After fourteen long years of waiting, a sequel to millions of children's favorite movie finally came out: Incredibles 2. It feels like a lifetime since it first was released, which for most of us it has been, considering I was about six years old when I first saw the original. Pixar knew how much attention it would receive and they did not take this lightly. Instead of just making another cutesy, "warms your heart" kind of movie (although it did both of those things as well), it made a statement. A big one at that, and one that needed to be said. Women are just as incredible as men. See what I did there?
The sequel is all about the fight to make superheros legal again. The Incredibles are sought after to make this happen, and rather than having Mr. Incredible be the star of the show, Elastigirl is chosen. While Elastigirl goes off to help save the world, Mr. Incredible is left at home to take care of the children, which he is less than thrilled about. He soon finds himself in over his head and failing miserably. However, throughout the film he slowly starts to figure it out and gain an appreciation for all that his wife does. While dad is at home, mom is away fighting a bad guy that is using technology to hypnotize people so they can be controlled. Naturally, things don't work out the way they were planned, and the parents need saving by the kids once again. Then, at the end of the movie, supers are finally made legal again. Throw in a few adorable scenes with Jack-Jack and you've basically seen the whole movie.
Pixar does such a phenomenal job of showcasing what women are capable of and the lack of credit they receive for usually being the one to raise their family. The film has been receiving some backlash for how much emphasis was put on this, and how it wasn't necessary. But most of them are entirely missing the point. While yes, many of the people watching Incredibles 2 are no longer children, it is still a children's movie at the end of the day. It doesn't matter if some guy who is way too insecure in his own manhood gets offended and thinks they are bashing on guys, because it's not for him. It's for the little girls and boys who are going to grow up watching this film just like we watched the first one.
What matters is that they grow up watching films that teach them that women are just as capable, strong, and badass as men. That it is okay for a man to stay at home and help his kids. That if you really put your mind to it and work at it, you can and will change unfair laws. That technology can be very dangerous and will take over our society if we let it. That children are powerful and have the ability to save the day. All this movie is trying to do is empower and encourage the children it was made for. It is meant to be a teaching tool so that these children grow up more open-minded and driven than their parents.
So for all of you out there who cannot see the purpose and motive behind this movie, get over yourselves. It is not about you. It is about the kids and raising them to be open-minded individuals and the exact opposite of you.
