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The cast and crew of Disney Pixar’s Incredibles 2, came together to discuss the film, their experiences, as well as a surprising revelation that will challenge the way we look at modern kids films. Led by director, Brad Bird, the cast went into details about the mature undertones of the film and how they relate to audiences. The overall consensus was that the film was not created with the intention of being exclusively a children’s movie, but rather a movie suited for all ages.
“Kids are strangely treated like beards”, Brad Bird said jokingly. Describing his experiences with adult fans, Bird focused on those who felt they needed kids to be with them to enjoy the film without risk of judgement or ridicule from fellow adults. “It’s an art form…It’s for anyone that likes movies”. The rest of the cast chimed in, reminding fans that there is more than meets the eye with the film.
Holly Hunter, who plays Elastagirl, reflected on her work with the first film as well as the maturing themes of the sequel. “It was a movie that stood on its own. It’s not a kids movie. In a way, this one is particularly more not a kids movie”. The undertones come from the role reversals of both her character and her husband, Mr. Incredible. As seen in the official trailer, Elastagirl is chosen to be the face of Supers worldwide. Mr. Incredible is tasked with being the caregiver, supporting the family instead of fighting crime. It’s a dynamic that the actress emphasized is a character revelation. “The movie has complexity that is really astonishing. It has 5 different movies, and they all work in concert with each other They all need each other..It’s an incredible a fabric that’s been woven together. It’s very sophisticated.”
Though the goal of the conversation was not to discount children’s love of the franchise. “Kids totally dig it…even small kids love Jack Jack and love Dash,” said Hunter. A perfect example of this, is Huck Milner. Taking the helm as the new voice of Dash, he has been a long term fan of both the character and the original film since early childhood.
“I saw the first movie when I was 5…My dad showed me it. I really loved it too. My favorite character was Dash. When I got the audition, I was watching the movie over and over again. When my mom got sick of it, I used the audition as an excuse to watch it again”. The entire cast agreed that the film is an intricate love for viewers of all ages. “You don’t need to be a kid. I made it for you, I’m not a kid”, Bird added. “I made it something I would want to see”.
When you look at the span of Pixar Films, the same chord is struck. Every film has the ability to transcend past a simple cartoon, each containing a layered narrative that can be seen and understood by a large array of audiences. Everyone can take something from the experience. From Toy Story, to Up, to The Incredibles, there are universal themes that can be easily recognized and appreciated. “What excited me about the idea in the first place is not the super heroes. It was the family dynamic…Families are a continent of fresh opportunities. It’s so universal”, said Bird.
Disney-Pixar’s Incredibles 2 flies into theaters on June 15th.
