Incredible to many -- but not all

SARA SALAM

As Mr. Incredible in “The Incredibles,” Bob Parr rides in his

Batmobile-like, disguised vehicle, equipped with fancy gauges and

gadgets that aid him in his crime-fighting and doing away with

disturbers of the peace.

Clad in an armor of spandex and a raccoon mask, he offers his

services to those in public distress.

An ideal hero through many an eye, he thinks not of himself, but

of the safety of others.

Even as a superhero doing nothing more than deeds for the common

good, cynics find their way to destroy the importance of these acts.

Lawsuits are made against myriad superheroes with claims that they

are causing more danger than preventing it.

Guilty as charged, the superheroes are sentenced to a life of

secret identities and are forced to live among the public as normal

citizens without their praiseworthy powers.

While Pixar’s plot and story line must be applauded, the second

half is monotonous. Action and adventure are necessary elements to

the success of a film such as this but not to the extent where it

consumes the film’s purpose.

Superhero movies always provide a new vision of what the ideal

life of a hero is like.

A wonderful demonstration is done here to show the unexplored

aspects of such a life.

However, the ongoing account of heroics expressed in this film is

quite unnecessary to the plot and the audience as well.

* SARA SALAM is a student at Corona del Mar High School.

A Bridget over

troubled waters

Bridget Jones is back -- still plump, plucky and hopelessly

striving for inner poise. “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” the

follow up to the 2001 box-office hit, picks up six weeks from where

the first film left off. She’s now in a relationship with Mark Darcy,

a human rights lawyer, and absolutely giddy with love.

But after all those years of being single and trying to find Mr.

Right, Bridget and her friends are still looking for the fly in the

ointment -- no man could be that perfect. So Bridget’s old

insecurities bubble to the surface and threaten to ruin her

relationship. Is Mark having an affair with the beautiful “stick

insect” Rebecca? How can he possibly like Bridget when she is always

embarrassing him (spectacularly) in front of his colleagues?

The story line where Bridget flies off to Thailand is a little

far-fetched, but the scenery is lovely, and so we go along with it.

Eventually it serves the film well, particularly when she teaches a

group of Thai Madonna-wannabes the lyrics to “Like A Virgin.”

Most of the original actors reprise their roles from “Bridget

Jones Diary.” Hugh Grant is perfect as bad boy Daniel Cleaver and

Colin Firth is engaging as the handsome but emotionally inarticulate

Darcy. Renee Zellweger is again a delight.

* SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant

for a financial services company.