The problem with animated films is that people usually assume they are made for children. Animation was invented for mainstream film-making, going all the way back to silent movies. Somewhere along the way, perhaps in part due to Walt Disney and Warner Brothers --who incorporated children into their animation audiences -- animation became "cartoons".

While adult animation never fully vanished ("The Flintstones" was intended for primetime family audiences), the shift to Saturday morning cartoondom really hurt the quality of animated film-making in general. PIXAR has done a good job of injecting adult humor into its movies, but "The Incredibles" stands out from the vast multitude of animated films because it tells an adult story.

It's a coming-of-realization tale for middle-aged men with all the wowsy-wow-wow stuff that keeps everyone else entertained. The storyline follows the personal growth of Robert "Bob" Parr, Mr. Incredible, a 1950s era super-hero from the imaginary city of Metroville.

PIXAR loaded the film with homages, inside gags, and cool ideas as usual, but all the whizbang animation and backstory in the world won't save a weak movie. In fact, this movie avoids the almost inevitable "cheesy cheese" factor that many superhero movies devolve to.

"The Incredibles" offers a better quality story than the Christopher Reeve "Superman" movies, the various "Batman" movies, "Daredevil", and many other highly successful hero films of the 1990s and 2000s. The chief reason behind the high quality of "The Incredibles" is the fact the film's real villain is the hero.

Mr. Incredible is his own worst enemy, constantly putting his family behind his own massive ego. He goes to such lengths to relive the glory days of his youth that he never considers the possible consequences of his actions until it's too late. By the time he realizes he is not as incredible as he has always believed himself to be, it seems too late.

"The Incredibles" also takes on many classic superhero cliches and makes fun of them in gentle, familiar-but-clever ways. Caped heroes are done-away with one after another in a classic scene that purports to be about fashion sense but is really more about superhero design sense. Why do superheroes need capes?

Another great poke in the nose is the opening sequence when various heroes are interviewed about their secret identities. "Can you see me going to the...the supermarket as Elastigirl?" Holly Hunter's character asks. These superheroes try to have ordinary lives, but the barely subtle truth of the matter is that they don't know how.

The Supers (as they are called) don't really fit in, and neither the government nor society quite know what to do with them. Hence, as Mr. Incredible rushes to help police capture deadly gunmen, he is flagged down by a little old lady whose cat is caught in a tree.

In fact, the movie implies a very interesting question without really suggesting a coherent answer. Why does the world need superheroes? One must wonder, for example, what happens to all the supervillains after the heroes go into retirement? Do the supervillains get bored with kicking the regular good guys (police officers) around and simply hang up their costumes and plans to conquer the world?

And where do the supervillains come from in the first place? Mr. Incredible creates his own nemesis in Syndrome, but not all villains have such deep-grown roots. What leads the Underminer to make his appearance?

Superhero worlds don't really make a whole lot of sense. They are constantly smashing buildings, destroying property, and injuring innocent bystanders in their epic battles with the supervillains. "The Incredibles" looks at how the unwitting public both admires and resents the Supers' great deeds. The government, faced with responsibilities it cannot fully cope with through normal channels, thus endorses the Superhero movement.

In fact, through backstory data provided in the DvD, it becomes evident that the government probably orchestrated the entire 1950s-era Superhero movement. People with special abilities were discovered, recruited, and trained by a secret government agency. Each of the heroes referred to in the story (and a few others) has at least some biographical information on the DvD.

But the pseudo-realism is extended through a humorous bonus feature, a "true" animated short adventure that shows Mr. Incredible, Frozone, and their trusty rabbit sidekick handling danger and daring do in the 1960s. Craig T. Nelson and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their roles as Mr. Incredible and Frozone in the role of voiceover commentators. Frozone's outrage at the way his character is handled by the cartoon is one of the funniest DvD commentaries ever published.

The soundtrack also deserves special mention. The production team reached back to the 1960s action adventure cartoons and spy movies for inspiration. The cool jazz movements employ full sound orchestrations reminiscent of James Bond, Matt Helm, Johnny Quest, the Herculoids, Space Ghost, and a few other ancient favorites of the 60s era generation.

Homages that people may recognize include The Fantastic Four (through the Incredibles and the Underminer), Superman, Nick Fury (Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Captain America, Johnny Quest (not really a superhero, but the hovercraft from the Komodo dragon episode are clearly the source for Syndrome's buzz-saw hovercraft), and the X-Men.

Star Wars fans will (hopefully) appreciate the jungle chase scene. James Bond fans will appreciate Syndrome's hideout and the methods that the Incredibles employ in approaching it. And PIXAR fans will appreciate the depth and scope of the story. It's not just about the animation or the goofy gags. It's about growing up in the real world, where everyone is special, and no one is any more special than the next person.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8