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Incredibles 2 Blu-ray Review

Fun, but not as fun as the first.

“Incredibles 2” picks up right where the first film left off with the Parr family facing off against the Underminer. The Underminer essentially pwns them and things don’t get much better after that. The Superhero Relocation Program shut down, Tony’s memories of Violet are erased unbeknownst to her, Dash is struggling in school, Mr. Incredible is overwhelmed by parental duties, Jack-Jack’s powers are out-of-control, and the villainous Screensaver is hypnotizing people using screens. There is some hope, however, in the form a corporation called DevTech (led by Winston and his sister Evelyn) which believes in heroes and wants to make them legal again. They hope Elastigirl can help make that a reality but things aren’t quite what they seem with this company.

Like everyone else, “Incredibles 2” was the one Pixar sequel I wanted most. When it finally came out this past summer 14 years after the beloved first film, I was eager to see what writer/director Brad Bird had up his sleeve. Alas, if you’ll forgive the pun, it wasn’t as “incredible” as its predecessor. Considering there was indeed 14 years to figure out a sequel, it’s a little puzzling as to how much of this sequel mirrors the first. It’s essentially a role reversal situation here with Elastigirl being the one on the job this time while Mr. Incredible is at home with the kids. Also, once again, the family works together to stop the villain in the end as well. The lack of a fresh story that would further explore the characters and the family dynamic feels like a missed opportunity. Sure, you get a little bit of a unique element here with The Wannabes characters, but they are supremely underused here.

The most frustrating aspect of this second entry is the villain situation. Part of what made the first film such a success was the villain of Syndrome. He’s one of the best villains in animated movie history if you ask me. The sequel’s villain Screensaver is more story driven than an actual character nor is this particular villain remotely memorable. Why The Underminer wasn’t the villain of this film, I don’t know. He’s at the beginning of the movie and he actually gets away, but he just vanishes. It felt like the perfect set-up for him to be the villain. Again, a missed opportunity.

It may sound like I’m really digging into this movie, but it’s still a worthwhile sequel. It’s hard not to have fun with this movie despite any criticisms one may have. The one element that is sure to please anyone that watches it- Jack-Jack. Everytime the character is on screen, the movie is an utter delight. The sequence with the raccoon is the clear highlight here not to mention the most hilarious sequence to boot. Other notable elements- the return of familiar faces like Edna Mode and Frozone, the elaborate motorcycle chase, and the animation (it truly does get better and better with each new Pixar film).

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 1080p. How does it look? Pixar’s stunning animation looks even better in 1080p. The level of detail on display is truly impressive.

Audio Track: 7.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? An effectively loud track that packs a punch.

Extras: * Digital copy * DVD copy * Disney trailers * “Bao”- The latest Pixar short about a mother and a living dumpling. It’s a strange, but symbolic one. There’s also a making of for this short. * “Auntie Edna”- A hilarious new mini-movie with Edna and Jack-Jack. * “Strong Coffee: A Lesson In Animation With Brad Bird”- A behind-the-scenes look at Brad Bird (and others) on the job. * Commentary by the animators with Dave Mullins, Alan Barillaro, Tony Fucile, Bret Parker with an intro by Brad Bird. Lots of animation talk on this one. * 10 deleted scenes with an intro by Brad Bird. * 3 “Incredibles 2” trailers and 1 promo. * Vintage toy commercials for Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Elastigirl and 3 character theme songs for the same characters. * Character profiles for Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, The Parr Kids, Frozone, Edna Mode, Winston Deavor, Evelyn Deavor, and The Wannabes. * “Ralph Eggleston: Production Designer”- Ralph talks about his job. * “Super Stuff”- A featurette on the world and design of this sequel. * “Superbaby”- Part studio tour, part interviews, part music video. * “Paths To Pixar: Everyday Heroes”- Pixar staff and cast members talk about parenting, the film’s relatable themes and ideas, etc.

November 3, 2018 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Animated Film, Bao, Brad Bird, Disney, Incredibles 2, Incredibles 2 Blu-ray Review, Jack-Jack, Pixar