delight (in fact, tiny and crazy Edna Mode (voiced by director Brad Bird) is probably my favourite character, despite having only a small part), and the cast as a whole nail every comedic and dramatic beat.

"Showtime."

Covering a whole range of emotional states, there is comedy (see Sam Jackson's Lucius Best, formerly 'Frozone', arguing with his wife when she hides his supersuit) and there are moments that bring a lump to the throat (Bob, terrified at the idea of losing his family breaking down with an anguished cry of "I can't lose you!", then ducking his head, quietly stuttering "I'm not strong enough" is particularly affecting), but when the action kicks in, it truly hits its stride; certain scenes are breathless, and stand toe-to-toe with the best action cinema has to offer. Sheer brilliance.

So why only an 8? Sounds like a 9. It's an 8 because Pixar have set the bar so high, that something as fully rounded and technically accomplished as The Incredibles sits only in the middle of the pack, quality-wise. I'll probably run out of superlatives long before I finish reviewing all of Pixar's output.

Score: 8/10

Rachel.

Ah, Pixar. Thanks for providing another thoroughly entertaining couple of hours for adults and kids alike. The story puts a cool spin on the lives of comic book-style superheroes using their amazing trademark animation. I can't wait to share this funny and heart-warming film with my daughter Katie.

Score: 8/10

It seems others rate The Incredibles even more highly than me, if Stella at the BBC and Michelle at Future Movies are anything to go by.