A Review of Pixar Animation Studios Cartoon Classic, "The Incredibles"

Pixar Animation Studios has had a string of successful movies in the cartoon format. There is one that really put Pixar on the map. That movie is The Incredibles, and it features everything Pixar is famous for: multi-layered storytelling, an excellent morality, and a remarkable ability to entertain young and old alike. The Incredibles tells us the story of Bob Parr, an indestructible hero who started a family with a super-stretchy heroine while both were at the high point of their crime-fighting careers. Soon after this, society rejects the masked heroes, filing lawsuits against them for saving lives, and finally forcing them underground.

It seems that Mr. Incredible must now hide who he really is, and fit into a society that celebrates conformity. Fast forward fifteen years, and Bob Parr is a harried accounts manager at InsuraCare, a ruthless insurance company that cares nothing for its clientele. Now with a family of a super-speedster son, and a daughter who can turn invisible and create force fields, and a normal toddler, Bob must grapple with the moral crisis that comes with just working for a living while remembering days spent as a super hero.

There is multi-layered storytelling in this movie. It has depth. For the person who likes character development, the movie manages to relate each separate frustration of the family members, without compromising the storyline.

There is also a strong undercurrent that sets the tone throughout the movie: the movie makes a strong statement about a social trend that celebrates mediocrity. There is a scene were the parents argue about their son attending a 3^rd grade graduation, that drives the point home. There are other references to the celebration of mediocrity, as well. The movie strongly relays the message that it's okay to accept people that are different - no matter what ability level they operate with.

The movie also manages to spoof quite a few other hero films, as well. The film gets good laughs with jokes about the bad guys all using monologues to reveal their plans to the captured good guy, who then gets away and foils the plan. There are also some well aimed shots at all those super-hideouts that are so notorious in the James Bond films.

My personal favorite scene in the movie: listen carefully when Mr. Incredible encounters the two gate guards on the island at night, you can hear him throw the trolley car.

It is the considered opinion of this reviewer that with The Incredibles, Pixar has created another classic movie, capable of joining the ranks of Toy Story and Wall-E. With an excellent storyline, kidsafe morality, and intelligence that keeps adults focused, and an Oscar for Best Animated Film, The Incredibles has its revered place in my collection.

If you would like to add The Incredibles to your collection, here are several places where you can check prices and buy:

Amazon. Com - the well-known shopping powerhouse.

The Incredibles - The Official DVD Website, from Disney. It is a Pixar film, after all!

iTunes - You have to look for it, click the link "movies" and you can purchase the movie for your iPod Touch or iPhone. Or, just open iTunes and purchase it from the iTunes Library Directly.