Some films, sure, you really need the size to take in the full scope of what is being created in front of you.
But for an animation to make an impression on the big screen, it really needs to be thinking big. It needs to own every inch of that screen.
Sadly, Incredibles 2 — the sequel no one had been asking for — is just a cartoon on a giant screen.
It's not a big film.
Part of the problem is the film struggles to get going. Picking up the action right at the end of the first film is a great idea, but you're asking people to remember what happened 14 years ago.
We've seen the odd film since then. And slept.
So you're playing catch-up from the off, and as with Bond films, the opening scenes feature a bad guy you'll not see again.
Only, we've seen him before. He is, technically, an established character.
So effectively you're finishing off the first Incredibles film AND watching the new one at the same time.
Which, from a certain perspective, makes this the longest Pixar film ever....
But that's not the main problem with this film. Far from it.
No.
This film, unlike it's predecessor, is just not fun.
The essential plot is fine — a scheme to bring Supers back, make them legal again, this time with Elastagirl front and centre.
Meanwhile Jack-Jack is discovering what powers he has, making life difficult for stay-at-home-dad Mr Incredible.
But this is also where part of the problems lie.
There is no focus in this film. In the first, they were a family together. This time around, they're doing their own things.
We have Her over There, Doing Things, we have Him over Here doing Other Things, we have teenage angst, a hyper kid (again) and a baby.
Is this a film about women taking the lead? A film to show that women can do all the stuff men do?
Or is this a film that tells children that if the woman goes to work the man is left at home feeling unwanted and struggling to cope?
We genuinely don't know, as both messages are loud and clear, but then it seems Pixar don't know either.
Which is where the lack of fun comes in.
This film has, roughly, three good jokes.
Well, we say that, but straight after the film ended we could only remember two of them. And right now can only remember one.
But we definitely laughed three times.
Sadly, we also looked at our watch inside the first hour (40 minutes in to be precise).
This is a Pixar film, right? For the first 40 minutes to feel like 90 is nothing short of a crime.
We're not saying they can't tackle serious issues (see the start of Up! and the opening hour of Wall-E), but these films have a track record of grabbing you and keeping your attention.
Ratatouille was 'only' a film about a rat who can cook, but what a great film. You could feel the warmth just washing off the screen like a fine broth.
Incredibles 2 feels the exact opposite of that.
It's a puzzled, confused mess of a movie. There's a good idea at the core, but it feels like too many people wanted their opinions felt.
If you are going to do a sequel so far down the line people have had time to get married AND divorced, you'd better be damn sure you're coming up with a stone cold classic.
Because what you don't want is people taking their children along because they loved the original and leaving disappointed.
You'll lose two generation of fans inside an hour....
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