Pixar have got their mojo back.

After disappointing sequels like Finding Dory (adequate) and Monsters University (bad), there was reason to be worried walking into The Incredibles 2 fourteen years after the original. Thankfully, Brad Bird has delivered again! This long-awaited sequel, beginning amid its predecessor’s climax, has all the fun, vitality and visual wit of the original.

The storyline is essentially a rehash of the first film, with the gender focus switched. This time, Mr Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) is a stay-at-home dad grappling with Jack-Jack’s unpredictable powers while Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) ventures out to fight crime and rebuild superheroes’ tarnished reputation. While the plot isn’t as durable as the first – character motivations don’t make much sense upon reflection, and you’ll spot the twist a mile away – the energy is undeniable.

Bird makes the most of the animated realm to render irrepressibly stylish action sequences, buoyed by humour and originality alike. The new cohort of superheroes possessed of powers that facilitate showdowns rivalling Paddington 2 in creativity. If The Incredibles 2 weren’t so fun, I might lament that it doesn’t amount to all that much, but it’s so fluid and enjoyable that I can’t bring myself to care.