I’ve been watching The Incredibles a lot, recently. My son suddenly wants to watch it all the time. And truly, it is no hardship. There is so much going on, and the story is so tight and well-crafted, it is a thing of beauty to see. My respect grows for the writer and director, Brad Bird, every time I watch it.
And it has made me come to the conclusion that for a story to be enduring, and hold up under repeated viewings, it needs to have a big and a small story woven through it.
In The Incredibles, the small story is that Bob is facing a midlife crisis. The glory days of the Supers are over, and he’s been left on the sidelines, a washed-up has-been who the establishment is almost ashamed of, now. He is frustrated with his life, with the mediocrity of everything, and is ripe for the plucking when his old nemesis ‘recruits’ him for undercover superhero work, while in fact using him to perfect the unstoppable machine he plans to use to take over the world.
The big story is about what makes someone or something special. When Helen (Bob’s superheroine wife) and Dash (their son) are talking, Helen tells Dash everyone is special. He replies that Dad says that’s just another way of saying nobody is. The villain repeats this sentiment later in the movie, when he tells Bob that when he’s tired of being a superhero by using the inventions he’s come up with to make himself super, he’ll sell them so everyone can be a super hero. “And when everyone’s special,” he says mockingly, “no one will be.”
The journey Bob will have to take is to come to the realization that his life is as mediocre as he thinks it is. His wife Helen, former superheroine Elastigirl, sees things more clearly than Bob. She accepts things have changed, and that they need to make the best of their current circumstances. She can see wonder in their children, in the world around them. On their wedding day she tells Bob he needs to be more than Mr. Incredible for their marriage to work. You can see he doesn’t understand, although he assures her he does. When he finally gets it, when they are all captured by Syndrome, the villian, and the machine Bob helped to fine-tune is already loosed on the world, he says to Helen, Dash and Violet: ‘You were my greatest adventure, and I almost missed it.’
A smaller sub-plot is Helen’s journey. At the start of the movie we see her being interviewed, and she is asked if she will ever settle down. Her response is: “Settle down? I’m at the top of my game, running with the big dogs. Leave saving the world to the men? I don’t think so.” But due to superheroes having to go underground, she has had to settle down. She’s a housewife with three kids and a husband in a midlife crisis. Probably my favorite character in the movie, Edith, the fashion designer who designs their outfits, slaps Helen about the head with a rolled up piece of paper when she breaks down about Bob having lied to her, and gone off on a secret mission. Edith says: “What. Are. You. Talking about? You are Elastigirl. You need to let Bob know you remember who he is. And you need to remind him who you are. Go. Fight. Win.”
There is amazing animation, fantastic dialogue and witty asides (When Frozone is begging his wife to tell him where she’s stored his supersuit, and she won’t tell him, because his going out to help save the world is going to ruin their evening plans, says ‘It’s for the greater good’, and she answers: “I am your WIFE. I’m the greatest GOOD you’ll ever know!”; just cracks me up.) But the heart of the story, the big and the small one, are what keep things interesting. You need the small story to carry the big story, and I think if we look at any successful project, whether in book or movie form, both elements will be there.
What do you think of that, and do you have any favorite examples to share?
Wow! I had no idea! Now I want to see this movie; I had no idea it was so rich and developed.
I love the way you divide it into big and small story. That’s awesome.
I love that movie. It was cute! ANd I LOVE that picture you picked.
Natasha, you’re in for a treat if you haven’t seen it. Let me know what you think when you do.
Thanks, Zoe
.
Terrific post, Michelle! I’ll have to watch The Incredibles soon. You sold me.
In my wip, I have secondary characters who have their own journey, so I have a big and small story too. I wouldn’t want to be without both stories. The small story is the difference between a cartoon and an animated movie, and a short story/novella and a full length book.
I LOVE that movie! My daughter went through the same phase.
But if you are seeing the movie for the first time, I don’t think the audience picks up on the little things–unless you are looking for them.
I think animated movies tend to run ‘cleaner and crisper’ than regular movies, which makes them easier for me to analyze than . . . let’s say, action-packed movies. Though I do watch the first HP movie over and over and catch all sorts of things. It could be a look, an action, or simply a word or two that gives the impetus to a subplot or story tangent.
I think this is a great post, Michelle–and that you’ve made me want to re-watch this film. I also love Edith–she’s so fiesty.
Okay, how in the world did I miss this movie?
I’m sure the grandkids have it, so I’ll have them pull it out for me. We’ll have to watch it together, cause that’s the best times.
I, too, always have a secondary story running alongside my big one too. I love your comparison, Michelle. Great insight!
I think it’s also important to have the plots complement and resonate with each other; how many sitcom episodes have featured two entirely unrelated plotlines that never really cross-pollenate? “The Incredibles” does that really well, as does my favorite movie, “Red River,” wherein the characters keep promising bad things that never happen, and the main character is constantly being told he’s wrong but can never acknowledge it. The climactic bad thing doesn’t happen because the main character finally *does* admit he’s wrong, and pulls the two thread together.
Now I want to see to again!
Edie, I think this movie sells itself, LOL. I can see your current WIP has an over-arching ‘big’ story, and the smaller story which reflects and strengthens it. That is what makes a story so satisfying, IMO.
Margaret, you’re right. I agree animated movies are easier to analyze, they are cleaner and clearer. Cars is another favorite of mine (and my son’s LOL) where the character arc, the big and the small story, are so clear and almost more satisfying for that.
Thanks, Cindy
. I just love Edith and her little asides, ‘Luck favours the prepared’, and ‘never look back, it distracts from the now’ being two of them 
.
Thanks, LaD. Have fun watching with the grandkids
.
Alex, you put it so well. Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. That resonance and intertwining are what gives a story a sense of complexity, and makes the ending so satifying.
Happy watching, Karin
. You deserve it after your marathon writing session.
Sorry I’m so late in posting, Michelle. I LOVED “The Incredibles”. Erin is also one of those kids who love to watch and re-watch movies and “The Incredibles” is one of her favorites so I’ve probably seen it twenty or thirty times.
Nice job in breaking it down. I think I subconsciously caught most of the plot points you mentioned, but having them outlined really shows what a good story this actually was. Gonna have to watch it again soon.