Incredibles 2 Movie Review

It seems to be the mission of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures to infantilise America and to create a community of mindless embryos who find more comfort in an animated superhero film than in challenging the political equations of a ruthless and exploitative State. In the la la land of the ‘Incredibles’, advanced animation technology is used to show a family of superheroes in an imaginary world, solving problems created by imaginary crime and fascism.

The world is clearly a better place with the Parr family in action. When the movie begins, the ban on superhero activities is still in place, even though crime continues to proliferate. The Parrs, along with other superheroes, were outlawed in the first place because collateral damage caused by their vigilante activities was considered to be unmanageable. But in the present time of ‘Incredibles 2’, the State seems to have had a re-think on the subject and are cautiously planning to ease up on the more stringent aspects of their ban. Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) is allowed to function unfettered, but not Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), whose powers caused most of the uncontainable damage. So he stays home and takes care of the kids.

As the narrative evolves, the major source of amusement in the film, quite appropriately, is an infant, the baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile). He makes the most adorable and appropriate baby sounds that keep a family audience enchanted. This allows the central narrative of the film, a story about how a villain called ‘Screenslaver’ – a clever take-off on the computer screen-saver – enslaves the world by producing mesmerising images that can reorient our brains.

When the man who seems to represent the State with his company ‘DEVTECH’, and whose idea it is to legitimise the superheroes to battle ‘Screenslaver’ is called Winston (Bob Odenkirk), you wonder if an oblique reference to Orwell’s ‘1984’ is being made. However, without the weaving in of a more literary plot, this reference remains nerdy, and certainly not an analogy to the novel.

Basically, ‘Incredibles 2’ is the product of an entertainment industry that seems more and more unconnected with American reality. As a franchise, it carries off from where it left off in the first film, but adds only a few minor additions to the original set-up, characters and story. This is disappointing.

About The Author

Ajit Duara