THE

INCREDIBLES 2

* * * ½

(Funny, long cartoon sequel)

The kids (and parents) got a little restless at the weekend matinee, sitting through endless previews, a confusing short, and the two-hour feature.

The short is about an Asian woman who makes baos (like the dumplings made at Bao-Bao on Providence's Washington St.). One of them comes alive and grows up, meets a girl and wants to marry her to his mother's objections. What does she do? She eats him. Explain that to the kids!

It's been 14 years since "The Incredibles" won the Oscar for Best Animated Film, so it now has a whole new audience to entertain. We left the world of people with power being banned from practicing their craft since they did more harm than good, destroying cities to catch the bad guys.

Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) have settled down with their three children and need to find work. Along comes Winston, a wealthy telecommunications CEO, and his sister. They want to change people's perception of superheroes through a campaign that involves Elastigirl. Mr. Incredible is left at home to take care of the kids, including the youngest, Jack-Jack, who turns out to have multiple super powers. The poor guy feels unneeded and a little jealous of his wife.

Elastigirl saves a runaway train and performs extraordinary feats until she meets her match with an unsuspected enemy. Mr. Incredible and the kids come to her rescue.

The moral is that the family that fights crime together stays together. Lots of action for the kids and some clever lines for the parents. Rated PG.