The Incredibles (17)
Posted by: vickyleigh on: November 8, 2009
There is so much I love about this movie. I have a few favorite quotes that, to me, sum up the message of a movie about an average family that just happens to have superpowers:
“I love you, but if we’re gonna make this work, you’ve gotta be more than just Mr. Incredible…” Helen to Bob at their wedding
“Mom and Dad’s lives could be in jeopardy…or worse…their marriage” Violet to Dash while they wonder what’s going on with their parents
“I’m your wife, I’m the greatest good you’ll ever get” Frozone’s wife as he tries to leave to save the day.
I also find it interesting that aside from all the other things that make them like a normal family – bickering over dinner, doing housework, etc. – the characters themselves seem to be very average individuals in very normal family roles. Helen does all the wifely things – vacuuming, doing dishes, staying home to take care of the baby. Bob has a desk job, gets stuck in traffic, and is the provider for his family. The Parrs seem to be the most mundane family ever – by a long shot, the most “normal”, “traditional” family we have looked at this semester, even factoring in their superpowers. Their average-ness serves to contrast exactly how crazy things get when they decide to stop hiding and be true to who they are – and that normalcy is the crux of the movie. Somehow, I don’t think this movie would be quite the same if it focused on a family consisting of two gay men raising a child, or a single mother and her three kids living with their grandfather.
Also, in modern society, there is a lot of emphasis placed on the idea of families being essential elements in a community. Good, wholesome family values – and individuals that are raised in families with these values – are what enhance a community and make it stronger. I think that in analyzing this movie a little closer, we can see a physical representation of this idea – this particular family is a huge asset to the community that they live in: they prevent its destruction. Literally. This idea is also supported by Bob’s rescue of Squeaker the cat. Clearly Bob is your typical well-rounded, upstanding community member – he takes time in his busy schedule to help out an old lady and her cat.
2 Responses to "The Incredibles (17)"
November 11, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Helen’s quote about Bob having to be more than Mr. Incredible was really a good bit of foreshadowing, because the whole plot of the movie centers on Bob not wanting to give up being Mr. Incredible. He spends so much time trying to be a superhero, he loses sight of being a father and husband.
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- tomneeson: Helen's quote about Bob having to be more than Mr. Incredible was really a good bit of foreshadowing, because the whole plot of the movie centers on B
- jennifer m: i agree with you about david being knocked off his pedestal. he was so arrogant at the beginning of the novel about everything. he judged lucy's life,
- Michelle Breitbach: I was confused by it originally. I still have no solid idea about what was going on or why, but I do have some speculation. At some point in the begin
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November 8, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I really liked your point about the “normal” family being the community savior, and how this movie shows that quite literally. I never really saw it that way, and I think that is a really good interpretation of it. I also thought that the family seemed very “typical” as well. Especially Violet, she is like me as a 14 year old… worrying about everything, trying to fit in, taking care of her little brother, being able to turn invisible and make force fields… okay, maybe I was kidding on the last one. But I liked your comments! =)