Theater Review: Despicable Me 2

I actually remember sort of liking the original film in this franchise, but I really had a hard time remembering a lot about it. That is odd in my house, as I have seen most of these animated films about 300 times apiece, but for some reason I don't think I have seen that one more than twice at the most.

But, with some free tickets in hand, my son and I went to see Despicable Me 2.

How can you tell a new story when the villain in the previous movie is now a good guy? Well, they figured it out pretty well. I actually think they may have improved upon the first one.

Gru (Steve Carell) is now no longer plotting to be the world's most notorious villain. Instead he is trying to be a really good dad to his three adopted daughters, Agnes (Elsie Fisher), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Margo (Miranda Cosgrove).

He is even one of the most eligible bachelors on the block, and the other ladies are looking to set him up on dates.

The Minions and Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand)? They are still there, but instead of making evil objects to help Gru, they are making preserves. That is until Dr. Nefario gets a better job offer from another villain.

Now no longer a villain, Gru still gets pulled into the game as Lucy (Kristen Wiig) of the Ant-Villain League pulls him in to help her track down  the PX-41 mutagen that was stolen from the Arctic Circle. A mutagen that can turn things into indestructible monsters.

The mutagen is thought to have been in the Paradise Shopping Mall, so Lucy and Gru setup a bakery in the mall to go undercover and find out who in the mall stole the mutagen and why they are planning on using it.

That is all well and good, and a decent story line, but the main reason to watch this movie is for the Minions. I believe after the first film the creators realized what they had with these little guys and they are featured a whole lot more in this one. Every time they are on the screen something hilarious is happening.

Also, I have to give it to the little girls as well, especially the littlest one Agnes. They were also very funny.

What is funny, though, with all of the comedians in the film - Carell, Wiig and Brand - it was the girls and the Minions that actually have you laughing. The other characters had their moments, but they were in no way the stars of this film - and it still worked.

Apparently a new film called Minions is scheduled for next year - not sure how a film of just will work, but it should be interesting and they will find a way to make it funny. I just hope they don't over do it and make them annoying with an over abundance of them.

Grade:

10/50: Despicable Me

When I first saw this preview last year during a very rare trip to the theater I didn't know what to expect. And honestly, I never really became interested in seeing it even after the full trailer was released.

However, Despicable Me began to get some good press and, of course, any time there is a somewhat decent cartoon film out my son will want to see it.

As it was not as good as either How To Train Your Dragon or Toy Story 3 it was still a decent enough film - and it made me laugh a handful of times.

The premise is this, Gru (Steve Carell) is a want-to-be super villain. He has come up with a way to be the greatest super villain in the world by stealing a shrink ray gun and shrinking - then stealing - the moon.

He goes to a bank that deals exclusively with loaning money to super villains run by Mr. Perkins (Will Arnett). Perkins agrees to Gru's plan if he can steal the shrink ray gun. However, another up-and-coming villain named Vector (Jason Segel) steals the gun first.

In order to break into Vector's house/workshop, Gru decides to adopt a trio of sisters, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher).

Of course, things go wrong and what you expect to happen does begin to happen - but it is done rather well.

Now, we come to the minions. Gru has a huge amount of 'people' working for him that are called the minions. When I first saw these creatures I thought they were a bit of a ripoff of the aliens from Toy Story. And, to a small extent they are. However, they were very funny and actually sweet - so they fit in nicely.

So, it wasn't an amazing film, but it was a nice watch and I did laugh a few times - plus my son liked it, so there's that.

Grade: