One fairly ‘incredible,’ another just entertaining

After the Sunset (2004) - 2 stars
New Line Cinema presents a Brett Ratner film, starring Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek. Written by Paul Zbyszewski and Craig Rosenberg. 100m. PG-13 for sexuality, violence and language.

The Incredibles (2004) - 3 stars
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios presents a Brad Bird film, starring the voices of Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter. Written by Bird. 115m. PG for action violence.

Perhaps the only thing more prevalent than action movies in November is children’s fare. The two act as counter-programming for one another as studios engage in a curious ballet of co-dependency when they try to offset loses.

Amongst its main competition opening Friday, “After the Sunset” is for the adult contingent. It’s a sexy heist film about a jewel thief (Pierce Brosnan) who has retired to a tropical climate after stealing his second priceless diamond.

Brosnan’s Max Burdett is not a far cry from his Thomas Crown character, right down to the siren as a sidekick. That’s fellow heist master/buxom girlfriend Lola (Salma Hayek), who is more than content nowadays to sip fruity drinks while watching the sun set off the back of her beachfront property.

Max’s itch to steal is germinated by FBI agent Stan Lloyd (Woody Harrelson), who has followed Burdett for seven years in hopes he’ll catch the master in mid-slip. Lloyd enlists the help of savvy local detective Sophie (Naomie Harris) and the foursome engage in a cat and mouse game over a third priceless diamond, which has stopped in this slice of paradise during a traveling exhibit.

There are literally hundreds of movies that utilize similar plots and “After the Sunset” drops more than a few references to its closest ally, Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief.” Yet even after seeing the same plot ad nauseum, there still exists the thrill of the chase.

Audiences don’t know how exactly their anti-hero will pull off the big score and many times, we don’t have to wait long to see the machination in motion. There’s some charming interplay between agent and thief, which generates the most consistent laughs. Splice in completely unnecessary close-ups of Hayek’s gorgeous curves to satiate the male gaze and voila! A movie. It’s not a must-see, but it could ultimately find favor in a strong video-renting populace.

The same can’t be said for Pixar’s latest achievement in animation and design, “The Incredibles.” It’s a genuine pleasure just to examine on the big screen, as the three-dimensional animation offered has the power to make both the ordinary and the impossible plausible.

Writer/director Brad Bird has said he had the idea for “The Incredibles” over a decade ago, basing the story on his troubles of balancing a career with family. Although I don’t know if Bird is purveyor of comic books, he could have done himself no better service than appropriating his tale into the superhero realm.

That’s because our heroes have often lead extremely dull existences as their daily routine. Bob Parr (voice of Craig T. Nelson) was once the man behind Mr. Incredible, until a public backlash over collateral damages resulting from his lifesaving efforts forced him into early retirement. Now, in the grips of a suburban mold, Bob is having a difficult time adjusting both his superhero body and his superhero will into a cubicle world that looks inspired from the establishing shot of the insurance company in Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment.”

His wife Helen, the former Elastigirl (voice of Holly Hunter), has accepted suburbia just fine. As you’d naturally expect from the byproduct of two superheroes, their children are emboldened with “incredible” attributes of their own. Daughter, Violent (voice of Sarah Vowell), can disappear and create protective force fields while son, Dash (voice of Spencer Fox) - well, he’s appropriately named.

The wheels of the plot turn when Bob is offered a chance to reprise Mr. Incredible on a tropical island overrun by a self-aware machine. Little does he know that the invitation was extended by Buddy Pine (voice of Jason Lee), a wannabe superhero calling himself Syndrome, who is out for revenge. Mr. Incredible’s trouble is sensed by his wife, and the family disembarks to save their father from an evil genius in a plot that is largely reminiscent of the first two “Spy Kids” adventures.

As with most Pixar films, a supporting cast member ends up more memorable than the main protagonists. Here the kudos go again to Bird, who voices the Edna E Mode character, a hilarious rip-off of famous film costumer Edith Head. Edna is a diminutive lass with a Droopy Dog-type delivery that designs the Incredibles’ outfits. Much like her superfriends, Mode found herself out of work after the superhero backlash; the way in which she begs to be put back to work - making it seem like she’s being put out - is worth the price of admission alone.