Film Name:超人总动员2 / Incredibles 2
The Incredibles is my favorite animated film (perhaps without the “one of” qualifier). Thirteen years ago, I repeatedly watched the DVD countless times, finding endless enjoyment in it.
Back in 2004-2005, superhero-themed films weren’t as ubiquitous as they are today. The only notable franchises at the time were Spider-Man and X-Men, which were steadily gaining traction… Against this backdrop, an animated film that flew the superhero flag yet delivered pure family comedy offered audiences an unparalleled freshness—just like the surprises Pixar has always delivered.
The Daily Life of the Parr Family
The Incredibles is rich in themes and elements: heroes facing obsolescence, nostalgic reflections on past glory, midlife crises, growing pains, chasing dreams and seeking identity… and so much more. It skillfully balances profound societal issues like social responsibility and public discourse with relatable domestic struggles and everyday squabbles, delivering both entertaining storytelling and thoughtful depth.
But the greatest surprise 14 years later with “Incredibles 2” is this: it picks up EXACTLY where the last one left off!
In real life, we’ve all aged over a decade (like me, who went from high schooler to a guy approaching 40), yet the Parr family in the film remains as vibrant as ever.
It felt as though the film had paused 14 years ago, only to resume playback seamlessly upon its return.
[Still can’t resist adding a “spoiler alert for the following content”~]
After watching the film, one can fully appreciate how seamless the connection between the two movies truly is.
The first film centers on themes of “searching for self-identity” and “overcoming oneself.” Bob secretly returns to his old ways in pursuit of his “ultimate professional ideal,” setting off a chain of events that culminates in the film’s conclusion—whereby superheroes remain illegal even as they continue to operate openly before the public.
The sequel builds upon this foundation, introducing elements like rehabilitating the reputation of the superhero community and setting positive role models for children. It also stays current by featuring Elastigirl as the lead superhero.
Women take the lead outside the home while men manage domestic affairs—this easily evokes associations with the “feminist movement.” But director Brad Bird truly had no such intention…
As Bird put it: “My mother was a very self-aware woman from my childhood. Growing up with that influence, the idea of Helen taking the helm felt perfectly natural to me—it wasn’t about pandering to current trends.”
He emphasized that “Incredibles 2” didn’t feature a female lead due to public pressure, but rather stemmed from an artistic rebellious spirit. Bird summed up his simple creative motivation in one sentence: “It was really about finding the best way to mess with Bob.” (Source: Mtime’s interview with Brad Bird)
If you view both “The Incredibles” films as two halves of a single story, the narrative flows seamlessly: Bob went off on his adventure in the first film, so now it’s Helen’s turn in the sequel.
“If we’re going to mess with Bob, let’s go all out”—and so Bob, determined to support his wife’s career, convinced that parenting would be easy, and taking on the full burden of being a stay-at-home dad, is pushed to the brink of exhaustion and emotional breakdown by his three troubled children.
The budding teenager Helen wants romance, constantly complaining about family obstacles; the impatient Sam needs tutoring, but his rough-and-tumble dad’s knowledge and learning abilities can’t keep up; and the superpower-spewing Jack is the ultimate problem child—keeping him in check demands constant vigilance and a mastery of every trick in the book…
Managing and educating these children proved a thousand times harder than fighting crime.
Notably, each member of the Bao family’s superpowers mirrored their core personalities:
Bob possessed immense strength, shattering metal and stone—a classic tank and main damage dealer—reflecting his straightforward, honest, and somewhat macho nature;
Helen possesses a scaled-down version of the “Rubber Devil Fruit” ability, stretching and adapting to any role with remarkable resilience, mirroring her exceptional tenacity in managing household duties and navigating the workplace;
Xiao Qian can become invisible and project force fields, a quintessential defensive support, reflecting her introverted, conservative nature and delicate, sensitive teenage heart;
Xiao Fei is a “Quicksilver”-style speedster who tackles everything with lightning speed, mirroring his restless, impatient, and impulsive temperament.
As for Jack… he’s already demonstrated at least a dozen superpowers so far, and he hasn’t even reached his limit yet. This mirrors his innocent nature and the boundless possibilities of his future.
Beyond the five members of the Ba family and “Cool Ice Man” Lucius, this film introduces numerous additional superheroes—the technological advancement from “Super 1” to “Super 2” has reached a level visible to the naked eye, fully showcased in this aspect. Despite this, the film remains focused on Ba Xiao Jie, prioritizing his character development.
Thus, Jacky—who served merely as an Easter egg/side character in the first film—emerges in the sequel as the ultimate superpower mastermind, delivering nearly 80% (or more) of the film’s comedic moments.
His “creative cuteness” is utterly irresistible—after all, he’s a genuine toddler!
While the main storyline is undeniably the film’s weakest link, it’s unfair to overly criticize the creators.
Genre-wise, the sequel inevitably struggles compared to its predecessor. Back then, the “superhero family” theme felt fresh and even avant-garde. Fourteen years later, with the entire plot following the same formula, the “wow factor” inevitably diminishes, leaving a somewhat ordinary taste—but only on the surface.
To be fair, the content of “Incredibles 2” is far from outdated. While it may lack the freshness of its predecessor, the film compensates with remarkable visual flair, compelling storytelling, and delightful details, making it a truly exceptional story.
Of course, there are disappointments. Take the villains: the first film’s twisted tale of a fanboy whose love turned to hatred remains compelling even now, while the second film’s female mastermind, who directs her anger at superheroes, feels far more stereotypical…
Fortunately, the main plot’s “slightly mundane” elements don’t detract from Incredibles 2’s crisp viewing experience (or perhaps the conspiracy-unraveling, world-saving subplot is secondary to the family’s reunion as the true core?). After all, “superheroism” is merely a dazzling costume, a novel lens through which to explore themes. Its core appeal remains utterly intact: a heartwarming, joyful, and moving family-friendly adventure.
Speaking of which, I can’t help but recall the animated short film “Bao” that played before the feature (it’s rare to catch a Pixar short in mainland theaters).
This short film tells the story of a mother who projects her feelings for her son onto steamed buns. From tender care during his vulnerable years to the bittersweet reality that grown sons can’t stay forever, The mother’s doting affection, anxious fears, and self-centered blindness all come vividly to life on the page—a sentiment deeply resonant for Chinese audiences… When her son finally returns home, the emotional barrier between mother and son melts away with the help of two steamed buns.
In our cultural context, familial love is often expressed through subtle, unspoken gestures—each moment imbued with silent meaning… Later, the Ba family demonstrates warmth in vastly different ways, yet they converge toward the same destination: the unchanging essence of “family”—unconditional, unreserved love.
Bob’s experience vividly illustrates: in family education, when the father’s role is often absent, one must step up and face the challenge head-on when it’s time to make amends. It’s okay if you don’t do it perfectly—because doing it well is truly difficult. But as long as your child feels your sincerity, you are a successful father.
(PS: I absolutely must see this film again. Last time I bought tickets without checking and ended up at a Mandarin-dubbed screening. While the dubbing was excellent, I have a special attachment to the original voices—and I’m dying to hear the “new” dubs by Bob Odenkirk as Winston and Jonathan Banks as Rick! As a huge fan of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” this is incredibly exciting!)
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