This installment is like an Avengers spy type with colorful animation, a lot of action sequences but stuffed with too many characters. Despite the rapid fire slapstick gags delivered with good comedic timing, this sequel is entertaining but pretty predictable. Structured more like an episode of a long running series with references and characters from past films.
In the first Despicable Me film in seven years, Gru, the world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League-agent goes to a reunion of the Lycée Pas Bon School of Villainy, where he and French super-villain with cockroach powers, Maxime le Mal (Will Ferrell) return to meet on unfriendly terms once again.
When Gru arrests Maxime, they go to battle big time, and Maxime plots revenge. Gru and family (Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, and Madison Dolan) have to assume new identities in a protection program in a different community. When they meet high profile, neighbors from the country club set, Perry, Pattsy Prescott, (Voiced by Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman), they have another villain to contend with in Poppy Prescott (Joey King).
There’s the addition of the baby, Felonius Gru, Jr. (voice by Tara Strong) who loves his Mom, but barely tolerates Dad Gru. Jr. reminded us of Jack-Jack in The Incredibles, with his cute voice and outrageous reactions as he becomes more pivotal to the story.
“Despicable Me 4,” and counting the multiplying “Minions” spinoffs, numbers six movies. Directors Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage make this one more character driven with the family, and show the Minions less than in previous films. Mike White and Ken Dario who wrote the first three films of the franchise pack the script with a multitude of characters. It feels like they wrote in all these voices to give celebrity buddies (Will Ferrell, Sofia Vergara and more) the chance to be in the movie.
From the inception of the franchise, Pierre Coffin, who was an animator from the beginning, voiced the Minions until an actor was to be cast. His take on these little guys was so funny and unique, “it stuck” and he has been the voice of the Minions ever since.
For the most part, the animation and the timing in the action sequences work, but the scenes we thought did not, take place with Lucy (Wiig) in the hair salon. The new wrinkle with the Minions is transforming 5 of them into Super charged Minions with extraordinary powers.
Despite not having the punch of others in the franchise, this colorful film moves fast, has some snappy dialogue, a few laughs and upbeat music. But it may not be on the continuous play loop when it hits home.
Universal Pictures. 1 hour 35 minutes. PG
