A dead-end superhero finds joy in 'The Incredibles' -- and so do we

By Ana Antunes

November 12, 2004 | What happens when superheroes are no longer needed? What happen with their power? Do you think they can just live normal lives? Get married and have kids?

Well, the guys from Pixar Animation think so. . . . And that's what The Incredibles is all about.

After a period of glory, the government decides that superheroes are a menace to society. So, there comes the time when "their secret identity should be their only one." Fifteen years after the new law is passed, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl are married, living in a suburb and with three kids.

Mr. Incredible, now known as Bob Parr, is stuck selling insurance, a job he hates, and Elastigirl, now known as Helen Parr, is trying to raise the kids. But everything changes when Mr. Incredible receives a mysterious phone call. He is called to work for a secret organization and be a superhero again. What a joy!

But not everything is perfect, (not even for a superhero). Helen finds out her husband has been lying to her and thinks he is cheating on her.

And the scene where she decides to go after her man is the funniest one.

Edna, the designer of the super-heroes suit is the best character -- a little woman, modeled on legendary Hollywood costume designer Edith Head with a funny accent and a lot of attitude -- motivates her to fight for what she has.

Ah, the kids. . . . Yeah, they all have super powers too. The teenage girl, Violet, can be invisible, especially to the boy she likes. But, answer me girls: Haven't we all felt like this in one point or another?

The middle kid, Dash, is the fastest kid who probably has ever walked, or run, this planet. The baby, still teething, has no apparent powers -- yet.

The two oldest kids hide in their mom's plane and go with her to rescue Bob. When they get there, everything Helen always thought to her kids has to change. She always told them not to use their powers, but now it is time.

The archenemy is very good, very creative and crazy as they all have to be. From here on, you have to go see the movie to find out what happens.

The movie makes several references to other superheroes' movies. In the first sequence, Mr. Incredible stops a train from falling in a hole, like in Spider-Man 2, and like X-Men, heroes are not welcome in our society.

The movie is fun for all the family. But the movie has more to offer.

Bob's eyes when he is selling insurance are the eyes of many dads that gave up their dreams -- all the dads that wanted to be a rock star, an actor, open their own business and had to "fit" our society. But in the end the family comes together, uniting their powers, and that's when they are strongest.

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