SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF

INCREDIBLES 2 FOR PARENTS

Disclaimer: I paid to see this movie! Has it really been almost 14 years since The Incredibles entered our lives? For the past 14 years, our family has watched, quoted, talked about, and even referred to our children as Jack-Jack, Dash, and Violet from that first movie. So it is no surprise that we would see Incredibles 2 as soon as we could. And most likely you came here looking for a spoiler-free review of Incredibles 2 for parents because you are a parent!

UPDATE: I have been alerted by an astute reader to the fact that there are the use of strobe type lights in this movie. If you have epilepsy or are sensitive to these type of scenes, please exercise caution!

If your family is anything like ours, you identify with the Parrs who by day look “normal,” but as our family always says “what does anyone in this family know about normal?” Are you running the rat race just like every other family, spending your time trying to “save the world” and “have it stay saved”?

 I have used The Incredibles to talk about my family. I have called my youngest son Jack-Jack online for years, and have even made them the subject of several blog posts.

Part 1: Autism and the Normalcy of Chaos 

One Year Later: Jack-Jack, Autism, and Chaos

Mr. Incredible Falls Down: The Day My Husband Died

But Incredibles 2 live up to the hype? Can it be a great sequel?

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF INCREDIBLES 2 FOR PARENTS: THE SYNOPSIS

Incredibles 2 is the perfect blend of comedy, drama, and action that leaves you wanting more. Fourteen years is a long time to wait, but the Incredibles haven’t aged at all. This sequel picks up right where the first movie ends. 

When we last saw Parr family, they were leaving Dash’s track meet and were greeted by The Underminer. Incredible 2 opens with The Underminer scene. As the movie progresses we find a family grappling with the same issues that many modern families face: mom working and dad struggling to take care of the kids. 

As Mr. Incredible tries to figure out his new role as stay-at-home dad, he appears to not know how to navigate this new adventure. We see a very tired parent that seems unsure of his abilities. It never occurs to Mr. Incredible that moms might go through the same feelings of inadequacy. Because we all know that moms never have to deal with lack of sleep, teenage problems, and figuring out how to help with homework (this is a sarcastic statement intended to invoke laughter). 

JACK-JACK STEALS THE SHOW:

If you are at a party with fascinating people, and someone walks in with a baby, everybody’s focus shifts to the baby. And in the same manner, Jack-Jack steals the show with his antics. If you recall, Jack-Jack got his superpowers at the close of the last movie. He begins this installment with his family not knowing about those powers. And in many ways, Jack-Jack is a typical baby. 

1. Unpredictable
2. Wakes through the night
3. One moment he is a calm peaceful child, and the next moment you are dealing with something from another dimension.

As a mom of five children, I can honestly say that none of my children actually had superpowers, but in many instances, it almost appeared as if they did. I had a baby that was capable of getting out of her crib, car seat, and high chair much like Houdini. If you have had children you most likely dealt with a baby that didn’t seem to need sleep. And while I never had a child that walked through walls, I have thought, “how in the world did he get in the next room without me seeing him?” 

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF INCREDIBLE 2 FOR PARENTS: WHAT WORKS IN THIS MOVIE:

Incredibles 2 delivers laughs, drama, and action. I love that it begins where the first one ends, and immediately you are transported back to the last scene in The Incredibles. There is no time gap that leaves you wondering for the rest of the movies.

This perfect timeline allows you to sit back and enjoy the characters that you know. One of my favorite lines is by Edna Mode: “Done properly, parenting is a heroic act.” As a mother of 5 children (ages 30-13), I understand as a parent you are forced to be gutsy, daring and courageous. Parents need to be willing to jump into situations that they never thought they would encounter. Edna also delivers my second favorite line of the movie, “Babies have unlimited potential.” 

And what makes the movie work is that this family is so relatable. This movie mirrors your life. Have your children complained about their food? Do you feel like your child becomes a monster if she consumes too much sugar? Do you have a teenager that is moody and refuses to talk about problems with you? Are you tired of trying to help your children with their homework only to be told that “the teacher didn’t do the problem that way?” 

THE OBJECTIONABLE:

The standard for my review is that as a Christian I mention things that might bother parents or children. If you comment and tell me to get a life because I am too sensitive, I will simply tell you that my job is to inform parents of anything that might offend.

Language: “Oh my G-d” is spoken. “I’ll be d-mned,” and h-ll is said. 

Violence: The one villain in this movie is scarier than Syndrome from The Incredibles. The villain uses television screens to hypnotize people and is scary in a Twilight Zone fashion.

There is cartoon violence throughout the movie. Dangerous situations are dealt with such as a runaway bullet train. There is a scene where someone is shot, but no blood is shown, and you only see the gun. Mr. and Mrs. Incredible have a physical fight.

Other items: There are presumably alcoholic beverages served. The children disobey their parents. One character continually makes disparaging comments about men. Expect the Incredible family to behave in the same manner as the first movie – verbal disagreements and bickering.

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF INCREDIBLES 2 FOR PARENTS: MY FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

Use the scary parts of this movie as teaching points. The villain hypnotizes through the use of televisions. Teach your children about subliminal messages in advertising and movies. Talk about how people use the airwaves to influence thinking, public opinion, and further their agendas.

The language in this movie does not need to be here, but the reality is that foul language has become such a normal part of our world. When my older children were young, the majority of people watched how they talked around little children. Today your children will hear these words everywhere they go, but you can teach them why you choose not to say those words even though people say, “it’s just a word.”

Is this movie for all ages? Due to the intense action and scary villains, my age recommendation is 5-7 and up. I do wish there were a few moments that weren’t in the movie, but I do recommend this movie and encourage you to dash to your local theatre to see it. Make sure to watch for the Hidden Mickey’s in the movie and in the end credits.

While I believe the first movie is better overall, this was an excellent sequel. I loved seeing Jack-Jack develop and look forward to seeing more of him in the future. And let’s hope that it isn’t another 14 years before we hear from The Incredible Family again.

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG,

PATTY @ A MOTHER’S RANDOM THOUGHTS