Thursday, November 27, 2008

Incredibly Incredible

By Fabian Toulouse

Walt Disney released THE INCREDIBLES in 2004 to worldwide acclaim. At heart it is a story about a superhero family forced into denial. Once the greatest superheros ever, they have to live a quiet, stifling suburban life. This clever story was penned and directed by Brad Bird, fresh from his stint at THE SIMPSONS.

The sixth Disney and Pixar co-production was not only well-received, it spawned a phenomenal merchandising frenzy that had children of all ages scrambling for everything from cups to pajamas to toys to lunchboxes. It continues to be one of the most-viewed Disney films. Indeed, it has quickly climbed the ranks to become a Disney animated classic.

En route to his wedding, Mr. Incredible swoops in to save a man falling from a building. So kicks off the film as Mr. Incredible accidentally damages a passenger train in the process of saving the falling man. Promptly after his wedding, Mr. Incredible and his cohorts find out the city has been sued by the falling man (who was trying to kill himself) and the passengers on the train. Reacting to the public outcry, the government is forced to drive the superheros underground. They are forced to live quiet, suburban lives.

Craig T. Nelson, of COACH fame, voices Mr. Incredible, while Academy award-winner Holly Hunter voices his wife, Elastigirl. They have two children, Dash and Violet, who were born with super powers but are forbidden to use them. Their baby Jack Jack, seems to be a normal child, much to the chagrin of Mr. Incredible. They are all forced to live as "normal" people, working normal lives.

A jealous fan of Mr. Incredible is determined, after being inadvertently snubbed, to create his own superpowers and seek vengeance. He lures unsuspecting superheroes to his island lair in order to test his superhero killing machine. Mr. Incredible who is eager to get back to the life he knew, accepts a mission to the island to investigate. Little does he know he is being lured to his death.

Meanwhile, his wife Helen (Elastigirl) maintains home and hearth. She doesn't suspect anything is wrong until she notices a tear in her husband's old superhero outfit. After a bit of snooping, she discovers her husband has broken his promise to not fight crime, putting the family in jeopardy. Once Helen learns about his secret mission, she flies on a jet to confront him.

It so happens, Dash and Violet have managed to stowaway on the plane. Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, the plane is attacked, forcing the children to fend for themselves. Helen has to quickly get her family working as a team to survive. Can they band together in time to save Mr. Incredible? Can they survive long enough to save the the future of superheroes and the planet? THE INCREDIBLES is a must-have Disney animated classic. - 15634

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