The new movie The Incredibles received a terrific write-up in yesterday’s Washington Times. The review begins:
For decades, kids have enjoyed following the out-of-this-world exploits of comic-book heroes, learning along the way about courage and the need for good to triumph over the plots of those possessed by evil. Every generation must learn its own duty to sacrifice and fight for the good.
But lately, ever since the first “Spiderman” live-action movie roared at the box office, fans of the long-lasting Marvel Comics stable of superheroes have been inundated with big, noisy, expensive blockbusters bringing these two-dimensional pen-and-ink heroes to life. Unfortunately, in attempting to dramatize Marvel honcho Stan Lee’s formula ? paper heroes deepened on the page by troubled private lives in their worlds of secret identity ? these films have all suffered in varying degrees, growing ever more dark and gloomy, almost hopeless.
While the “Spiderman” films have retained a fraction of whimsy, movies like “Daredevil” and “The Incredible Hulk” have left many fans wishing they had seen more righteous heroism and less sulky realism. In the final analysis, superhero comics work best when the reader is inspired, not left seeking Dr. Phil. Complex superheroes can make for a nice, dramatic storyline, but when they’re so tortured by personal demons, they can’t be very super, can they?
For those who like their heroes a little less super-serious than the superhuman characters of old, there is a surprisingly mature option: Pixar’s new cartoon “The Incredibles.” This film unfolds like a comic book, with lots of action. But between its animated lines, it offers real lessons about heroism, the use of talents and commitment to family. It’s not often a cartoon carries a line where a child worries, “Mom and Dad’s life could be in jeopardy … or even worse … their marriage.”
See the full review for additional information about this apparently-terrific, and refreshing, film.