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Incredibles 2 is trending and I want to clarify what makes it feel ... off, at least to me. This thread is my take.
The first noticeable issue is what I'm going to call backpedaling. Incredibles 2 looks like it takes place SECONDS after 1 ended. But it doesn't.
Incredibles 2 is trending and I want to clarify what makes it feel ... off, at least to me. This thread is my take.
The first noticeable issue is what I'm going to call backpedaling. Incredibles 2 looks like it takes place SECONDS after 1 ended. But it doesn't.
The 1st film got everyone to a specific place in their arc. Dad learned his family days are just as important as his youth . Dash learned to be proud of himself w/o having to prove it. Violent learned to be confident. Mom ... didn't learn much? We'll come back to that.
The first thing wrong w/ 2 is that all these are reversed. Dad misses being a hero (again). Dash is frustrated.
Violent's self-image depends on her boyfriend AGAIN. The backpedaling is identifiable. Just look at Violet and that perfect ending in 1.
Violent's self-image depends on her boyfriend AGAIN. The backpedaling is identifiable. Just look at Violet and that perfect ending in 1.
The boy she was crazy about asks her out and she's in control. He's not THAT important to her anymore because she's comfortable w/ herself. This not the way she is AT ALL in 2. They go back to a comfortable place, before her arc. The script takes an easy out.
As for Mrs. Incredible, she was in the right in 1: she was able to move on from youth and enjoy her family; she didn't really have an arc but she saved her husband in a clever reversal.
What they chose to do w/ her in 2 repeats Mr. Incredibles' arc in 1 ... just w/o the ARC.
What they chose to do w/ her in 2 repeats Mr. Incredibles' arc in 1 ... just w/o the ARC.
In 2, she accepts the "hero quest" from a corporation and leaves her family to play hero just like Bob did. At one point she calls herself a "hypocrite" since she chastised Bob for this (pointing out a flaw in your script DOES NOT make it okay!).
But it's never meaningful.
But it's never meaningful.
What does she learn from 2? She already knew in 1 that she COULD be a hero again if she wanted; the point was she had moved on and Bob hadn't. Now it's like they turned the young Elastigirl from the opening of 1 into a character who outrightly ignores her family for derring-do.
It's all backwards; so is the politics. The ending of 1 was that they didn't have to wait for a government to tell them it was "okay" to be heroes. They had a right to be who they are. In 2, they convene a council to sign a treaty that legalizes this, as though that's important?
Identity permission spearheaded by a corporation? Like, authoritarian populism? This story is an EMBARRASSMENT.
Then there's the villains. Evel ynDeavor is mad so she forces heroes to have a good reputation in a world where they're illegal so that she can ruin that reputation?
Then there's the villains. Evel ynDeavor is mad so she forces heroes to have a good reputation in a world where they're illegal so that she can ruin that reputation?
Making them ... illegal? She spouts politics the movie acts like are a mic drop, but she turns out to be evil? What are we supposed to believe?
We could argue all day about how bad the writing is, or how much the film relies on Jack Jack jokes to keep the audience entertained.
We could argue all day about how bad the writing is, or how much the film relies on Jack Jack jokes to keep the audience entertained.
Remember that Syndrome was a toxic fanboy crossed w/ capitalistic manipulation; now, the corporation that just LOVES superheroes and wants to see them put their costumes back on and sell sell SELL, which TOTALLY isn't Disney at all, is just some sweet, blameless good guy.
The real truth is that Brad Bird clearly didn't want to make Incredibles 2. He didn't know what it should be. And despite being well-animated, he never decided.
Ironically, the parts w/ Bob and the kids on the sideline are the only funny or endearing parts.
Ironically, the parts w/ Bob and the kids on the sideline are the only funny or endearing parts.
I could come up w/ something SO much better for a long-awaited sequel to The Incredibles. I think we all could.
Few movies are better examples of Disney's effect on these movies and the superhero industry, or of why Pixar is no longer a company that you can bet on for quality.
Few movies are better examples of Disney's effect on these movies and the superhero industry, or of why Pixar is no longer a company that you can bet on for quality.
