FILM REVIEW: INCREDIBLES 2 (PG)

After a 14-year hiatus the Parr family return for another helping of superhero action – and muscle up an entertaining sequel.

It doesn’t offer a lot more than that, this is to the original what Finding Dory was to Finding Nemo – a solid follow-up that didn’t quite have the charm of the first movie – but nevertheless delivers another family blockbuster adventure.

When the family – Mr Incredible (Craig T Nelson), Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell) and Dash (Huck Milner) – are arrested after a botched mission during the opening salvo which caused damage on a massive scale, their special superpowers have to be curbed after being deemed illegal.

So when a wealthy conglomerate – led by siblings Winston (Breaking Bad’s Bob Odenkirk) and Evelyn Deavor (Get Out’s Catherine Keener) – catches the ear of family friend Frozone (Samuel L Jackson), they broker a deal to keep Elastigirl ‘on the beat’ to fight crime alone as they ‘softly, softly’ try to restore the public image.

But the main source of humour throughout the movie comes in the form of Mr Incredible turning into a stay-at-home husband – in a mansion lent to them by Winston – to look after Violet (who is having ‘boy’ troubles), Dash (having homework problems) and more prominently, new born Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile), who starts to develop multiple superpowers including laser beams from his eyes, teleporting through walls, multiplying himself, and turning into a Tasmanian Devil-esque monster, while his Elastigirl is single-handedly saving the world.

Once again, like with the original – and generally the high-standard of Disney/Pixar films as a whole – there are clever plot twists and laugh-out-loud moments that make this good value throughout.

The ending is a bit formulaic – which prevents it from ever reaching five-star status – but after becoming the biggest animation ever in the States, it’s not hard to see why with the Parr’s addictive personalities.

It might not quite be as incredible as the first film – but it comes pretty darn close with this ‘jacked’ up sequel.

Let’s hope the third film doesn’t have to wait so long…

Gavin Miller [youtube id=”i5qOzqD9Rms” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Voice Cast: Craig T Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L Jackson, Catherine Keener, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Bob Odenkirk, Eli Fucile, Sophia Bush, Brad Bird, Isabella Rossellini, Jonathan Banks & John Ratzenberger.

Running Time: 1 Hr 58 Mins

Director: Brad Bird

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