(click pic for trailers)
We have had no less than six very fine and informative reviews of Pixar's new The Incredibles already (Triniman Chris Beaumont Screen Rant Sombrero Grande Dave Hill Jeremy Chrysler), interviews with writer/director Brad Bird and producer John Walker, and more general info here.
With so much ground well covered, please allow me to make a few disjointed observations.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD
Family Dynamics
My wife and I saw the movie last weekend and loved it. We could especially relate to the family dynamics, including "work for the sake of supporting the family" vs. work that is personally fulfilling. While I have indulged my own mythic pursuit of self-fulfillment via self-expression, the fantasy of making the world a better place by imparting to it my pearls of wisdom and providing a forum for my worthy fellow scribes via Blogcritics, she has supported our family by working at "real jobs" while I fiddle and dream. Allow me to thank her publicly here.
The Incredibles implies that if we do not do work that allows for the expression and development of our "true natures," then we are destined to be unhappy, disengaged and to take it out on those we care most about, in particular our familes. That's my excuse anyway. Self-actualization may be the surest path to career success in the long run, but the bills don't stop as these things work themselves out - we all need some bankrolling in that regard. The irony that self-expression requires outside backing is not lost on me.
Big Questions from a Little Head
I saw it for the second time Friday night with my 5 year-old, and she loved it, although, as usual, she had many lines of thought racing around her pretty little mind, deepest of which was, "Why did Buddy turn bad?" "Did he HAVE to?" And, "Why was Mr. Incredible mean to him when he was a boy? He just wanted to help, didn't he?"
Article comments
1 - nancy
"The Incredibles implies that if we do not do work that allows for the expression and development of our "true natures," then we are destined to be unhappy, disengaged and to take it out on those we care most about, in particular our familes. That's my excuse anyway."
"Destined"?! It's terrific if you can find someone to bankroll you, such as a spouse ... but if not, there's no excuse for working at a job you feel is dishonest or harmful, or for disengaging from or expressing rage at one's family. It is possible to do an honest day's work at a boring job, and express yourself in your off-hours.
2 - DensityDuck
I wasn't quite sure where they were going with the whole "if everyone is special, then NO ONE will be" thing. I think that they were trying to dump on the whole "everyone is a winner, no matter who actually won!" attitude that tries to avoid guilt over someone not winning. The problem is, the movie doesn't really convey that--it just looks like it's being snarky about mundanes trying to be great. A better (though more cliched) path might have been to make Buddy be just interested in the money, and not care about what people did with his inventions.
I personally was surprised by the movie--you can definitely tell that it wasn't the same group that wrote Toy Story et al. There was some pretty heavy stuff in this one--if it had been anything but a Disney Animated Feature it would have been PG-13. (Heavy both in the sense of dark, and also somewhat sophisticated. I doubt that many of the little kids got the scene where Bob helps the old lady with her insurance claim.)
3 - Bennett
Maybe you could warn your readers that you are going to discuss a part of the plot that people who have not seen the movie yet might not want to read.
4 - Eric Olsen
good point
5 - Eric Olsen
Nancy, perhaps I was overly glib about the nature of work: I was trying to convey that I am fully aware I have been very fortunate to have such help as to be able to pursue a rather quixotic "calling." I am fully aware that many or even most people have to do what they have to do to pay the bills and find self-expression, -realization, etc., through other means. Thanks.
DD, it WAS surprising and raised a number of sophisticated and philosophical issues, which is what I was trying to convey here. I didn't get the sense the movie was belittling the pursuit of excellence by "average" people, since Buddy's scheme involved eliminating his "super" competition and "having his fun" as the lone surviving super, before making his inventions available to the public. If his plan didn't revolve around "super genocide" it would be quite positively empowering and egalitarian, like say, the Internet (smile).
6 - Creford
How wonderful it is! Today, I had seen the film - "The Incredibles" this afternoon, My father also had seen this film in this evening. This cartoon movie is powered by Disney-Pixar.
In this film, I love the people's sensation, scene, bugbears. The scene is so sublime.
With the great imagination.
7 - Bennett
Wow, just saw this flick and was truly entertained! Stunning imagery, great characters, fantastic casting for voices (Holly Hunter is perfect).
The second disk had "Attack of Jack-Jack" which is worth the rental all by itself.
Too funny, a must see movie for all ages.
PS: The "Bennett" above (msg #3) is NOT me. I didn't discover BC until Jan '05.
8 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
and what of sweet elastigirl....
she is second only to Kirsten. it's a hell of a gap between the two, but still.
9 - Bennett
Her voice drove me nuts.
"I've put my foot down, and counted to three."
"Lots of respectable people've been hit by trains."
"He's bona-fide"
Holly Hunter, exactly my age, a doll, in a heartbeat.
10 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
ah, my affections for Holly Hunter are plentiful, i'm sure, but only Elastigirl gets my 2nd place.
which is all rather shameful.
11 - Bennett
Now why is that oh Duke? And is your devotion/admiration for young Elastigirl, early in the flick, with all her prenuptual stretching and such?
Or do you prefer the mature "motherly" Elastigirl, with her womanly curves and tender loving affection for those two darling offspring?
A guy needs to know these things.
12 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i would say the pinnacle of all elastigirl related tomfoolery arrives when she's doing the stretchy thing through the security doors in the last act. hmmm.
13 - Bennett
Indeed! I thought of at least two rather quirky responses to your last comment, but neither one said anything good about my personal predilections.
14 - Eric Olsen
I really love Elastigirl too, both versions - she kind of reminds me of Dawn, exept for the really stretchy part
15 - Bennett
Lucky guy! What, no kids yet?
;-]