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I wasn’t too excited about seeing this movie. Just another over-hyped, over-violent kids’ movie, I thought. But then I saw it, and I saw it again, and I like it more each time. It’s all about the themes. Sure, it has enough funny visual effects to keep my two-year-old son interested, and the plot isn’t too developed for my four-year-old to follow, but the characters and social issues addressed can be discussed on much more sophisticated levels. When was the last time you saw a cartoon that could lead you to talking about what makes a man attractive to a woman he’s been married to for fifteen years? When was the last time an animated feature brought up issues of corporate responsibility, the search for significance, and the need for the extraordinary? “What are you waiting for?” Mr. Incredible asks. “I don’t know. Something awesome.” If animated films spent more time developing dialog like that and less time on jokes about body parts, I’d recommend a lot more of them. Don’t let the fact that its animated mislead you into trying to use it with beginners.
Genre: Comedy, Action
Rating : PG, violence, themes
English: standard American, intermediate
| Major Themes | Minor Themes | | Competition vs. Cooperation Family Ideal Man/Woman Individual Heroism Man vs. Himself Man vs. Society Man vs. System Outsiders Power Search for Truth Supernatural (superheroes) Technology Young Children
| Adultery Betrayal Business/Economics Ecology/Environment Education Family – father problems Freedom vs. Safety Gender Roles Historical Legal Systems Man vs. Man Marriage Problems Physical Violence Physical Violence - guns Science Social Change Sports
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Part One Time: 10:00
Summary: The film begins with a series of black-and-white TV interviews of Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone as they discuss issues like the frustrations of constantly needing to re-save society, having a secret identity, dating, and gender roles. The film then moves to color to show Mr. Incredible saving a cat, stopping a robbery, meeting a boy who wants to be his sidekick, stopping a mugger, flirting with Elastigirl, saving a suicide jumper, stopping a bomber, saving Buddy (the boy sidekick who wants to be “Incrediboy”), stopping an elevated train wreck, and giving orders to the police all on his way to getting married to Elastigirl. The scene ends with their marriage.
Vocabulary: superhero: (mostly) American imaginary heroes that have extraordinary physical or technological powers and usually work as vigilantes (Vigilantes = anyone who decides the legal system is not working so they are going to stop the crime on their own. Often, vigilantes are folk heroes. However, most organized crime also is a type of vigilante system.) secret identity: superheroes always wear a costume of some sort to keep people from knowing who they really are mild-mannered: calm, not drawing attention to ones-self alter-ego: a personality that is the opposite of your natural personality maid: a woman who is hired to clean a home armed: carrying weapons suspects: people who the police think have committed a crime but who have not been convicted in court stand clear: stay away fan club: a group of people who are organized to collect information about a celebrity ladies first: traditional saying that men allow women to go first through doors, through lines, or at meals counseling: professional psychological help nab: capture a criminal (slang) set up a perimeter: place guards surrounding an area affiliated: officially associated with or connected to
Comprehension Questions: Who are the characters introduced in this section? (Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, Bomb Voyage, Incrediboy/Buddy) What are their super powers? How does Mr. Incredible seem to feel about his powers in the interview? Why does he feel this way? How does Elastigirl feel about her powers in the interview? Why does she feel this way? Describe the relationship between Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. Does your culture have any vigilante heroes? Tell about them. What makes them popular? What Western vigilante heroes do they know? What do the superheroes get out of saving people? Why do they do it? Why does Mr. Incredible refuse Buddy’s help? What does this show about American values? Is vigilantism good for society? Would it be good for a society to have superheroes? Why or why not? If your city could have five superheroes, not anyone in this class, what super powers would you want them to have? If you could have a super power, what would you choose? If you could create ten superheroes, would you? (You are not allowed to control them.) Would society be best if everyone had the same powers? Could technology give you super powers? Are technological power advantages worse than physical power advantages? What does it mean to “Be true to yourself”? (Shakespeare, Hamlet , “This above all: to thine own self be true.”)
Part Two Time: 10:36
Summary: View TV newsreel footage of the end of the superheroes. Mr. Incredible was sued by the man who attempted suicide. Congress forced the superheroes to reveal their secret identities. They were relocated and went into hiding under new identities, and told never to use their powers again. Mr. Incredible, now Bob Parr, works in an insurance office, where he routinely tells applicants how to find loopholes that will allow them to collect on their policies, even though he is supposed to deny payment whenever possible. Meanwhile, Elastigirl, now Helen Parr, meets with her son, the school principal, and the son’s teacher. The teacher says that Dash put a thumbtack in his chair, moving too fast to see. The teacher even tried to videotape Dash in action, but the tape is inconclusive. The principal dismisses Helen and Dash so he can deal with the teacher. As Helen takes Dash home, she tells him he needs to try to fit in more. Meanwhile, Violet, the Incredibles’ daughter, tries to talk to a boy, but then disappears when he talks to her. Bob returns home, cramped in a tiny family car. He slams the car door too hard and breaks a window. In frustration, he picks up the car to throw it, but is witnessed by a neighbor boy. At dinner, Bob tries to read the paper while his wife tries to tell him about Dash’s problems at school, and the brother and sister fight. It’s a typical dinner, plus super powers. Finally, Frozone, now Lucious, comes by to take Bob out for their weekly bowling night.
Vocabulary: sued: forced to pay money to someone because of a crime liability: legal responsibility spelled out: explained very clearly, like you would explain something to a child thumb tacks: pins that are used to hold something to a wall smug: proud, know-it-all, cocky, arrogant carnivore: a meat-eating animal leftovers: food from a previous meal that is saved and served again shut up: be quiet (informal, rude) intervene: become involved with another person’s problems
Comprehension Questions: What characters are introduced in this section? (Bob Parr, Helen Parr, Dash, Violet, Jack-Jack) What are their powers? What is Bob’s job? How long has he worked there? Why is Bob’s boss angry with him? (Discuss insurance claims.) Why is Dash angry? Is Dash a bad child? Is Bob happy with his life? Why? Is Helen happy with her life? Why? Is Violet happy with her life? Why? Is it possible to compete and “only be the best by a tiny bit”? Is it better to be like everyone else or to be known as having special abilities? Is everyone special? What do you think of Dash’s comment that, if everyone is special then no one is? Imagine that you are the family counselor for the Parr family. What advice would you give the Parr parents on how to raise their children?
Part Three Time: 12:25
Summary: Bob and Lucious sit in the car, listening to the police scanner and talking about the days when they were heroes. A mysterious woman watches them from another car. When they hear of a building burning nearby, they go to help. A couple of things go wrong, of course, and they end up being surrounded by the police, who think they are robbing a jewelry store. Lucious freezes him, and they escape, laughing. When Bob gets home, he and Helen fight. Helen is concerned that his need to relive his past will make them lose their cover and need to move again. When the kids overhear and come in, they stop fighting and make up. The camera shows their neighborhood at night: all of the houses are the same. The next day, at work, the mysterious woman from the night before quickly sneaks in and out of Bob’s office. Bob then gets nearly fired for helping customers get money from the insurance company. He finally loses his temper and throws his boss through five office walls. As he leaves from seeing his boss in the hospital, a government agent comes and talks to him about relocating, again. Bob goes home and finds the package left by the mysterious woman. It’s a call for him to return to work as a superhero. The scene ends with him looking at a wall of awards from his days of fame.
Vocabulary: monologuing: giving an informal speech to an audience, especially in drama feeble: weak, especially if the weakness is caused by old age yammering: continuous talking (slang) have someone on a platter: have someone captive (slang) evaporating: turning from water to gas dehydrating: losing all moisture incompetent: not able to do a job public service: serving the community uprooting: taking something away from its home in a sudden way glory days: the best times of the past mediocrity: not especially good or bad pigheadedness: stubbornness, not willing to listen to new ideas handle something: take care of something, solve a problem inexplicable: without a reason, without an explanation loophole: a legal way to avoid a law stockholders: people who own a small part of a large company cogs: (draw a picture), the teeth or bumps on gears mesh: fit together smoothly relocate: move to a new place classified: kept secret for business or government purposes remote: far away the supers: superheroes (slang only in this film)
Comprehension Questions: Are Bob and Lucious doing anything wrong? If so, what? If not, why are they hiding? Did Bob and Lucious break the law? Should they give in and go with the police? Was Lucious wrong to use his powers against the police? Were the police wrong? What does Helen think Bob has been doing? What does Bob mean when he says it’s better to relive the past than act like it didn’t happen? Do you agree? What does Helen mean when she says, “It’s not about you”? Is her comment relevant? What does Bob mean when he talks about “creating ways to celebrate mediocrity”? Do you agree with him? Describe their argument. How did they express disagreement? What made them come together? How did they express agreement? Compare this to your culture. What did Bob’s boss mean by describing society like a clock? Do you agree? The man in the black suit said that the taxpayers always pay. What does he mean? Predict what will happen next. Should Bob return to being a hero? Which is greater: a father’s responsibility to himself, his responsibility to society, his responsibility to the government, or his responsibility to himself? What do men in your country do when they tell their wives they’re going bowling? Do married men need time away from their families? Why? Do married women need time away from their families? Why? Why is the little boy waiting for Bob? What is he waiting for? What are you waiting for?
Part Four Time: 7:20
Summary: The scene opens with Bob drying out books with the hairdryer after the computer message from Mirage self-destructs and sets off the fire alarms. He then lies to his wife and says he’s off to a conference. She believes that he got a promotion. He takes a super jet to a hidden island where he defeats a giant robot. Later, he’s invited to dinner with Mirage. He’s on a high, and they flirt during the meal. The scene ends with the words, “Everything is delicious.”
Vocabulary: artificial intelligence: computers that are able to think and solve problems without following a specific program evacuate: remove all people from an area, especially because of disasters omnidroid: large robot (slang only in this film) cloaking: the ability for a machine to hide itself from electronic sensors anonymity: without being noticed, hiding your identity volcano: a mountain that explodes due to hot gasses inside unstable: able to change unpredictably or with very little cause
Comprehension Questions: -
What was Bob’s lie to his wife? What did she believe? Describe how Bob defeated the robot. Use as many different verbs as possible. Is it a lie to let someone believe something that isn’t true, even if you didn’t actually tell them the thing that they believe? In other words, if you know the truth, are you lying if you don’t tell it? Why is Bob so excited about this job? What need does he have that this job helps him fulfill? Do all men have that need? Do all women have that need? What do Bob and Mirage mean by saying that everyone is misunderstood? Do you agree? Was Bob unfaithful to the government when he took this job? Was Bob unfaithful to his wife when he took this job? Was Bob unfaithful to his wife when he had dinner with Mirage? Would you describe Bob as responsible or irresponsible? Is Bob a hero?
Part Five Time: 7:13
Summary: Bob returns from the trip a new man. He begins exercising, he buys a new car, he buys a new car for his wife, his relationship with his kids improves, his love for his wife blossoms, and her love for him increases. Then he goes to a bizarre little tailor to get his super-suit repaired, and she makes him a new suit. When he gets his next call for an assignment, Helen listens in and hears Mirage’s voice. He lies to Helen about the call, and he leaves for his job. The section ends with him standing on the balcony, looking over the island, eating a piece of fruit.
Vocabulary: hobo suit: clothes that a poor, homeless person would wear briefed: given a short, official report of an event, especially in the military
Comprehension Questions: Describe all of the ways Bob changes personally during this scene. Describe all of the ways Bob’s relationships change during this scene. Are the changes for the better? If so, does that justify his lying to his wife? What caused all of these changes? What does Bob get from his job that he didn’t get in his previous job? Edna, the tailor, calls the supers, “gods”. What does she mean? Do you agree? Why did Helen listen in on Bob’s call? Was she being a good wife? Why did Bob buy a new car? What does that symbolize? What makes someone a good father? Is it something inside them, or something outside them? Can external changes make you a better or worse father? What makes someone a good husband? Can external changes make you a better or worse father? Is Bob’s relationship with Mirage normal? Is there anything inappropriate in it? Why? How should male and female co-workers act toward each other? How do male and female co-workers act toward each other in your culture?
Part Six Time: 5:03
Summary: Helen finds the repaired supersuit and calls Edna. The giant robot attacks Mr. Incredible, and Syndrome is revealed as the evil mastermind. He tells his life story and evil plan. The scene ends just when Edna and Helen meet, before they start to talk.
Vocabulary: trashed: break something, make a mess (slang) that ship has sailed: you missed an opportunity sly dog: clever person (slang) nemesis: a person who is always competing with or trying to destroy you brilliant: very bright or very smart terminated: ended
Comprehension Questions: How does Helen know that Edna fixed Bob’s super-suit? Who is Syndrome? Why is Syndrome attacking the supers? What is his plan? How did Syndrome develop his omnidroid? How did Syndrome pay for everything? What does Syndrome mean when he says that it’s dangerous to worship heroes? Do you agree? Why does Syndrome think his plan will give him respect? Do you agree with him? Who can you depend on? What is the relationship between fear and respect? What is the relationship between power and respect? What is the relationship between character and respect? What is a hero? Can everyone be a hero? Are heroes born or made?
Part Seven Time: 8:00
Summary: Edna shows Helen the suits she has made for all of the Incredible family. Mr. Incredible enters the compound and finds the computer. Helen calls Bob’s employer and finds out Bob was fired. Mr. Incredible finds out how all of the other supers have been destroyed by the omnidroid. Helen presses the homing device.
Vocabulary: bullet-proof: not able to be broken by bullets machine-washable: can be washed in a washing machine withstand: not break, be strong friction: heat caused by rubbing things together breathes (of fabric): lets air pass through homing device: electronic signal that allows someone to find you retired: stopped working underground: hidden, not official
Comprehension Questions: Why is Helen so upset? Does she think Bob is having an affair? What does Helen do to determine what Bob is doing? Should she do this? Does Helen trust Bob? Should she? Describe Edna’s personality. What kind of person is she? Is she a hero? Do husbands and wives usually talk about job decisions in your culture? What is unfaithfulness in marriage? What promises do you make to someone when you marry them? Can taking a new job be breaking a promise? What is more important, financial security or faithfulness in marriage? What is more important, personal happiness or faithfulness in marriage? What is more important, saving the world or faithfulness in marriage? What should Helen do at this point?
Part Eight Time: 9:40
Summary: Bob’s homing device goes off, and so do security alarms. He tries to escape, but he’s captured. Edna gives Helen a pep talk and sends her off to save her husband. As she packs, her children find the costumes and pester her about them. Meanwhile, back on the island, Mr. Incredible is caught in a force field, listening to Syndrome rant. Elastigirl gets a jet and heads to the island. She finds that her children have hidden on board the plane, in their super-suits. Syndrome fires a missile at the plane. Elastigirl orders Violet to use her force-field powers, but Violet can’t. The plane is hit. Mr. Incredible thinks they’re dead. But, they survive. They land in the water and work as a team to get to land. Once there, Helen gives her kids a pep talk on the need to use their powers. Then she leaves to find her husband.
Vocabulary: force field: a wall of energy that cannot be broken through in charge: the boss, the director tricky: able to think of clever, crafty, unexpected solutions geeking out: losing control of ones-self (slang) CPR: cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, technique to start someone breathing or having a pulse after their heart or lungs have stopped get a grip: have control of yourself (slang) ground someone: punish a child by refusing to allow them to leave their room or the house a trooper: a soldier, a tough person (slang)
Comprehension Questions: Summarize the scene. Practice adjectives as you describe all of the technological devices and weapons used. What did Helen think was happening with Bob? What was Edna’s advice to Helen? Do you agree with it? Why is Violet unable to use her powers when they are needed? Describe how the children respond to the challenge. Why do they respond this way? How does the mother act when her children are having trouble? Why does she act this way? How do the children respond? Why is it so important to Syndrome to think that Mr. Incredible called for help? Is Mr. Incredible a hero, or is he responsible for the trouble his wife and children are facing? What weakness does Syndrome accuse Mr. Incredible of? Is Syndrome right? Elastigirl says, “Doubt is a luxury we can’t afford.” What does she mean? Do you agree? Identity is a major theme of this film. Several times, they have talked about secret identity and the need for anonymity. At the time when Helen needs Bob, though, Edna’s advice is, “You will show him that he is Mr. Incredible and you will remind him who you are.” What does this say about the nature of identity? What kinds of circumstances are necessary for you to find out who you really are? What circumstances or events have helped define you? Do events in your life make you who you are, or do they show you who you already are? Elastigirl says, “Your identity is your most valuable possession.” Is this consistent with the things she told her children earlier? Can you lose your identity? “ If the time comes, you’ll know what to do. It’s in your blood.” What did Elastigirl mean by that? Do you agree? Are genetics more important than education? More important than society? More important than planning?
Part Nine Time: 15:05
Summary: Syndrome and Mirage talk. She’s a little upset since he told Mr. Incredible to crush her. His reassurance doesn’t work. Elastigirl enters the fortress. The kids practice their powers, but they also worry about their parents’ marriage. Then Dash goes to explore. Syndrome launches a missile with the omnibot toward a New York-like city. Dash is spotted by a security bird and the chase begins. Mr. Incredible is freed by Mirage, but Elastigirl mistakes the purpose of his embrace and punches Mirage. Then the reunited couple runs to save their children. The children are reunited and learn to combine their powers. Then they meet up with their parents. They work as a team against the bad guys until Syndrome appears with his super rays and captures all of them. Syndrome leaves them watching TV, which is showing the giant robot destroying the city. Vocabulary: stow away: (noun or verb) hiding on a ship or plane so that you won’t have to pay for a ticket strike a tone: the attitude of the people in a conversation
Comprehension Questions: How do Elastigirl and Mr. Incredible act toward each other when reunited? Why do they act this way? What is Syndrome’s plan? What does he think he will gain from this? Describe the city where the robot lands. Remember, that this movie was made after 9-11, the terrorist attack on NYC. Why did the filmmakers choose to make the city so similar to New York? What does the omnibot symbolize? Violet and Dash have super powers, but they are still afraid. What do they fear? What do children need to feel safe? There’s a lot to watch, but not a lot to talk about in this section. You might want to watch it twice and work on narrating the events. Will people believe Syndrome is a real hero? Why, or why not? Do you agree with Syndrome, that when everyone is a super, no one will be one? If Syndrome’s ultimate goal is equality for all people, is he evil? If the Incredibles’ ultimate goal is inequality, with them as the most powerful, are they evil? Is it evil to have more power than others?
Part Ten Time: 11:00
Summary: As the family watches the city being destroyed, Mr. Incredible asks for forgiveness. Then Violet uses her force field to escape from the trap and set the others free. They enter another missile and head to the city to fight the robot. Syndrome’s plan to make himself a superhero fails when the robot knocks his remote control away and then knocks Syndrome unconscious. Frozone and the Incredibles fight together and eventually get the omnibot to destroy itself. Syndrome sneaks off. Government agents assure the Incredibles that they will capture Syndrome and will let the Incredibles continue their new life. The Incredibles return home to find that Syndrome is kidnapping Jack-Jack. Although the baby has never demonstrated super powers before, it now shows that it has the ability to transform itself into a wide variety of shapes. Syndrome drops him, Elastigirl and Mr. Incredible work together to save him, and Mr. Incredible uses his new sports car as a missile to knock down Syndrome’s plane. The film ends with the family watching Dash participating in a race, and getting second, while Violet gets asked out for a date. After leaving the stadium, a new super-villain appears, and the family prepares to fight it together.
Vocabulary: old school: the old-fashioned way (positive slang) freeze assets: prevent someone from being able to take money from the bank or sell property mentor: a personal trainer in a complex life skill sidekick: someone who helps a major hero wicked: cool, very good (slang)
Comprehension Questions: What does Mr. Incredible confess to his family? What does he feel he has been guilty of? Do you agree? How does the family respond to the apology? Why do Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl fight before fighting the omnibot? What is their misunderstanding? Compare the Incredible family from the end of the film with the Parr family from the beginning. How has each person changed? What caused these changes? Are there any fears that can never be escaped, regardless of money, power, or technology? According to this movie, what is necessary to be a true hero? Do you agree?
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