I can’t believe we have an Incredibles thread, yet no topic for the main character! What do you all think of Bob Parr and Mr. Incredible with his Super Strength?
I think he is a good character. Craig T. Nelson did a great job with the voice. I enjoyed how he behaved in the fight that occurs early on in the movie (“He is moving from the fourth grade to the fifth grade”) . The scene where he stops the train and winces before it hits him was a good moment ( Brad Bird in commentary: It’s him preparing for the fact that this is going to hurt a little bit, it’s not going to kill him… John Walker: But it’s a train) . I believe that he should have realized how he was treating Buddy Pine in the begining of the film a lot sooner.
Nice idea Double S. We should do this for more pixar characters 
What caught my attention was how identical Bob was to Mr. Nelson (that doesn’t happen in a Pixar movie much.) 
Bob was a usual character to me, the sort of “former jock” type a character who had that moment in almost every man’s life to re-live the “good ol’ days”.
I half-agree on that one, He may have already played along with Buddy at first but after a while when he starts to get in the way, it was time to take another direction with that. Bob seemed to tolerate him at first but after ruining a burglary (which could be a serious matter) you can’t help but hold a small grudge. But the mature thing to do could’ve been sitting him down and just telling him how he really felt without hurting his feelings.
Personally, I love Bob Parr and his super strength. I love how Brad Bird gave this character super strength. I love how Mr. Bird compares him to how fathers are meant to be the pillar of support for families.
I thought he was cool in his Glory Days outfit. But i absolutely love him in his new Red and black suit. I love all of the action scenes that he was in. I absolutely love Mr I. Whar can I say?
I think the one thing that always stands out to me regarding Bob is his relationship with Helen. The scene where Helen catches him hugging Mirage, and she believes that he’s being unfaithful, and the way he kisses her is really, really sweet- there’s an honesty and loyalty there that most couples don’t have, (even though Bob was keeping a large part of his life secret from Helen at that point). Bob may be super-strong physically, but without Helen and his children, he’s nothing and, what’s more, he knows that.
Bob Parr, just like all of the supers, relates to us in a certain way. He has a fairly good life, but still wishes things were different. His job sucks, but he’s forced to live through it. It’s really awesome to see him struggle, because that’s what so many of us go through. And he’s “super”.
lizardgirl: About your last sentence. i find it so incredibly true. I mean, after the plane blew up, he was weeping for the lost of his family. And how he would rather fight the omnidroid himself than put his family in danger really take it as well.
I have to admit that the scene at the end where Bob says “I can’t lose you again! I’m not… I’m not strong enough”, gets me every time.
Ah yes. As a matter of fact, most of the members of Pixar Planet agree that that scene with Bob and helen is the scene where they just bawled out into tears.
I have pretty unique feelings about Bob Parr. I actually think he’s the coolest character in the whole movie, but he’s not my favorite. Originally he was, but that was before Buddy’s angst got to me. Syndrome is a character that I feel very sorry for while Bob is a character that I admire. He’s not perfect, but that’s what makes him so endearing. He makes a lot of mistakes in the movie, but ultimately he always does what’s right. I actually find the way Bob treats Buddy in the beginning of the film amusing and sad at the same time. In the beginning it’s just funny, but when Buddy goes on his little “I finally figured out who I am” rant it gets really sad. You can tell the poor kid has been struggling with some kind of internal problem, but the seriousness of the situation is lost on Bob who seems to see Buddy as just some kid who’s pretty fanatical. I don’t believe for a second that Bob meant to hurt Buddy as badly as he did, but there’s also really no excusing his unwillingness to explain himself a little better. It doesn’t seem to me like he was even really being that big of a jerk though. (although I must admit that ejecting Buddy out of the car, while comical, was a tad ridiculous) He almost seems patient in a way. When he hands Buddy over to the police I couldn’t help but notice how he gently puts his hand on the kid’s back almost as if to kind of soften the blow. And the reprimanding tone he uses when he tells them to let Buddy’s mom know what happened almost makes it seem like he thinks he’s doing it for the kid’s own good. It is true that when Bob gets frustrated he says things that are arguably quite mean, but even I have to admit that Bud was being annoyingly persistent. I can understand why Bob would get irritated. I can see it from both points of view, and it seems to me that it was really just a terrible misunderstanding. I do really like how Bob unwittingly “created” Syndrome though. I always really like it when the villain has some kind of past with the hero.
Another thing I noticed was that Bob didn’t even seem that angry about the Buddy situation. It’s not like when he finally arrives at the wedding he goes on about “some dumb kid who blew up a train” or something. He doesn’t even mention it. I think that’s the way Bob’s character is meant to be in the beginning of the film. He lives in the moment and doesn’t really think too much about how he affects others. (except for the obvious stuff like saving lives) He’s kind of self centered in that way, but that’s a very human quality and I thought it made him a lot more believable as a character. I actually feel like he’s the most “real” character in the film.
I adore his character design. He is so cool looking. Anytime I see him running I can’t help but smile. He just looks so funny. Not funny in a stupid way, but funny in the sense that his anatomy is very exaggerated but somehow done in a tasteful way. I can’t really explain it. The cartoony “big chest little legs” design has been around for a long time, but Pixar perfected it. He just looks so cool. I also love his expressions especially in the beginning of the movie when he’s at work or home. He has these extremely resigned “I wanna die” expressions that make me laugh. It cracks me up to see him in such mundane surroundings. He’s this insanely powerful huge guy who’s stuck in this boring desk job, and he’s got this tiny car that seems like it can barely hold him. Poor Bob, but it’s really funny.
Anyway, I think I’ve gone on long enough. In conclusion, I love Bob. I love everything about him. I sympathize with Buddy obsession with the guy. I really do. He’s very charming and handsome in a cartoony kind of way. He’s strong, physically and morally, and he’s very funny. I think he has some of the best lines in the film. Craig T. Nelson really nailed the character. The delivery he gave on Bob’s lines was just spot on. I can’t imagine anyone else voicing him. Just about everything Bob says (that isn’t meant to be serious) cracks me up.
P.S. I actually didn’t want to see The Incredibles when it first came out. I thought it looked kind of dumb, but that’s because I was only viewing it as a superhero parody. It’s much more than that though, and I’m sad to say that I didn’t see it in theatres. As soon as I was “introduced” to Bob I knew I was going to love the movie though. The first thing he says “Is this thing on? I mean, I can break through walls, I just can’t get this on…” Man, I thought that was such a funny thing for him to say. He may be a bit full of himself when it comes to superhero work, but he’s very human in other respects.
Long live Bob. You’re not my favorite, but you might as well be.
Dude, even though he isn’t your favorite, I will admit that it is one really incredible character review of him.
First, the whole (Buddy > Syndrome) part. When I think of it, it is kinda ironic. Bob didn’t want Buddy to get in the way not only because he is a nusance, but also he didn’t want anyone or anything to get hurt because of his rookieness. Ironicly, by shooting him down, he creates the villian Syndrome, who ends up wrecking havoc all over Metroville.
What I love about Bob’s design is tre many transitions he goes throughout the entire movie. For example, he goes from model type, in shape, movie heroic figure in the Glory Days. Next time we see him, he gains a couple pounds. It is easy to figure that part out because most of the fat is in his belly. But then in the last transition, I see the fat transfers from the belly to the chest, making him look more in shape and a little buff too.
If he isn’t your favorite character, than who is?
I really like Bob, he’s definately one of my favorites… The Incredibles has such great characters, it’s almost hard to choose favorites 
They all can relate to people in different ways, which is one of the things I loved about this film. I also like how they (I don’t really know how to explain this, so i’m sorry if it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever 
) mix family-related things with super hero-related things, if you know what I mean.
Yea, definitely. It’s cool to see how he changes throughout the movie. My favorite character design for him is the last one where, as you say, he is more buff in his chest. He’s still kind of fat, but he’s a lot more muscular. I love his design so much I bought this big statue of him. It’s on a shelf just above my computer.
Oh sorry. It’s Syndrome. I didn’t mean that I liked Bob less because he was mean to Buddy. I just meant that Buddy’s tragic past made him more appealing to me. I love both characters, but I like Buddy a little more because I’m so emotionally invested in the character. Bob deals with crap in the film too, and you can feel sorry for him, but his angst is mostly used for comedic effect. (like he’s always sad and in a daze until he hears something super related) Bob’s issues are all resolved in the end too. Buddy’s aren’t. Poor guy. I’m making myself sad now.
I know what you mean. Like when Dash and Vi are fighting and they’re using their powers on each other. (Hey! No force fields!) Then Bob comes over and lifts up the whole table. Then there’s a knock on the door, and they’re all back to normal.
You have a statue of him too Poptartfrog? I do too! It is so cool.
Bob is my faveorite character next to Dash.
I really responded to his character and plight about missing the Glory Days. I really felt for him and identified with him. I love the scene when he is called in to Mr. Huph’s office and he wants to save that man from getting mugged, but can’t ooooh!!! that scene gives me goosebumps.
The first Omnidroid fight was great. I loved the scene of him working out at the train station. I love how he sneaks in to Syndrome’s lair, some funny stuff there. The scene where he thinks his family is dead is preatty powerfull.
“I can’t lose you again! I can’t. Not again. I’m not… strong enough.” Gets me teary eyed.
I love the early parts of the second Omnidroid fight when it’s just him.
I just love that big guy.
That is a lot of Mr. I scenes you love there. Personally, I love when he works out, where he saves Squeaker, fights the first omnidroid, and finally, inflitrating Syndrome’s secret area.
You have one too? That’s cool. I wonder if we have the same one. Mine’s 18 inches. It’s actually one of my favorite collectable things that I own.
Do any of you guys have a favorite Bob quote? He has a lot of funny lines, but I think my favorite is probably the one that’s in my signature. Him being so happy about a fire cracks me up.
Oh I have a lot of Bob quotes. Here is one.
“Fly home buddy! I work alone” and “THe rabit is cuddley. Kids love cuddley sidekicks! I mean, the rabbit. . .is a time tested. . . okay, the rabit bites.”
Just in case you don’t know where that came from, it’s from a cool funny bonus feature on the 2-disc Incredibles DVD.
That’s right A113. Some of his best lines are in the little extra on the DVD.