Despicable Me 4

by Tyler Glover

Photo: Universal Pictures

Director: Chris Renaud & Patrick Delage 
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig & Will Ferrell 
Rated: PG (Action & Rude Humor) 
Runtime: 1 hour & 35 minutes 

​Minions, assemble! It is time for another adventure with Gru, Lucy and the GURLS! Oh, and don’t forget, we have Gru Jr. now!

Illumination’s massively successful “Despicable Me” franchise has released its sixth overall film, including the two “Minions” films. There is no question that it is going to be a massive box-office success. What better way is there to spend the weekend? When you go through a journey with characters for so many films, they become like family to you. You want to help Gru catch a villain, talk about unicorns with Agnes, and of course, witness the antics of our favorite yellow creatures in denim. It is time for their latest adventure and we all should rush to the cinemas to see the ride.

In this sequel, Gru (Steve Carell) has helped the Anti-Villain League capture one of their most wanted villains, Maxime Le Mal. Unfortunately, he escapes from jail and is ready to take revenge against Gru. The AVL alerts Gru and his family and places them in Mayflower with new identities to hide until he is recaptured. Hilarity ensues as all of them try to adapt to their new surroundings while waiting for Le Mal’s recapture.

If you are a fan of this franchise, this film will be a very enjoyable experience. I do not feel that this entry is better than the first two, but it is a step up from the third film. There is plenty of Minion humor and situations going wrong to make a very funny film. It is a film everyone in the family will enjoy. What I feel is lacking, though, is some emotional resonance. It is not as if I am expecting these films to reach “Inside Out 2” levels of emotional complexity; it just hasn’t seemed to recapture the way that the girls originally stole Gru’s heart in the very first film.  I think if the film had tried to focus on the family a little more, it would have been possible.

What makes the film hilarious is all of the situations the family is undergoing while in hiding. Lucy is a hairstylist who should not be a hairstylist and gets a very disgruntled customer early on, which leads to a grocery store run-in like no other. Gru is awkwardly trying to bond with a Country Club member. Agnes has trouble lying about her new name because she isn’t a liar. The film has so many side stories that honestly make this film feel like it could be an even better television series. Every situation is episodic and hilarious. It would have been even better if some of them could have been expounded upon, maybe in another medium.

Fans of the franchise will not be disappointed and will feel this is a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon with the kids. There is a scene toward the end of the film that is a treat for all fans of this franchise. I don’t want to spoil it, but it is the thing that stayed with me the most since I left the theater. Whoever had the idea to do that was smart. It paid off to give a very satisfying ending.

While I do not feel “Despicable Me 4” will be nominated for Best Animated Feature, it is a very fun film for the entire family and fans of the series to enjoy.