Jack Jack Attack (2005)

Directed by: Brad Bird | 4 minutes | animation, short film | Original voice cast: Bret ‘Brook’ Parker, Bud Lucky, Eli Fucile, Jason Lee

Although often of a high standard, Pixar’s short films are not as consistent or inspired in their choice of subject matter. Usually these are standalone films, which, in addition to technical highlights in the field of animation, are also characterized by a creative concept or beautiful irony. Every now and then, however, the Pixar team decides to simply place existing characters from their feature films in a comic, often slapstick-like situation and then present it as a standalone film. However, often it just comes across as a deleted scene from the movie in question, and the movie lacks thematic depth and heart and soul that are usually evident in Pixar’s true independent shorts. Such is the case with ‘Jack-Jack Attack’, a short film that builds on characters from ‘The Incredibles’.

Perhaps the troubles of the babysitter who in ‘Jack-Jack Attack’ has to deal with the almost diabolical baby Jack-Jack in the film itself would have been just as amusing, but in this form the joke quickly wears off. Partly because it’s just one joke – the babysitter doesn’t know what hit her when Jack-Jack displays his amazing powers – and partly because you really need to see it in the context of ‘The Incredibles’. The girl’s surprise is also not great enough. When the baby bumps into ceilings, bites his playpen, and spontaneously goes up in flames, you expect a reaction that comes close to a heart attack. But the biggest problem is that the joke isn’t particularly strong. It’s fun for a minute, but soon it isn’t new anymore and more could have been gained from, for example, the enjoyment of the baby itself or from the solutions that the babysitter devises.

This last element makes for a very nice scene at the end of the movie. The girl sits, exhausted, in a half-burnt-down room, on a chair with a mirror and fire extinguisher in her hands to counter the “attacks” of the baby. With tired, half-closed eyes, and without flinching, she sprays the child with foam the next time it goes up in flames. Moments later, when the baby shoots his laser eyes, she simply holds up a mirror to reflect the rays. Dry and funny. The film as a whole is unfortunately, despite the beautiful animation, as can be seen in ‘The Incredibles’ itself, less successful