INCREDIBLES 2 (2018) – My rating 7.5/10

Incredibles 2 is categorized as a computer-animated superhero film, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Written and directed by Brad Bird and is a sequel to The Incredibles (2004) and the second full-length installment of the franchise. The story follows the Parr family as they try to restore public’s trust in superheroes while balancing their family life, only to combat a new foe who seeks to turn the populace against all superheroes. I don’t think this sequel measures up to it’s original but still a fun family movie.

The Incredibles, which consist of  Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), who is the father of the family and possesses super strength and limited invulnerability; Helen Parr / Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), who is the mother of the family and has the ability to stretch her body into many shapes and forms; Violet Parr, (Sarah Vowell) the family’s daughter and first child, who can become invisible and project force fields for limited lengths of time; Dashiell “Dash” Parr, (Huckleberry Milner) the family’s troublemaker first son, who has superhuman speed and Jack-Jack Parr, (Eli Fucile) their infant son who has a huge variety of powers; as well as Frozone / Lucius Best, (Samuel L Jackson) the best friend and close ally of the Parr family who has the ability to create ice and freeze surfaces by manipulating moisture.

In this sequel, The Incredibles and Frozone battle The Underminer,  (John Ratzenberger) a powerful supervillain, criminal, bank robber, and terrorist whose ambition is to destroy peace and joy and has just appeared to terrorize Metroville. Despite preventing the destruction of City Hall, The Incredibles are unable to stop The Underminer from robbing a bank and escaping. The collateral damage caused by the incident outrages the government and prompts them to shut down the Superhero Relocation Program, leaving the Parrs without financial assistance. Tony Rydinger (Michael Bird) a classmate and love interest, discovers Violet’s superhero identity, forcing government agent Rick Dicker (Jonathan Banks) to erase his memory.

In the meanwhile, Lucius informs Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl of an offer from Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), a wealthy businessman who wants to bring back the public’s faith in superheros. He and his sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) a technical genus who has never encountered a problem she couldn’t solve,  propose sending the superheroes on secret missions that will be recorded and publicized as evidence of their importance.  Due to Mr. Incredible’s tendency to accidentally cause collateral damage, Winston chooses Elastigirl for the initial missions.  Accepting the challenge takes Elastigirl away from home, leaving Bob, who struggles with his new role as a stay-at-home parent.

Incredibles 2 continues with a story that is action packed and quite entertaining.  The film moves quickly, paralleling between Mr. Incredible’s new role as a stay at home dad vs his wife, Elastigirl’s action packed adventures as a solo action hero.  Mr. Incredible is dealing with domestic issues that are out of his comfort zone, with no help. Elastigirl is thoroughly enjoying her solo performance fighting and solving crime.  Incredibles 2 is well done and children everywhere will surly enjoy the movie.  You can see Incredibles 2 on Netflix. Check It Out!

[Incredibles 2 is Oscar nominated for Best Animated Feature Film]

 

THE BIG SICK (2017) – My rating: 8/10

Didn’t think I’d like the Big Sick, but I was wrong — The Big Sick was a great romantic comedy.  A comedian from Pakistan and a White girl living in Chicago meet, fall in love and all hell breaks loose.  It’s a pretty good concept and it’s based on a real life couple’s story.  Everything about this film was good.  We get to see how stubbornness, tradition and love can work together for the greater good while teaching some valuable lessons.

Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) is a standup comedian (for real) who drives for Uber in the day and performs standup at a Chicago comedy club at night.  Also, Kumail is Pakistani and very close to his family and family traditions, NOT.  Being a Muslim immigrant, his parents set him up with many Pakistani women, thereby emulating their Pakistani tradition of an arranged marriage.  However, after meeting Emily (Zoe Kazan), (not a Muslim) heckling him while sitting in the audience of the comedy club, they began a relationship that turned into more than they meant for it to be. Of course, Kumail didn’t tell Emily about his parent’s pursuit of never ending Pakistani women for the grand prize of his hand in marriage.  As their relationship grew closer, Kumail’s parents began to wonder if their son was crazy, especially when they set him up with the most desirable, beauty on a long waiting list of eligible bachelorettes and he still didn’t bite.

 From this point, Emily has to learn if there’s any future for her with Kumail but first she gets terminally ill and her parents, Terry Gardner (Ray Romano) and Beth Gardner (Holly Hunter) show up and develop their own relationship with Kumail, which doesn’t go well in the beginning.  We are hanging on the edge of our seats because we won’t know the outcome of Emily’s illness or whether her parents finally accept Kumail or not.  Additionally, there’s Kumail’s parents, Azmat (Anupam Kher) and Sharmeen (Zenobia Shroff).  What happens when they find out about this non Pakistanian relationship?  Can Kumail survive being thrown out of his family or do they forgive him?  There’s a lot going on in this movie — I urge everyone to see The Big Sick, it’s delightful, funny and entertaining.  It gives us to an opportunity to revisit some of our  long standing traditions to determine if “maybe it’s time for a change”.

 

Save