Incredibles 2

This review may contain spoilers!

It's been a long time coming but this sequel is just as perfect as the original in almost every way. I would give Incredibles 2 a 9/10.

The Incredibles are incredibly fascinating to watch; the variety of superpowers and epic moments of action they get tangled up in is fascinating to watch. Yet, it is the very relatable issues this family struggles and deals with that makes this family so fascinating; using the concept of a superpowered family having to negotiate things like school, adolescence, parenting and working away from home is unique and easy to connect with. This film has a really fun spin on the illegal superheroes plotline introduced in the original film and that drives a lot of the action, but what makes this film succeed is how true it sticks to these characters and the themes around family at their core. The animation style keeps the general aesthetic of the original while also providing a lot more detail and some interesting dynamic colouring for the sequel, scenes like the attack on the Parr household or Elastigirl saving the ambassador are especially stunning to watch. The score for the film really hearkens back to the original, that retro trumpet orchestral with moments of jazz-like intensity give this superhero film life and makes for a nice return to other 60s superhero media like Adam West's Batman series.

Craig T. Nelson, who voiced Mr Incredible, does a great job at bringing out the tense, stressed manner of this now stay at home super-dad; The high energy Nelson lends this role to moments where his character gets to be super or experience super things shows some of the more child-like moments that come out of this role. Sarah Vowell, who voiced Violet Parr, is far more outspoken within this film; her rage at how her superhero life has affected her relationship with her crush is a nice subplot. Huck Milner, who voiced Dash, really has the constant and ever-moving delivery of Dash's lines as a strength; Milner also brings the joy and charming chaos that comes alongside this young role. Catherine Keener, who voiced Evelyn Deavor, was quite interesting as a more dry antagonist after Syndrome; her cynicism and contempt marked her as notably more nasty and realistic. Eli Fucile, who voiced Jack-Jack Parr, is such a cute role and one who thankfully has a lot more screen time in this sequel; Fucile really gives a simple role quite a range of emotion and responses which makes Jack-Jack a great source of entertainment. Bob Odenkirk, who voiced Winston Deavor, is such a bright and optimistic role; Odenkirk crafts a role who radiates positivity and a forward-thinking outlook. Samuel L. Jackson, who voiced Frozone, is immediately back with a ton of charm and camaraderie alongside Nelson's Mr Incredible; Jackson has a role who is loyal and really put himself on the line throughout. Sophia Bush, who voiced Voyd, is a really interesting new minor protagonist; Bush's role is incredibly nervous and shy when introduced yet she goes on a great journey to discover her own confidence as a superhero. Brad Bird, who voiced Edna Mode, is a fan favourite role for a very clear reason; Bird always puts on an incredibly over the top pitch with this role to emulate a high fashion designer and he nails it completely.

However, the best performance came from Holly Hunter, who voiced Elastigirl. This is a very confident and self-assured role, making her a great role model and interesting character. Hunter does an amazing job at grounding this character, giving her motherly tendencies while also exhibiting the major stressors she faces being a superhero or as a mother. Throughout this feature, Elastigirl has quick banter and seems a natural slipping back into the hero role and the ability to balance her two major aspects of life is what makes her so great to watch.

This film suffers from one of the issues the last film had as well; there's a mature wit and certainly some mature themes within these films. Whenever the film takes the time to explore these themes the pace can slow and this can really lead to a drop in interest for the audience, especially the younger audience of an animated film. The antagonist for this film was also not very thrilling; the major revelation of their identity wasn't a great shock either, disappointingly.

Michael Bird, who voiced Tony Rydinger, fails to bring anything to this character that makes us understand why he is a love interest for the role, Violet; Bird doesn't have a very characteristic voice and even at his best Vowell tends to carry their scenes together. Jonathan Banks, who voiced Rick Dicker, has a much lighter tone than Bud Luckey which doesn't really fit the character well; this role should feel high profile like a secret agent yet Banks came across as markedly flat. John Ratzenberger, who voiced Underminer, wasn't especially noteworthy at the start of the film; his introduction at the end of the last film had set high stakes but he wound up feeling fairly forgettable like Dominque Louis' Bomb Voyage.