Movie Review: Incredibles 2 is Superhero-Sized Family Fun

movies and tvJune 15, 2018Comments: 2

The Zengrrl review of Disney*Pixar's Incredibles 2, featuring both spoiler-free and spoiler-ish versions of the review. 

Fourteen years after the original film, the Parr family is back in action in Incredibles 2, and it’s good to have them back.

This new adventure picks up shortly after the end of Incredibles, with superheroes having to operate in the shadows due to being outlaws.

Helen/Elastigirl (voiced by Holly Hunter) is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, while Bob/Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home with Violet (voiced by Sarah Vowell), Dash (voiced by  Huck Milner) and baby Jack-Jack—who seems to have more than one superpower.

Their mission is derailed, however, when a new villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens everything. But the Parrs don’t shy away from a challenge, especially with Frozone (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) and a few new superheroes by their side.

The spoiler-free review is Incredibles 2 is even more fun than original, with great messages about family supporting each other, as well as great scene steals by “Auntie” Edna (voiced by director Brad Bird), and Jack Jack vs a raccoon.

One of the villains might be a bit scary for younger kids, and two scenes feature strobing lights which may aggravate certain conditions (scroll down to the very end of this review for more info), but overall, this movie is great for the whole family.

It may have taken fourteen years for the sequel, but Incredibles 2 was worth the wait.

Scroll down for my spoiler-ish review after the next photo…

The Zengrrl review of Disney*Pixar's Incredibles 2, featuring both spoiler-free and spoiler-ish versions of the review. 

As the movie opens, the Parrs, whose house exploded at the end of the first movie, are living in a motel. Following a botched attempt to capture The Underminer with their pal Frozone, being a superhero is outlawed.

Enter the brother and sister duo of Winston (voiced by Bob Odenkirk) and Evelyn (voiced by Catherine Keener) Deavor, who approach, Elastigirl, Mr. Incredible, and Frozone.

Ultra-wealthy, savvy and suave, Winston goes big in everything he does—including his infatuation with Supers. He has been a supporter of Supers returning—all he needs is a hero (or three) to help him change public perception and bring them back into the sunlight.

His partner and sibling Evelyn loves tinkering with tech, and has never met a problem she can’t solve. She and Helen become fast friends—exchanging ideas, creating strategies and sharing a lot of laughs along the way.

They pick Elastigirl to start their campaign, and she soon battles a new villain, Screenslaver, who utilizes TV and video screens to hypnotize people into committing crimes for him.

Helen has her work cut out for her to stop a villain who can manipulate people from a distance. And if Helen fails, her mission to bring back Supers fails. A lot is at stake.

The Deavors introduce her to a group of new superheroes for her to mentor as she fights crime: Voyd, Brick, Reflux, Screech, and He-Lectrux. Let’s just say some of their powers are more useful than others.

The Zengrrl review of Disney*Pixar's Incredibles 2, featuring both spoiler-free and spoiler-ish versions of the review. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Incredible has become Mr. Dad to take care of the kids and the home (lent to them by the Deavors) while Helen is gone…and is finding it a lot harder than fighting villains.

Teen Violet is angsty about a guy she likes, while younger brother Dash has brought home New Math for dad to help him with.

And it seems that Jack Jack not only has powers…he has a whole slew of them, one of which is interdimensional travel. Luckily he always comes back when he’s offered a cookie.

Not wanting Helen to think he can’t take care of the kids, he goes to the one person he thinks can help him: designer Edna Mode. Edna refuses at first, but Jack Jack manages to win her over in a hilarious scene.

Just when things couldn’t get worse, it appears there’s another villain behind Screenslaver.

But this film is about a family of superheroes, and families are best when they help each other. I can’t say more without ruining the ending, but it’s good to see the kids shine in this movie.

Overall, I thought the film had a good pace and energy. There were some definite nods to spy films of the 50s and 60s, especially with the amazing vintage jazzy soundtrack provided by Oscar®-winning composer Michael Giacchino (who also scored the original film).

The Zengrrl review of Disney*Pixar's Incredibles 2, featuring both spoiler-free and spoiler-ish versions of the review. 

There is also a lot of visual humor, which delighted all ages in the audience, myself included. The scene between Jack Jack and a thieving raccoon alone scored major laughs. I enjoyed it so much, I’d watch a whole sequel of just that battle, which had elements of classic Looney Tunes and Hanna Barbara cartoons.

But as many nods as there are to the past, Incredibles 2 is very much a current film, touching on gender roles in the family, balancing work and home life, people who are glued to video screens and phones, and self-confidence.

And if you’re wondering where the A113 Easter Egg appears (it appears in every Pixar film as a reference to a classroom at the California Institute of the Arts where many Pixar filmmakers studied), it appeared twice that I saw. Once on a movie marquee, and once at the end during Violet’s date.

If you enjoyed the Incredibles when it came out fourteen years ago, you will love Incredibles 2. It’s all the fun of the original plus even more pop culture zing.

And remember…no firing the baby in the house!

The Zengrrl review of Disney*Pixar's Incredibles 2, featuring both spoiler-free and spoiler-ish versions of the review. 

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INCREDIBLES 2

Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Bird, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Jonathan Banks, Sophia Bush, Isabella Rossellini
Rated: PG
Website: movies.disney.com/incredibles-2

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MEDICAL ALERT: There are two scenes in the film where the entire screen is covered in strobing lights which may aggravate some medical situations. The first happens shortly after Helen enters the apartment searching for Screenkiller. The second appears near the end during a scene with a room full of people on a yacht. If you have light sensitivities, be aware of these brief possible triggers.

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{All images courtesy of and copyright Walt Disney Pictures]

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About zengrrl

I'm Michelle Snow, the writer and creator of Zengrrl. I write about travel, entertainment, women's issues, health, body positivity, and more, both for this blog and freelance. I have also authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida. If you aren't already following me, the links are below, as well as on the top right of this page. Thanks!

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Comments: 2

  1. Ananthi Mathur June 27, 2018 at 12:00 am

    Pixar’s 14 years in the making superhero sequel gave fans something they have been waiting for a long time and that is Mr & Mrs Incredible.

  2. Faiz June 19, 2018 at 12:36 am

    I’ve been waiting for so long for Incredibles 2, I honestly never thought I would happen but here we are and after reading the article I am even more excited