Incredibles 2 (2018)
★★½ — Incredibles 2 (2018)
Incredibles 2 arrived fourteen years after the original, a gap long enough that the children who grew up with the first film were by this point adults. Brad Bird, who wrote and directed both, had spent the intervening years at Pixar making Ratatouille (2007) before crossing to live action for Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol (2011), and the ambitious if underperforming Tomorrowland (2015), before returning to the franchise that had earned him an Academy Award. The sequel carried a $200 million production budget and went on to gross well over $1.2 billion worldwide, becoming at the time of release the highest-grossing animated film ever made domestically in the United States. Production was entirely original rather than adapted, with Bird writing a new screenplay that picked up precisely where the 2004 film left off.
Incredibles 2 arrives with all the polish and energy you’d expect from Pixar. The animation is slick, the action sequences are inventive, and Michael Giacchino’s retro-futuristic score snaps with the same jazzy flair as the original. The film picks up seconds after the first one ends, throwing the Parr family straight into a new threat: a villain who weaponizes screens and mind control, wrapped in a timely critique of technology dependence. It’s smart on the surface, and there’s fun to be had watching the whole family in action, especially Frozone, who finally gets a few proper moments to shine. The role reversal is an interesting twist (Helen (Elastigirl) takes the lead on a high-profile superhero mission, while Bob (Mr. Incredible) stays home to handle parenting duties). It sets up some solid comedy and a few genuine insights about gender roles and parental identity. But while the idea has potential, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. The family dynamics feel rushed, the kids’ storylines underdeveloped, and Jack-Jack’s powers (though hilarious in one standout fight scene) are mostly sidelined after that. Ultimately, it plays like a competent sequel rather than a necessary one. It looks great, moves fast, and hits the expected points, but it lacks the heart, urgency, and originality of the first film. The villain’s motivation is thin, the plot follows a predictable arc, and the social commentary never digs deep. It’s not bad, just forgettably average. A solidly made, visually impressive follow-up that does everything you’d expect, without ever surprising you. Another Pixar sequel that feels more like obligation than inspiration.
Rating: ★★½ | Year: 2018 | Watched: 2025-08-04
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
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