Review Summary: Fantastically entertaining and fun, with wit and heart.
First of all, I believe Disney moved Incredibles 2 up a year to avoid all the memes and conversation regarding one memorable line from the original film’s bad guy Syndrome ("Too late. 15 years too late!"). Ok, maybe that's wishful thinking. But, there's a reason why director Brad Bird really took his time (14 years worth) to finally get this movie made. He and the talented filmmakers at Pixar weren't demanding speed (even though Dash wouldn't stand for it lol). They were demanding excellence in quality.
It's an idea that definitely paid off. The fact that Incredibles 2 manages keeps the same tone and personality as its' 2004 predecessor is no small feat indeed. Part of that accomplishment comes from another excellent decision by Mr. Bird. Instead of a time jump like many sequels tend to utilize, this sequel starts the moment the original ended. For those who need a refresher, it kicks off with a very entertaining battle between the Parrs and returning villain Underminer. Besides that particular scene, the film wisely doesn't rely on callbacks to the original. Instead, it's different enough to stand on its own two feet.
The "60's throwback" feel is also very appealing. From a scene involving some of the characters watching Jonny Quest to the old-fashioned wardrobe, it exudes a yesteryear vibe. In the meantime, the animation definitely is more fleshed out, detailed and impressive (I should remind people that the original, for its time, had terrific animation), while maintaining the cartoony style and expressions of its' characters.
Speaking of the characters, they're still voiced like almost no time has gone by. Holly Hunter might sound a little older in some scenes, but she still willingly steps up to the plate as Helen Parr/Elastigirl in a role that is equal parts tough and relatable as the Mom who can (seemingly) do anything. Craig T. Nelson is given funnier bits here this time around as Bob/Mr. Incredible, while Sarah Vowell is given both hysterical and heartfelt moments as daughter Violet.
In the meantime, another major accomplishment here is that every character seems to be given plenty to do here, including characters who weren’t given so much the first time. The biggest upgrade in terms of screen time was Jack Jack. He's given quite a few hilarious scenes (including a memorable fight with a raccoon) as he nearly steals the whole movie. One of the original's fan favorites, Frozone (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, a.k.a. Nick Fury) is also given an upgrade in screentime, with more to do in the second half (including the required hysterical moment with wife, Honey). Mr. Bird also returns to voice another fan favorite, Edna Mode. She's given just about the same amount of screentime as the first film, and also provides a couple of this movie’s biggest laughs. As for the new characters, they are given better-than-expected character development. Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener give fairly solid performances as brother and sister team Winston and Evelyn.
The overall script is given plenty of wit and depth, as Bird takes the story in occasionally different and more complex directions. It’s paced very breezily for a near 2-hour film. One of my main concerns going into this movie was whether or not it would be a "gender-swapped" replay of the first film's plot. Thankfully, there are a few turns and interesting ideas here and there that keep it from doing so. On the other hand (particularly in the first half), I did find the film to be a little heavy on exposition, making a few of the new plot points a bit too complex as well as difficult to follow at first. There's also a few scenes that feature some awkward or slightly over-the-top goofy dialogue (as well as a few out-of-place "adult" lines), but they don't really get in the film's way too much.
Another concern I had was whether or not the first film's heart and family dynamics would get lost in the midst of all the exciting action (and there's several impressive action scenes here). That thankfully didn't happen either. There are a handful of scenes that touch on some serious (thoughtful) topics, and the film never shortchanges the situations with Bob being "Mr. Mom". The first 30 minutes of the film features a couple of meaningful scenes between the main characters. There's plenty of relatable and heartwarming moments here that feel real and authentic, instead of forced or sappy.
Now, what about the film's new villain (the "Screenslaver")? Without going into spoiler territory, I will say I thought the direction they took with the villain here was very smart. Instead of trying to top Syndrome (in terms of overall prowess or backstory), the crew attempted to take a more clever and subversive route. The overall plotline regarding the villain's reveal might turn out to be predictable for some (it wasn't exactly for me), but its' still entertaining enough in how it plays out. Not to mention, it's nice to have an antagonist who doesn't follow typical kids' movie villain cliches.
The other impressive element here is Michael Giacchino (he returns to compose the music after being nominated for some awards for the first film). He amps up the 60's spy vibe from the first movie and creates a score that is both old-fashioned and exciting. In a few scenes, his score succeeds in elevating the suspense. Ultimately, with a handful of memorable scores in the last 5 years, Giacchino continues to prove he's one of the best composers in town right now.
Basically, with sequels, we all tend to have high expectations. And altogether, after most sequels see the light of day, we oftentimes find them to not even come close to the original. In this rare case, however, like Finding Dory before, Pixar and Mr. Bird have created a sequel that truly rises to the occasion. After watching 2 the first time, it was very hard for me to decide if it matched or surpassed its predecessor or other Pixar favorites.
Upon thinking about it some over the past few days, I will say that Incredibles 2 manages to be an old-fashioned family charmer, rather than be emotionally stirring and compelling like some of my favorite Pixar movies are. Of course, that's not necessarily a criticism, because this is still one of their most entertaining and flat-out fun movies they've made.
In the meantime, after rewatching the first Incredibles, I realized that one was a little more memorable. However, this sequel doesn't have to match or top its' predecessor to work as strongly as it does (who expected it to top it anyhow? It's an insanely tall order.). Mr. Bird (and crew) attempted to create another installment that would do its best to fit in (as well as add onto) the same universe that its' well-loved predecessor established. If that was the expectation (it would be a more realistic one), then he succeeded incredibly well.
My Score: 8.8/10
Content Concerns for Family Viewing: Incredibles 2 is rated PG for "action sequences and some brief mild language". I would say this is a decent choice for ages 8 and up, but there are some content concerns to be aware of. For one, there is some action violence that might would prove to be scary for younger viewers. Some destruction, hand-to-hand combat, fast moving camera angles, and guns are used a few times too (a gunshot to kill a character's parents is heard in flashback, not seen). A few action scenes also involve some strobe lighting, which may prove to be an issue for those who are sensitive to bright, sudden lights. A kid and a raccoon get into a fight. A superhero nearly crushes another with metal. A plane nearly falls out of the sky.
Besides that, there's a little bit of mild language (at least mostly used by the character Evelyn. She says, "promote the h*** out of it", "I'll be d***ed" and "bunch of crap" all once each. We also hear "oh my g**" a half-dozen times). Adults are shown sipping alcohol in a couple of scenes. The idea of breaking the law is discussed to bring superheroes back into the spotlight. Dash controls someone's car. A character belches fire out of his mouth.
