If you wanted definitive proof this year’s Incredibles 2 is not a film for kids, it’s arrived straight from the director’s mouth – or rather his Twitter account – which is the next best thing, I guess.
The long-awaited sequel picks right up from where the 2004 original left off with the original characters and their ages remaining the same but the film’s tone taking a slightly more adult approach.
Which makes sense for folks such as myself, as it is a sequel aimed at those who watched the first film all those year’s ago, as much as it is for a new, younger audience.
The first Incredibles film was your straight-down-the-line superhero movie where they had to defeat a jealous super villain (and a blueprint for how to do a good Fantastic Four movie). But the sequel takes on more mature topics, along with a swear word here-or-there, which has not gone down well with parents taking their younger children to watch the second instalment.
Brad Bird, the director who took a break from Twitter to focus on the film, responded defiantly to criticism on the social media platform. He had to remind one disappointed cinema-goer Incredibles 2 was rated PG (parental guidance).
The disgruntled Twitter user to told Bird:
Loved Incredibles 2 but seriously, @BradBirdA113 why the cuss words? I probably won’t buy it now. That was the only disappointing thing in the movie. I just don’t think its appropriate and I shouldn’t have to filter a kids movie. #Incredibles2 #letthekidsbekids
Bird replied back, Tweeting:
With all due respect, it is NOT a “kids movie”. It is animated, and rated PG.
With all due respect, it is NOT a “kids movie”. It is animated, and rated PG. https://t.co/a6tGzoWvzy
— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) July 2, 2018
While it was only a few cuss words in the film, some parents would not let the issue rest. One person said:
I didn’t notice cursing, but I was disappointed the movie wasn’t great for kids. So much talking, expositing. My 4-year daughter barely made it through the boredom, after having loved the first one just a week earlier.
Bird fired back stating:
She’s FOUR. Presumably, she watched the first one at home, where she could run around, do other things, etc. Are you really asking me to write to suit your 4 year old’s (age appropriate) attention span? Do you judge 2&1/2 hour Marvel or Lucasfilm movies the same way?
She’s FOUR. Presumably, she watched the first one at home, where she could run around, do other things, etc. Are you really asking me to write to suit your 4 year old’s (age appropriate) attention span? Do you judge 2&1/2 hour Marvel or Lucasfilm movies the same way? https://t.co/SRGPrymgB8
— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) July 3, 2018
But before the debate could escalate into a full-blown heated argument on Twitter, Bird stepped in as the voice of reason and more importantly stressed the fact that just because a film is animated it doesn’t automatically mean it’s for kids.
He told:
Everybody calm down. All discussions polarize so quickly in social media (what I like least about it). @MonkeyTigerHead doesn’t want his kids to cuss and was respectful about saying so. I respectfully took issue with the idea that animation is a kids medium. No one is bad here!
Everybody calm down. All discussions polarize so quickly in social media (what I like least about it). @MonkeyTigerHead doesn’t want his kids to cuss and was respectful about saying so. I respectfully took issue with the idea that animation is a kids medium. No one is bad here!
— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) July 3, 2018
According to CBR, Bird had always intended to make the second Incredibles flick with a more mature tone. While the language may be a little heavier for Pixar, this isn’t the first time they’ve dealt with adult themes – as proven in Coco, Up and The Toy Story series.
Incredibles 2 is in UK cinemas from July 13.
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