The Incredibles Review

Educational value: Kids will learn the value of people's different skills, and how a family can work together to make a difference, fight injustice, and overcome obstacles.

Messages: Self-identity, marital malaise, family dynamics, responsibility to help others, teen angst -- these issues are all explored through each of the characters. The biggest theme is that families that stay together and allow their talents to shine are the strongest.

Role models: Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl show their children that what's most important is for families to stick together, no matter what is threatening them. Despite their differences of opinion, the Incredibles band together to save each other and their town.

Violence and scariness: There are many, many scenes of intense and sustained, but not bloody, violence. A host of weapons, from handguns to explosives to lasers, are used in various battles between villains and superheroes. Bullets whiz by, cars explode, buildings collapse. Skeletons of killed superheroes are shown, and references are made to superheroes who've died various ways. Mr. Incredible believes his family has been killed in a jetplane explosion, and the family comes near death many, many times. Hand-to-hand fights are also portrayed, and characters punch and push each other. Overall, the body count and general violence is much higher than in most comparable animated adventures.

Sexy stuff: Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, who are married, kiss several times, flirt with each other (before they're married), pinch each other on the bum, and act passionately in love. Elastigirl assumes Mr. Incredible is committing adultery, but he isn't. Teenagers have a crush on each other. Mirage wears revealing outfits that highlight her dramatic cleavage. Elastigirl has a knock-out hourglass figure in her skintight costume. Syndrome makes a racy comment: "You married Elastigirl and got busy?"

Language: Not much of a concern, except for a few exclamations of "Oh my God!", "What the...", and "Jeez."

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters have (or are offered) wine, champagne and a mimosa. Edna smokes an old-fashioned, long-stemmed cigarette.