The Incredibles

Beg or borrow a couple of kids from friends and treat yourself to this movie: or just sneak in on your own and treat yourself anyway. Wall to wall animation on TV and some of the so-called animated blockbusters has for me, made the genre very tired and predictable in recent years. And at times a bit tacky. But here at last is a film with real visual style, wit and warmth that doesn't patronise or exclude the kids with nudge nudge humour to broaden the market appeal.

Part of the effectiveness of this pacy, boisterous little gem, derives from the absence of a battalion of famous stars doing their own schtick at the expense of their characterisation. Only Holly Hunter and Samuel L Jackson are really well known here and both give their character precedence. Writer and Director Brad Bird also voices a priceless female style and fashion guru who looks for all the world like Lily Tomlin playing Mr McGoo. Very funny.

You will hear in the cinema in response to this movie something that is as rare as it is precious: genuine, infectious, innocent delighted laughter. No innuendo, no knowing verbal or visual wink to the adults, just situations and dialogue that adults and kids can laugh at on the same level. Share. That's some achievement, which to their credit Pixar achieved before with the delightful Toy Story.

Stock story of super heros v super villain but who cares? If you do get the kids, depending on age, you are guaranteed chuckles and squeals of fun or a punched fist in the air and cry of "Yes!".

Go on: grow down and brain up, this one rocks. And don't miss the great little Pixar short 'Boundin' that precedes the main feature

Zettel
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Hi Z, thanks for another fine review. I like your description of the fashion maven as looking like "Lily Tomlin playing Mr McGoo" - fashonistas think she's based on Anna Wintour, the redoubtable editor of US Vogue. I found this movie very entertaining and vibrant.

Adele.

Hi Ad

I can see the Wintour link. What was so clever I thought in animation terms, was simply that the busy, mincey, tripling walk was just so apt and funny in itself.

As I didn't expect to like the film much, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Regards

Z

Hi Z,
Saw this yesterday (in French, sadly) and enjoyed it - so did the children. I found it a little long and quite James Bondesque but the superpowers were very inventive and there were some laugh out loud moments.

Elspeth

Els.

Helps if you have you own 'home-grown' kids. Glad you and they enjoyed it. As I said in the review, the nicest thing, for me, about it is that when Mum and Dad and the kids are laughing, thay are all laughing in the same place at the same thing; unlike many other innuendo-laden star vehicle, feature animations.

All the best for 2005

Zettel