This starts as an endearing, affectionate take on The Fantastic Four, comicdom's first family of superheroes, but soon takes on a life of its own. In a wonderfully warped bit of Terry Gilliam-like postmodern irony, the Incredibles, a classic family of Golden Age superheroes, are sued by an annoyed public for, well, over-rescuing.

The family is forcibly reduced to a humdrum, normal existence, and their superpowers have been tossed into the closet. But one phone call changes all that, and this clever, witty film launches into overdrive as it becomes time for Mr Incredible to go up, up and away. Or, well, something like that.

The film is a terrific bit of animated mishmash, and besides being a spoof on classic comic books and contemporary cinema, it's also a great coming of age family story.