![]() Audiences can often find themselves wondering, " Where is that from?" only to realize that it comes from an obscure kid’s movie watched long ago. I can imagine grown men will be pushing and shoving children out of the way to get to the box office for the upcoming sequel.As time moves on, kids' movies can become distant memories, which is why there are some classics in the genre that many must have forgotten about. It’s the tried and true formula, but everything about the execution - the script, the characters, putting a family of superheroes through the ringer - it makes it feel fresh and exciting and fun. What I love about THE INCREDIBLES is that it’s not doing anything new with story structure. Symmetrical Moment: Supers are sued and the superhero relocation program is put into place + Bob rides with lawyer who says things are looking great for the future of supers.Symmetrical Moment: Incrediboy enters the story + Syndrome (Incrediboy) exits the story.Symmetrical Moment: Bob and Helen argue + Bob and Helen reunite.Symmetrical Moment: Family disconnected/ argues at dinner table about using powers + Family battles together for the first time.I love how it takes things that we would typically predict in a story like this and it flips them on their head (like Dash interrupting Bob in the middle of his “bad dad apology speech” and Helen shh’ing him). Brad Bird’s script doesn’t quite play as parody of the classic superhero film, but it definitely is a pastiche.The Midpoint of the story is almost exactly in the middle of the movie, which is incredibly satisfying.When we see our “normalcy” 15 years later, we can jump right into it. It immediately establishes our protagonist’s goal (longing for a super life/life of adventure) and acts as exposition for the rest of our story. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, and Incrediboy, who of course will one day turn into our antagonist. The Incredibles has an incredible (how many times can I use that word in this blog post) prologue.But it never feels formulaic! That's what the pros call: writing. Similar to Seth’s analysis of THE AVENGERS, this movie follows the “hero’s journey” almost to a T.I watched this for this blog post the other night, and even though I'd seen it at least five times already, the second it was done I immediately started it over and watched it again.Final Image: The family stands together against a new threat! Superhero poses.The family embraces their powers as the new normal. New Normalcy: Dash finally gets to use his powers in public, running on the track team.Ultimate Breakthrough: Bob throws Helen into the air, she retrieves Jack-Jack, and Syndrome's hubris catches up with him when his cape gets him sucked into the jet engine.Shadow's Final Push: Syndrome poses as a relief babysitter and takes Jack-Jack hostage.Teaming with Frozone, they work together as a super family and defeat the giant Omnidroid. Hero Gains Upper Hand: The family races back home to take on Syndrome.Violet breaks the family free and, because Syndrome monologued his whole evil plan, they know exactly where to go. Breakthrough and Rebirth/Break Into Act 3: Bob apologizes for being a bad father, gives a “redemption speech”.Game Over: The whole family gets captured by Syndrome and are forced to watch his evil plan come to fruition.Hero's Last Resort: Helen saves Bob and the whole family fights Syndrome's goons together.Things Get Worse: Bob sneaks into the evil lair only to be captured by Syndrome.Midpoint: Bob meets Syndrome, narrowly avoids being killed and escapes.Engages in a happy family life montage! He takes another superhero mission. Trailer Moments/Promise of the Premise: Bob travels to the island where he fights and defeats the Omnidroid.Acceptance and Break Into Act 2: Bob lies to his wife and takes the mission.Rational Approach: Bob thinks for mere seconds about not lying to his wife and taking the mission.Mirage invites Bob to shut down an Omnidroid on a remote island, the perfect adventure for a former superhero who now works at an insurance company. ![]() Herald: 15 years later, Bob and family live “a normal life”.Superhero Relocation Program is put into place and supers are outlawed. Normalcy Disrupted: The suicidal man sues Mr.Incredible rescues a cat from a tree, a man from suicide, and a train from crashing. Opening: TV Interviews– supers are popular and keep the world safe.
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