In THE INCREDIBLES - another dynamic computer-animated family film from Pixar - a family of superheros must suppress their powers in a witness-protection program...until a mysterious source calls on Mr. Incredible for help. What starts as a sharp comedy morphs into a comic-book-style action movie (shifting the tone and lengthening the story), bit it all comes together.
Maltin's last sentence makes me think he's not as bullish on this movie as I am. This movie is near flawless. Both the comedy and the action are handled deftly. The voice acting is superb and the soundtrack is awesome. Michael Giacchino's score is big and brassy and reminds me of the early James Bond scores by the late John Barry.
And, like all Pixar films, there's a good message to it. The "supers" are driven into hiding at the beginning of the movie by a bunch of frivolous lawsuits filed by people the supers saved. They are forced to give up what sets them apart from everyone else in order to get along in the world.
This little exchange between Helen Parr and her son is a good example of the theme (as well as a nice social commentary on how children are being raised today):
Dash: But Dad always said our powers were nothing to be ashamed of, our powers made us special.
Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying no one is.