Superhero Media: Incredibles 2

A decades-later sequel to a beloved film, Incredibles 2 is not only another brilliant entry in Brad Bird's filmography, but is a brilliant response to the original and the critical literature resulting thereof. Starting moments before The Incredibles finished, Incredibles 2 gives us the Parr family battling The Underminer, and really not doing very well at all, making mistakes, being out of practice and tripping over one another as they're not yet used to being a team. If I had to pick a single scene that turned people off this film, the opening Underminer fight would likely be it, as it robs the moment of triumph from the first film and injects a more harsh reality. Of course, it all makes perfect sense, as none of the family have done regular hero work recently and have not worked together long enough to get a good team dynamic going. As far as I'm concerned, it's a great place to start both the narrative and the metanarrative, as Incredibles 2 isn't just a sequel, it's a critical response. 

In my review of The Incredibles I mentioned the, sadly still prevalent, Objectivist reading of the film and how Brad Bird's own filmography is the argument against such a take, but it seems Bird was not one to take it lying down himself. The newer "Supers" of Incredibles 2, including Acid Reflux, Brick and Void, are heavily queer-coded, with the villain revealed to be a wealthy and privileged woman with a narrow view of progress and no understanding of heroes as individuals with needs. The contrast between Screenslaver and Elastigirl, especially as the two clash in the final act is easy to read as  a conflict between schools of theoretical feminism, with a mother fighting a "career woman", but Elastigirl's entire character arc, from the opening of The Incredibles, as been that she is who she chooses to be, undefined by anyone but herself. Of course Elastigirl is the best choice to spearhead the "relaunch" of superheroes into the public eye, she's never questioned that saving lives is where she belongs. 

Probably my favourite element of Incredibles 2 is the building of Edna Modes' character, essentially a comic foil in the first film, her encounter with Jak-Jak provides insight into her fixation with superheroes. Supers are Edna's link to eternity and something beyond the temporal world of fashion. Edna is not the ascended fan in the same ways as Phil Coulson, she is more a "Supergods" devotee, or Campbellian realist, inhabiting a world were the gods walk the Earth and she is lucky enough to brush their capes with her fingers. Robert's journey to accepting modern fatherhood is wonderful, unlike much I've seen in recent film, and whilst Dash and Violet don't get to do much, they remain consistent and the times they are prevalent are pretty entertaining. I get that Incredibles 2 may not be the sequel that people wanted, but I really find it hard to fault anywhere, as it answers questions left, engages with criticism and does move on the stories of several of the main characters. Whilst I wouldn't mind seeing more of the Incredibles, I feel that the Big Hero 6 television approach may work better, with Bird overseeing it. Only time will tell where this series goes, but I'm very happy with where it is right now.