Remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 25: 14-30? The servants who are rewarded are the ones who are given ten and five talents, and produce ten and five more. The servant who is chastised is the one who takes his one talent and buries it. Yes, yes, the ‘talent’ in the parable referred to a unit of money and not to individual ability. Nonetheless, it’s irresistible for preachers and other well-meaning commentators to apply the metaphor of personal talents. The message would be something like, ‘Use your gifts, especially if they can help someone else.’
Well, that’s also the message of ‘The Incredibles.’ This is an animated Pixar feature, where the voices are notable actors, but it’s all programmed into the graphics, just like the music soundtrack and the cutting-edge visuals. This is pure high-tech, because there’s not a ‘real’ scene in it. But it’s engaging, nonetheless, in part because of the compelling character development.
Bob Parr (the voice of Craig T. Nelson), was, in his younger days, ‘Mr. Incredible.’ He enjoyed being a super-hero, and going out and rescuing people. But something went sour in the rescue business.
While trying to shoo away a rabid fan determined to ‘help’ him, innocent people got hurt. You can imagine the media backlash. Our Mr. Incredible, enormously strong and monumentally brave, has to hang up his superhero costume and go get a job like everyone else.
Bob has a loving wife, Helen (Holly Hunter. Bob and Helen have had three children. Viewers know the crisis will compel this whole family to don their superhero costumes and save the world once more. The children will discover that their ‘special powers’ are stronger than they thought. The children working alongside their parents for a common cause learn that they, too, can be useful and important. And the worst they can do is nothing, especially when there is so much need.
RON SALFEN is pastor of Westminster church in Dallas,Texas.
