(Spoiler Alert)

1. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the original, but the sequel strikes me as being very similar. Incredibles 2 did not seem different enough to justify its existence.

2. As one example of the above, the characters start out in the sequel pretty much just like they did in the original. In terms of character growth, the original might as well never have happened, because everyone was reset back to the beginning.

3. The story was standard. The villain reveal was obnoxiously predictable. The only parts I really enjoyed were Mr. Incredible struggling at home with the kids (especially Jack Jack). I could have watched a whole movie about that and skipped all the generic action.

4. A request: can we please, please all agree never to use weaponized hypnosis as a story plot ever again? I can see how hypnosis was mysterious and potentially scary back in, say, the 50s. But it’s 2018 – everyone should know by now that hypnosis cannot make people do things they don’t want to, and it doesn’t immediately (or ever) work by simply slapping swirling images in front of someone. The plot device is so stupid and played out.

5. All that being said, I do like the characters and the world and was mostly able to enjoy the movie. The scenes about family were great. The action and plot were simply bearable.