The Minions have become one of the biggest and one of the most successful original franchises in the last decade. These yellow pill-shaped creatures speak gibberish which has been perfect for translating these films across the world as the emphasis is on their slapstick humour as opposed to what they say. Physical humour has been missing from comedies for the last few decades with comedies becoming smarter and playing against convention - I’m looking at you Shrek! So it was refreshing that new studio Illumination dreamt up the Minions with their first film becoming Despicable Me back in 2010, which went on to be a huge commercial and critical success.
Since that first film we have had two sequels, a spin-off and now we have Minions: The Rise of Gru, the fifth official film in the series which is both a prequel to Despicable Me and a sequel to the 2015 film, Minions. Hence the subtitle, The Rise of Gru. Gru here, who is voiced again by Steve Carrell, is a teenager and he has become good friends with the Minions, with Stuart, Kevin and Bob returning as the key members of the Minions that lead them into new misadventures. The joy of the last Minions film is the story was mainly told in narration as Stuart, Kevin and Bob went on a journey to the real world to find a “boss” for their colony.
Minions: The Rise of Gru has established the Minions place as Gru’s henchmen and they continue their adventurous antics as they travel across America to San Francisco to find a talisman that was stolen from a villainous group known as the Vicious 6 who Gru wants to join. Gru has his own storyline here separate from the Minions as he meets his hero Wild Knuckles, who is voiced by Alan Arkin, who was kicked out of the Vicious 6. Gru finds a father figure within Wild Knuckles and in this regard the Minions provides the humour and Gru provides the heart of the film, creating a film that is balanced and feels like an important message to kids.
Minions: The Rise of Gru is an easy watch though. There’s not a lot of new ideas here and the film doesn’t push the series ahead in any way, after all this is a mid-quel of sorts meaning they had to explain what happened between Minions and Despicable Me in terms of characters and locations. You get a lot of easter eggs that reference the first film, and that is what this film essentially is. It’s not a film that expands the series but instead it honours it and shows you why these creatures are so enduring and enjoyable. They’re fun and quirky and it isn’t just children who enjoy them but adults too. There is a reason why this is a highly profitable franchise.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Minions: The Rise of Gru is a fun ride. It is a film that honours its legacy a bit too much, but when you go to see one of these films you go in wanting fun antics and there’s plenty of that here. Kevin, Stuart and Bob are back and watching them hit each other, squabble and attempt to fly a plane is as hilarious as their misadventures in the first film. This film also capitalises of superhero culture with a villainous super-group hot on Gru’s trail, but there are moments of levity and heart to be found here and that is why this is a film that is worthy to wear the Minions name with pride.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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