INCREDIBLES 2

'''INCREDIBLES 2 (vt. THE INCREDIBLES 2). Brad Bird, director, script.''' USA: Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures (production) / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (theatrical distribution for most of Earth), 2018. Ralph Eggleston, production design.

Sequel to THE INCREDIBLES, q.v., with the opening prolog picking up the end of THE INCREDIBLES, with the Underminer’s tunnelling device, beginning a series of interesting vehicles. In this initial instance, note the Industrial-Brutist, somewhat late-Steampunk appearance of the giant tunnelling machine (a TV trope, apparently), contrasted with the smooth, Modernist appearance of the Incredible family. Cf. and contrast the Virgil drilling vehicle in THE CORE (2003), parodied in the surface running “Hippie Digger” in the ‘‘South Park’’ episode “Die Hippie, Die” (season 9, episode 2, 16 March 2005).]

In the main part of the film, the threats are not mechanical but on literally mesmerizing flat-screens of various sorts, including what look to be inelegant but small and light-weight VR eye-glasses or goggles. These hypnotize the viewers in the world of the film, and bring into the plot a suggestion in the dialog on how people are becoming dependent on super-heroes even as we become enthralled to the screens on our devices. (Cf. opening of The Outer Limits TV show, directly quoted.) INCREDIBLES 2 does not resolve this issue, but does well to make somewhat explicit the ironies of audience support for the film’s super-heroes return to the world of a movie we are somewhat enthralled to as we watch it on a screen.

Vehicles of interest include a thoroughly modern and streamlined motorcycle for Elastigirl and car for Mr. Incredible. The coolness of such rides and the excitement of the super-hero life are explicitly compared and contrasted with domestic family life, with the Incredible family getting both worlds.

RDE, Initial Compiler, 18June18