Retro feel, modern touch for ‘The Incredibles’

In the movie industry, an unmitigated triumph can often be a once in

a career moment, if it happens at all. For a movie studio to put out

six successive critically acclaimed blockbusters seems impossible.

Nonetheless, Pixar Animation’s new release, “The Incredibles,”

follows on the heels of the wildly successful “Toy Story” films, “A

Bug’s Life,” Monsters, Inc.,” and “Finding Nemo,” and may be the best

of the lot.

“The Incredibles” relates the story of Bob and Helen Parr, a

seemingly average suburban couple who are anything but. Bob (voiced

by Craig T. Nelson) used to prowl the city as Mr. Incredible, a

superhero with prodigious strength who did everything from rescue

kittens out of trees to stopping runaway trains from plunging off of

bridges. Unfortunately, Mr. Incredible and the rest of the

superheroes were litigated out of business by numerous lawsuits

stemming from the collateral damage caused by their exploits.

The anonymity the family currently enjoys was set up through the

government’s Superhero Relocation Program. Bob’s wife Helen (voiced

by Holly Hunter) is herself the former superhero Elastigirl. They

live with their three children -- Dash, Violet and Jack Jack -- in a

classic 1950s modernist house. The two older children are already

displaying superhero abilities, and it is all they can do to keep

from blowing their cover.

In the years since his retirement, Bob has grown fat and bored.

Whiling away his days as an insurance adjuster in a cramped cubicle,

he continuously gives his clients tips on how to collect payment,

much to the aggravation of his crooked and imperious boss Mr. Huph,

hilariously voiced by Wallace Shawn, best known for the “Princess

Bride.”

Unbeknownst to Helen, Bob is secretly acting out his heroic

tendencies with his fellow superhero Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson)

under the guise of bowling. Running around in ski masks, they are

followed by a mysterious blond who chronicles their every move.

Eventually, after Bob inadvertently reveals his superpowers at work

out of frustration with yet another dressing down by Mr. Huph, he

receives an offer for Mr. Incredible’s services. Unable to resist, he

heads off for the mission, not knowing it will put his secret life

and even his family in jeopardy.

Sent to a mysterious tropical island supposedly for the purpose of

disabling a runaway attack unit resembling a mechanical spider, Mr.

Incredible is soon leading a double life. Eventually his secretive

benefactor is revealed to be someone from his past who is determined

to hunt down and destroy all the remaining “supers.” Too late, Helen

realizes his “going to conferences” is a ruse for something else, but

mistakenly suspects Bob is having an affair. When Bob doesn’t come

home, she has to resort to her old superhero connections to find him.

“The Incredibles” is actually a satire of 21st century life wrapped in the cloak of a 1950s superhero comic. The boredom of the

corporate office and the flood of litigation that ends beneficial

programs are very modern notions. Although this film is meant to

appeal to the entire family, very young viewers are unlikely to

appreciate this aspect of the story.

What everyone will appreciate however is the stunning

computer-generated visuals. Each frame is incredibly detailed and

such previously impossible animation effects as fire and underwater

sequences are photorealistic. Once the Incredibles are free to

perform their daring feats, the movie becomes a full-blown action

adventure with enough excitement to rival any recent film in that

genre.

Prior to the screening, I attended a trailer for the next “Star

Wars” movie was shown and was met by lukewarm applause. The entire

“Star Wars” prequel series is generally regarded as poorly scripted

with too much emphasis on special effects and too little on story.

All Pixar features are marvels of technology and have made the

formerly unimaginable commonplace. However, it is their strong

storytelling that really sets them apart from most of today’s

mainstream cinematic offerings.

Pixar is a Wall Street darling and “The Incredibles” is expected

to gross more than $700 million worldwide. As with Disney’s “Snow

White” in 1937, perhaps an animated feature will again show the

entertainment industry how to do it right.

* VAN NOVACK, 50, is the director of institutional research at Cal

State Long Beach and lives in Huntington Beach with his wife

Elizabeth.