In the first Despicable Me movie in seven years, Gru, the world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League-agent, returns for an exciting, bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illumination’s Despicable Me 4. Following the 2022 summer blockbuster phenomenon of Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, which earned almost $1 billion worldwide, the biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru (Steve Carrell) and Lucy Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run. The film features fresh new characters voiced by Joey King, Stephen Colbert and Chloe Fineman. Pierre Coffin returns as the iconic voice of the Minions and Steve Coogan returns as Silas Ramsbottom.
What We Thought:
I am a childless adult male and I look forward to every film put out by Illumination. I enjoyed the first three Despicable Me films and the two Minion flicks so I enjoyed Despicable Me 4 right? Well…yeah I totally did. These movies are harmless family fun mixed with lots of jokes and humor for adults with great music. The crowd I saw it with had plenty of adults laughing, but even better, plenty of kids laughing.
With this being the sixth overall film in the franchise you kind of know what to expect in the movie. There will be a major plotline (Gru and his family must hide in a safehouse from a new villain who broke out of prison and wants to kidnap Gru Jr. Gru will have a core group of Minions with him and the rest of the Minions will have their own sort of side adventure. This one also adds a subplot with a new neighbor girl who wants to be a villain. It’s a tried and true formula that has worked six times now. There’s nothing wrong with going back to the well because like they say, if it ain’t broke then don’t try to fix it.
What I like most about the films is that they are family friendly for the kids, but parents/adults won’t be bored to death watching them. I’m fine with movies being made for just the youngsters, but it’s a lot easier as a reviewer to get a movie that I can also enjoy. After all this time we still don’t know what the Minions are saying and that’s part of the charm. They make faces and are full of slapstick humor that you don’t have to know what’s being said. The gadgets and characters are always fun with a humorous plot that’s safe for the kiddos as well. The subplot adds in a teen mean girl who blackmails Gru into helping her steal the villain school’s mascot, a honey badger. There are funny honey badger jokes if you know about honey badgers in pop culture. Even if you don’t, the adventure in the heist is fun. There’s an even better joke for adults with Gru’s wife at a supermarket with a character running like the T-1000 in Terminator 2 even with the theme music. If you don’t get the reference it’s still a funny scene regardless.
The voice cast is fantastic as usual with Steve Carell once again bringing life to Gru. Along with Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan and the voices of the three daughters, this one adds Will Ferrell as the villain and Sofia Vergara as his villain girlfriend. Joey King voices the teen neighbor girl and there are other voices and cameos I won’t spoil.
If your kids grew up on the Despicable Me franchise they will enjoy Despicable Me 4. It’s colorful, full of adventure and fun and has a great soundtrack. It should make a fortune at the worldwide box office and despite it seeming like this could be the last of the Despicable Me movies, if it makes a billion dollars worldwide, you have to think they will consider another film.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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The Nerds Templar 