 THE INCREDIBLES
MPAA Rating:
 for action violenceReviewed by: Keith Howland Better than Average
Moviemaking Quality:
 ½Primary Audience:
Kids, Family
Genre:
Animation, Superhero, Action/Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Length:
1 hr. 45 min.
Year of Release:
2004
USA Release:
______
     “Save The Day” Producer’s Synopsis: “An animated action-adventure comedy about a dysfunctional family of undercover super heroes, who, though struggling to live a quiet suburban life, is forced into action to save the world.” Review: Lightning does strike twice. Actually, it has now struck six times for Pixar Animation Studios. It seems as though each of their films contains more eye-popping visuals than the last; so their sixth feature, The Incredibles looks, well, incredible. There are many dazzling scenes that display both inventive creations (such as giant robots) and ultra-realistic detail in everyday objects (such as breaking glass or hair blowing in the wind). But no manner of brilliant visuals is enough to make a good film. In the final analysis, it is always story and character that matter most-and Pixar has once again given us characters we can sympathize with and root for as we are thrilled by their story. Bob Parr (voice of Craig T. Nelson) is Mr. Incredible, a tight-suited, mask-wearing superhero. He lives to save ordinary folk from peril. There are other superheroes in town, too, such as Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter). But saving lives is not what it used to be, and the hassle of legal wrangles resulting from the ramifications of their superhero ways forces all superheroes in the city to retire and go into a governmental protection program. So, fifteen years later, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl (AKA Bob and Helen), now married and living in middle-class suburban obscurity with three children, are like birds with their wings clipped. So are their children, who possess superpowers of their own but are forbidden to use them lest the family be discovered for who they really are. But evil forces are always with us, and perhaps the Incredible family may be needed to emerge and vanquish them once more. (Of course they are, or there would be no movie.) Previous Pixar films were rated G, but “The Incredibles” is PG, and for good reason. Superheroes clash with supervillains-and they don’t play chess to decide the victor. So this movie contains action and violence. It is bloodless cartoon violence, but many punches are thrown, guns fired, and things smashed. Very small youngsters would be scared by things in this film. The intended audience is slightly narrower than for “Finding Nemo.” But everyone from older children up should be delighted with it. Unlike the Shrek films, which are often crass and crude, the humor in The Incredibles is clean fun. Sadly, there are two fleeting instances of God’s name used vainly. However, there are several issues that can be used to initiate discussions of spiritual matters. Early in the film, for instance, Mr. Incredible jokes that he wishes he would not have to save people again after he has already saved them once. He jests, “Why can’t they stay saved?” Of course, this serves as a great bridge to speak about the One Hero who saves people with total efficacy and for eternity, Jesus Christ. Other matters in the film are also worth noting, such as the concept that each person is given a unique ability that he or she may choose either to hide or use for the good of others. Also, the importance of honesty and communication in relationships is clearly displayed. All in all, “The Incredibles” is another triumph from Pixar, and a great movie for the family, although the very young would find it to be too intense. It must be mentioned, too, that the short film before the feature is a real treat, and serves as a good parable for the importance of being content with who we are and what we have. Violence: Mild / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: None  POSITIVE Positive - Not only is “The Incredibles” the best Pixar Animation movie to
date, it is one of the best films of the year. 100 times as enjoyable as
“Shrek 2” and even better, I think, than another superhero movie,
“Spiderman 2.” The Pixar people must have more fun at their jobs than
anyone in the world. This film is endlessly creative and exciting, and it
has the perfect balance of humor and sentiment I’ve seen in a long, long
time. It is funnier than most comedies (including ALL of the Will Farrell,
Ben Stiller, and Vince Vaughn movies of this past spring and summer)
sweeter and more tender than most dramas. It’s a movie you watch and you
just FEEL good afterwards. Positive - I saw this movie with my husband and sons, 5 & 6 years old. It is
very action packed and hangs you on the edge of your seat. I felt that
it portrayed family values well. It gave you the feeling of the
importance of “saving the day” as a family. The major concern that I had
with this movie is the disrespect of authority that was portrayed when the
son put a tack on the teacher’s chair. The other concern would be the
violence. My 6 year old said that he did not like the robot throwing
rocks at Mr. Incredible. I would not use these concerns as deterrents
from this movie. I would use them as “teachable” moments. They are good
examples to explain what a child should not do. Overall, Mr. Incredible
apologizes to his family for not being the father that he should be. He
tries to reconcile with his wife and family. In the end, they all work
together to stop the bad guy. This movie is fun! Watch it to laugh and
enjoy yourself! Positive - …overall…a pretty good family flick, although the little ones might want to stay home. While there are a few lines that don’t need to be in there (such as taking God’s name in vain and the villain’s comment on “getting busy”), this film offers great humor and lessons in integrity and teamwork in order to accomplish a goal. Pixar
has done it again! Positive - Although there was one aspect of the baby’s super powers that I
found surprising and objectionable, this was a very enjoyable movie. This
is one that I would recommend for children old enough to handle moderate
and non-gory violence and all ages above. I went to see the movie with
several of my friends who attend university with me and we considered it
to be absolutely hilarious. This is a film I plan to purchase. Positive - This is a terrific movie! Pixar has created another instant family
classic in CGI cinema. The animation is breathtaking in its scope and the
attention to detail is eye-popping. The characters are instantly engaging
and lovable. This is a delightfully funny, adventuresome movie with real
heart. There is no “potty humor,” thinly-veiled adult content or
mean-spiritedness to be found in this picture. My only caveat would be the
self-centeredness often exhibited by Mr. Incredible, at the unfortunate
expense of his family. Some may argue, however, that he ultimately redeems
himself as a husband and father in the end. Be sure and get there early,
so that you don’t miss the heartwarming and thoroughly charming animated
short before the main feature. That alone is almost worth the price of
admission. Positive - I took my 8 year old son and 12 year old cousin , and 10 month
old baby to see this movie.My son and cousin laughed the whole time. My
baby girl even was interested for about ½ of it.And that takes a lot
to keep her attention.I laughed out loud at some of the scenes. It is a
very sweet family movie and I was not offended by it at all.It shows the
love and importance of family.It shows that w do what is best for our
kids .It also tells kids that parents know best even when kids think we
are being too strict! I really like this movie and intend to purchase it
when it comes available! It is hard to find a movie we all can enjoy! I
can’t wait for my husband to see it too. Positive - …an “Incredible” movie! I enjoyed every minute of this movie. The action sequences, the comedy and the storyline were all very
well done. I only noticed one joke in the movie that was targeted towards
adults, but it wasn’t anything offending or crude. One of the things that
really captivated me with this movie was the focus on family unity.
Despite going through difficult times, they were able to stick through it
no matter how dangerous it might get. Some younger children might get a
little frighted over some of the action. It was very action packed, and
throughout the movie I heard children scream during some of the fight
scenes. I recommend ages 9 and older. Positive - We took our 7 yr old son to see this movie, based on the reviews
here. Overall, we were not disappointed. While my son really enjoyed the
movie, I would recommend it more for 10 and older. There was a lot of the
plot I think went over his head, not just the jokes for adults. There are
plenty of positive lessons to discuss after the movie, just more for a
slightly older crowd. Positive - We took our children (Rebekah-7, Ben-4, and Joshua-2) to see The
Incredibles. It was action-packed and they all enjoyed it (occasionally
turning away when the robot monster was reeking havoc). Vital Biblical
and important life themes included: --Fulfilling (not missing) God’s
calling on your life (Jer. 1:5) --Using your unique gifting to help others
(Matt. 22:39) --Excelling in what you do is important and it set you
apart (Prov. 22:29) --The importance of family and working together (Mark 10:6-9, Ecc. 4:9,10). These themes aren’t overtly mentioned, but they are there. As a family, we enjoyed seeing and talking about The Incredibles! Positive - I was captivated by the film from the very beginning. Mr.
Incredible: “Why can’t the world stay saved?” It included so many
connection points to Christ and us as His church, I lost count. Perhaps
the strongest connection I noticed was the role of Christians in this
corrupted world. Over the last few decades, culture has somehow persuaded
Christians to become an obscure part of society and not use the gifts
they’ve been given. Certainly, it’s possible to mis-use and ignore our
God-given gifts (examples throughout the film). However, when we realize
how Christ would have us use these gifts to honor Him (not ourselves; not
alone), we’re a much happier and satisfied family. “For God did not give
us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of
self-discipline…” (2 Tim. 1:7ff) Positive - My husband and I went to see this movie, we loved it! It was so good. A great family movie, nothing objectional. It had good values (family unit, believing in yourself, being honest) and was very funny, and
very entertaining. I think its one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long
while! Positive - I loved it. I would definitely recommended to anyone, especially family member lovers of Disney movies! But of course this is only my family’s opinion. Positive - My wife and I saw this movie on our first date after the birth of
our daughter. I’ve always liked Pixar pictures, and this movie is no
exception. Aside from the obvious misuse of the Lord’s name, this is an
excellent movie. As for the revelation of the baby’s powers at the end, I
was reminded of the Human Torch (The Fantastic Four), not the devil. In
all, this is an excellent movie, and I’d have no problem letting my child
see it. Positive - Concerning Mr. Incredibles lying to his wife, do we not as
Christians make mistakes or tell little white lies at times? As wrong as
it is, won’t Jesus forgive us? Clearly Mr. Incredible was deceived into
thinking that there was something better (a new job) than his wife and
kids (which is exactly how sin is). By the end of the movie, he clearly
comes out of it and is back with his family. I did not see a problem with
this concept. The moral of the story was don’t lie and don’t be deceived
into thinking you can have something better when what you have at home is
all you need. What is the problem with that? Positive - This movie with its incredible computer generated imagery would be
worth seeing just for that. This film is obviously the next step up
technically from previous Pixar productions which are all very good. But
“The Incredibles” is a step into the realm of more nuanced plots and
characters. Other commenters have voiced objections to the instances of
Bob Parr, Mr. Incredible, deceiving his wife, Helen, a.k.a. Elastigirl,
about still working for Insuracare and about attending out-of-town
conferences. Sure enough, he did. And even though part of the reason in
doing so is to support his family, (a good thing) another part is his own
self-centered (not selfish) need to be a superhero again. In this part of
the movie, Bob is almost completely focused on his own problem of not
doing “superhero daring-do” and saving people on a daily basis. The issue
here is his focus being on himself, not his family or anyone else. As the
plot progresses and Helen suspects Bob is having a affair with another
woman. Positive - All in all, a movie that won’t waste your time- or money. It’s
entertaining enough for most adults to enjoy with their children. I didn’t
find that it was any more violent than many G-rated films. I think this
is a movie it’s okay to take the entire family to. Positive - My children adored this movie, as did my husband and I. However,
I was a bit caught off guard by the violence in it. It was “darker” then
I expected. It’s not a cutesy movie, it is serious super hero type stuff.
I wish I had been more prepared for that part of it. I believe the movie
would have been better without the guns and violence. NEUTRAL Neutral - I was surprised how the movie dragged so much at the first, with
very few laughs. I too did not like God’s name being used in vain and was
surprised by the overused terminated scene of heroes, and the caped
crusaders' deaths. After hearing about insurance companies canceling
policies in Florida, the Incredibles reminds us that some companies only
want to take people’s money, not help. There were several anachronistic
flaws throughout that kept me wondering why all these 21st century
characters were driving old cars and having black and white TVs. Despite
the strong, action-packed ending, I came away disappointed, expecting
more. Neutral - My husband and I went to see this movie--I preview all non-G
movies before my children (9, 7, and 3) see them. We enjoyed the movie--it
was entertaining and uplifting in its message of unity against evil. It
communicates the reality of consequences for our actions and the
importance of each member of the family in the solution of problems. I
have yet to decide if my children will see the movie, though. The intense
violence, even in this cartoon, surpasses that of “Road Runner” cartoons
of my childhood and, while the value of the Super’s lives is expressed,
the value of the employees of the Villain are disregarded--bodies are
blown everywhere. There is no blood, so children will not be faced with
the violence against people, but there is a subtle hint of “no matter what
the cost” in dispelling the powers of evil. Most disturbing was the
expression of the family’s third child’s “super” gift--in a bout of anger,
he turns into a flaming, devilish sort of creature. This could have been
done in a much more “healthy” manner rather than in a way that makes the
child something to be feared, even by the antagonist. Still, overall, the
family bonds and friendships portrayed in the movie were encouraging,
especially in the Hollywood market of “ME ME ME” movies these days. Neutral - One theme I seem to see over and over in Pixar films is that you
gotta let go. That’s a hard thing for a Pop to do, just let go of his
kids. There is of course the dangers of letting go, like “They might get
hurt.” or “But I can protect them better if I hold on tightly.” I have
been moved more than once now on the premise “Don’t smother them.” Again,
this is a hard thing to do. Let them go into drugs, rob a bank, no none of
that. Just like the dad in Incredibles, you have to protect them, but they
also must grow. If I squelch them, and their abilities, I may hinder their
growth. I can’t do that, it ends up killin' them and me. There’s a
delicate balance of letting go, and protecting. This theme is addressed in
the Incredibles as well. I didn’t like the little innuendoes in the film,
the pinching and stuff. Let’s leave that to the grown ups! The devil baby
thing was a little disturbing. The suicide thing was not a good thing for
kids either. Outside of those things, and a few more, I have to admit, it
was a really funny movie. I still can’t justify taking young kids to it,
it would be hard to cover them in a theatre. There are things I just would
not want them to see. I’ll leave that up to you and The Lord! NEGATIVE Negative - I’ve loved Disney/Pixar films since “Toy Story,” but I was disappointed with this film. I’m just going to be blunt, and I understand it’s PG: I disagreed with the lying from the husband, the lady (almost a main character) who dresses enticingly (I know people who’ve been delivered from pornography and adultery who I hope don’t see this movie for the sake of them and the generational sin that could tempt their children). I totally disagreed with the “darn you!” in the parents' argument - power in our words - kids repeating this?! I disagreed with the “flexible” sexual innuendo, the suicide attempt (later having to explain this to a child?) and tell me why the baby had to turn into a firebaby then a devilbaby? It was ugly and made my spirit feel uncomfortable. I don’t know why it was rated PG, but I am glad it wasn’t rated G. There is a lot of violence for small kids and would probably cause my nieces and
nephew to have nightmares. Negative - My family viewed the film this weekend. We discussed the concern for viewing a PG film, but felt, after reading some critics' reviews, it was a worthy family film. What we saw on the screen was a complete disregard for many moral issues. First off, this film deals with many adult matters. For example, there is a brief scene on attempted suicide, the main character continually lies to his family about his work status, so much so that the wife alludes to him having an affair, the Lord’s name is taken in vain, not too mention the violence of one character to “terminate” all. Comments from young people: Neutral - This movie truly interested me. I enjoyed a lot of the action
scenes, and the family values. At the same time There was one thing that
disturbed me. The youngest child was supposed to be able to turn into a
demon, and is shown doing so. There were also some violent scenes where
innocent people were hurt that I wish my younger sister, who went with me,
hadn’t seen. All in all while this movie was very interesting, and
amazingly well animated, I believe it could have been made much better by
removing a few scenes. Positive - The movie was very,very good and visual effects was very good
too. It is a good movie for kids from one to ninety two. It shows that a good
movie can be made without cussing, sex and nudity in it. I recommend it ,and
if you will go see it you will not be disappointed… Positive - Nothing offensive! Nothing at all! Positive - I LOVED this movie! It was good, clean, and VERY funny. I laughed
so hard. This film is great for kids and families of all ages! Positive - This was a very good movie. It was full of fun, laughs, and a
little bit of action. There wasn’t any bad vocabulary. It was mainly only
family fun. The only thing I would caution it for young children is the
action. Some young children who have seen action movies wouldn’t be
bothered by this. Others would be. Also, there are a lot of funny things
for the children just to laugh at, and there are also some jokes adults
would only understand. I mainly think this was a great movie. Although you
may want to think before you bring your young child to it. Positive - This was a really good movie! I went to see it with my dad, my
friend, her brother and my brother. It was really good! Scary (for little
kids)in some parts, but it was really funny! Go see it! Positive - I thought this movie rocked!! I’ve seen it twice and I would
gladly see it again! The importance of family is strongly emphasized, as
well as the importance of a healthy marriage. But the main thing I loved
about this movie was the animation!! It was first-rate, top-notch
stuff, especially the detail in the characters' hair! Overall, an awesome
movie, well worth my time!! Positive - Pixar continues to raise the bar with the Incredibles; a movie
which gives us a unique perspective of the cliche super-heros. Positive - …a pretty good film. It didn’t have a lot of offensive material. The only thing that was slightly offensive is where Mr. Incredible lies to his wife. The story was pretty cool and the action was above average. I’d recommend it for kids younger than 14. If you’re over 14 you might find it a little boring. Positive - This movie was VERY good. I was laughing so hard during the whole
thing. I think that pixar has come out with a bunch of good movies,but
this one by far was the best. I would tell others about this movie. THANK
YOU PIXAR Positive - I went to see this movie with a girlfriend of mine in its second
weekend. I though it was pretty good, though of course I did object to the
using of the LOrd’s name in vain parts. The sexual innuendos bugged me
too. On the other hand I liked the family focus and when its compared to
some other movies like Shrek? Well I think it could have been A LOT
worse. I would not take my 2 and 5 year old cousins with me but maybe an
older child. This is simply because I think little children would be
frighted of the explosions and smashes and punches. An older child would
just think of it like another cartoon. All in all I really enjoyed this
film and would recommend it for older children, specifically ones who
like superheros and action! Positive - This is the best Pixar film yet! The only things that I find
objectional is that Edna Mode uses the Lord’s name in vain several times.
I also must point out that the violence is far beyond fish getting hit
into rocks. We actually see a few evil goons killed on screen, and we also
hear about the disgusting fates of some late superheroes. We also see some
slightly revealing outfits, but really nothing extreme. Family values are
reinforced time and time again and even turn a villain good (I won’t tell
you who). Overall, great movie! This is Pixar at its finests! Positive - I loved this movie.it was very funny. There was nothing that I saw offensive. I highly recommend this movie for the whole family.my family was laughing all along. Positive - This movie was so cute! It was a great plot and a good movie for
the whole family. Just like any other superhero cartoon, it had some
violence, but the movie was very clean. I was laughing a lot. It had some
good lessons, too. I won’t say who, but a superhero threatened to kill a
woman and the bad guy said “Go ahead.” When the hero didn’t do it, the bad
guy called him weak. Later, the woman said to the bad guy that
disregarding human life was actually being weak, and respecting it was
being strong. The Incredible family also had good relationships with each
other. If you have a really really sensitive child, I would recommend
seeing this movie first before you take them, but otherwise I think that
it’s worth $8 and an afternoon or evening to see it! Positive - An execelent movie. Absolutely perfect. I about died laughing in
the theater. If you want a good family film go see this movie. Especially
if you liked Finding Nemo. Positive - This was an excellent movie, good for all ages. There was nothing
anyone could consider offensive. This was great, funny, and non-stop fun. Negative - I went to see this film with my father a while ago, and I must say
that I was disappointed. Not too terribly disappointed, but disappointed
nonetheless. Though Disney actually incorporated the traditional family
unit in this film, I found some things (not too many, mind you) offensive
in this film. Such as the use of the Lord’s name in vain, Mr. Incredible
being sued for saving lives, a sexual reference made by the main villain,
and that’s it. Also, this movie was largely uninteresting to me, and I’d
only recommend it to a younger kid who can grasp the rapid-fire action
without being scared. Positive - The best Pixar movie made yet. From the very beginning to the very
end, you will have a blast. As well with all other Pixar movies, very
little (if any) objectional stuff. it is more violent than any other Pixar movie, but along with that comes more of a story. not only is it a fun
cartoon, its an action comedy super hero flick. if your like me, you enjoy
these kinds of things. what better to see than a family friendly ( yet
enjoyable) movie about crime fighters? go see it, its incredible. Positive - The Incredibles was the funniest movie I’ve seen in a long time -
and it’s all clean humor! The action is fun to watch and, given that it’s
a cartoon, pretty exciting. The plot was also good, and included a couple
of moments that made the entire theatre gasp. Some parts might scare a
very little kid, but the only thing that I found slightly objectionable
was baby Jack-Jack’s power; it made me laugh, but at the same time I was a
bit uncomfortable with it, especially given his name. Positive - I loved it!!! It was a great movie!… Positive - WOW! Pixar has come a long way in their animation of people since
Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and even Finding Nemo. The animation in this film was truly spectacular! As far as the content is concerned, I was not bored at all by the plot or storyline. In fact, I will probably go see this movie again if I get the chance (which, for me, is saying a lot…I feel that a lot of PG movies
are very good, but are not worth spending money to see again.) Pretty much
the ONLY reason I might caution parents about taking their very
young/sensitive kids to this movie is the “violence.”..explosions, fast
action, things smashing into other things, tense situations, two
“surprises” where everyone in the theater jumped. I was a sensitive child,
and, while this was not the type of film that would have upset me, the
film overall MAY be too tense for some. Also, there were a few things that
I thought were weirdly disturbing, such as how the youngest child’s
superpower turned out to be the talent of changing from a “fire-baby” to a
“little-devil.” Also, a fashion designer refuses to put a cape on Mr.
Indredible’s suit, citing incidents where capes of superheros caused their
death…I wasn’t left with happy thoughts after the implication of how
one superhero’s cape got sucked into the propellers of an airplane and
dragged the superhero with it. Positive - I went to see this movie with my mom and my friend and we all
thought it was totally AWESOME! I think that it was wise of the people to
make it PG, because it has some scary moments, and some bad guys get
killed. Lots of suspense too, but For an older kid, teen, or adult, it’s
absolutely awesome! Its a goofy family comedy, and the stuff the
superheroes do is cool too. There are a few snarky remarks from the kids
to the parents, and a couple times they disobey their parents, but it’s not a Christian-made movie, so what do you expect? All in all, I’m really
glad I went to see it, it was alot of fun! Positive - …a great movie. It is unlike any other Disney/Pixar movie that has been made so far. It was also the first one to be rated PG(Action Violence). With the exeption of very small children,
I don’t think anyone will be frightened. This movie had a very good morals
about love, self-worth, respect for life, and many other morales were
scattered throughout. I would definitely recommend The Incredibles for
families, but I think teens and adults will enjoy it as much as, if not
more than kids. A lot of the humor, while clean, will make much more
sense to an older crowd. But there is plenty of humor that young kids
will be able to understand too. The animation also far surpasses previous
Disney/Pixar films. These are the most lifelike characters I have seen
since the Shrek movies. I give it a 4/5. (Only because it took a little
while to get going.) Positive - …a very fun movie that had the whole theater roaring with laughter. The movie has a wonderful visual style that compliments the great humor and fun characters. The plot is convincing, yet slow enough
for younger viewers to understand. This movie also shows the twisted way our economy works (superheros are sued for saving suicidal people! How does that work?). This is the best animated film this year. Positive - …a lot better than I thought it would be! I went to see this with my family and our friend and we all liked it; …there was violence, but my sisters have seen worse (Daredevil, Spier-man, X-men, and parts of the
Matrix movies). The violence is about as bad as Star Wars, probably not even that violent. Over all it was a good, fun, movie you can watch with your family without worrying about that “one scene” you need to skip. Positive - …an amazing movie full of action and great family values. The action might be to much for some little kids, but other than that it’s an excellent family movie. My whole family went together to see it, and we had a wonderful time. I highly recommend this movie. Positive - I thought that the Incredibles movie was very good. We saw it in a
drive-in movie so it was hard to hear it sometimes but it was very good. I think that younger kids might get afraid because their was some violence for a cartoon movie. My brothers 11 and 9 and my sister 6 thought that it was funny and a very good movie too. It was very funny and fast moving. I liked it a lot. Positive - …it’s awesome, go see it, you’ll love it. Positive - My family and I went to go see this film on opening day. It was great. The story was better than I expected. It really portrayed a family. We all loved it. None of us can really say we have a favorite part. We are still talking about it. The only part we found objectionable
is the baby’s power. He turned into what looked like a demon. However,
even that part didn’t ruin the movie. We all left laughing and talking about it. We will probably be talking about it for days. It was great and hope we buy it. |
