When a mysterious character named Mirage contacts Mr. Incredible to enlist him for some top-secret super-hero work, Bob jumps at the chance to get back into action. Only all that sitting at a computer all day has given him a mighty gut.  But Bob knows what he wants and quickly regains his happiness and a sense of purpose by fighting robots on a remote tropical island. But Mr. Incredible is not aware that he's been lured into a trap by the evil Syndrome, a super-villain with a connection to Mr. Incredible's past. When Mr. Incredible is eventually imprisoned, it's up to his family to come to his rescue. But first they must re-learn how to work together as not only a family, but also a team of superheroes, and re-develop their powers in time to save the day.

Pixar has done it again, only better.  The Incredibles is not only great animation, it's also a great movie.  It does one better than most of the recent wave of superhero films.  The direction, by Iron Giant's Brad Bird, is superb.  Voice characterizations are equally outstanding, with Craig T. Nelson as Mr. Incredible, Holly Hunter as Elastigirl, Samuel L. Jackson as Freeze, and Jason Lee as Syndrome.  The other voice characterizations are also wonderful, but these stand out.  Director Bird also provides the voice of diminutive Edna Mode, a fashion designer for superheroes who will remind you more than a little of Linda Hunt. 

Funny, exciting, exhilarating, and memorable, The Incredibles is worth watching at least once in the theatre, and definitely worth owning.

Del Harvey is a writer and screenwriting teacher living in Chicago.

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