The real scene-stealer is Edna Mode (voiced by Bird), who's sort of the Edith Head of superhero costume designers. With her Eurotrash accent and munchkin stature, Edna is all passive-aggressive egomania -- but then, who else can manufacture flameproof leotards that are also machine washable? Plus, she knows the downside of costumes with capes.
It's true that The Incredibles doesn't have the emotional resonance of the other Pixar flicks. It makes only a vague stab at life-lessons moments by gently critiquing the "no winners, no losers" approach many parents and educators take with kids these days. "Everyone is special, Dash," Helen instructs. "Which is another way of saying no one is," he retorts.
But if The Incredibles is content to splash around in the shallow end of the pool, it does it with such an exuberant charge of creativity that the best thing to do is just look up in the sky, and admire.
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