Since “Despicable Me” debuted in 2010, there’s been a love-hate sort of acceptance attached to the Twinkie-shaped minions themselves.
Their little overalls, goggles, and distinctly yellow bodies made them more adorable than any other villain’s henchmen in animation or live-action film.
Still, the franchise seemed to need a fresh perspective on Gru and his minions – hence this attempt to capture 1970s pop culture in animation.
Honestly, it seems more geared towards nostalgic adults with plenty of slapstick for kids.
I think it works well, given that it embraces a variety of comedy.
Minions: The Rise of Gru is a computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures.
It is the sequel to the spin-off prequel Minions (2015) and the fifth entry overall in the Despicable Me franchise.
Directed by Kyle Balda, with Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val as co-directors, the film features Steve Carell reprising his role as Gru and Pierre Coffin as the Minions, with Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, RZA, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, and Alan Arkin also starring.
The film is rated PG for some action/violence and rude humor and clocks in at 88 minutes long.
In 1976, 11-year-old Gru (Carell) plans to become a supervillain, assisted by the Minions (Coffin), whom he has hired to work for him.
Gru is ecstatic when he receives an audition invitation from the Vicious 6, a supervillain team led by Belle Bottom (Henson).
The villains hope to find a new member to replace their founder, the supervillain Wild Knuckles (Arkin).
Following their betrayal and the presumed death of Knuckles during a heist to steal the Zodiac Stone - a stone connected to the Chinese zodiac.
Gru’s interview goes poorly but, much to the outrage of the Vicious 6, he manages to steal the stone and escapes with Minions Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto.
While they escape, he hands the stone off to Otto for safekeeping before parting ways to head home.
At his basement lair, Gru finds out that Otto has traded the stone for a pet rock, causing him to fire the Minions in anger before going alone to find the stone.
However, Knuckles, who is revealed to be alive, kidnaps Gru before taking him to San Francisco and informs the Minions that if they do not give him the stone within 48 hours, Gru will be killed.
Trying and failing to locate the stone, Kevin, Stuart, and Bob leave for San Francisco to rescue Gru, while Otto leaves in pursuit of a biker whom he realizes has the stone as a necklace.
When they reach Knuckles’ house, they are chased by his goons until Master Chow (Yeoh) rescues them by defeating the goons.
Chow is a former Kung Fu teacher who now makes a living at an acupuncture clinic and decides to teach them kung fu after they beg for her.
Unfortunately, the three prove to be incompetent students and prematurely end their training.
The trio heads back to Knuckles’ home to rescue Gru.
That’s where we’re treated to a montage of the Minions traveling to San Francisco and Knuckles torturing Gru in the meantime
Overall, it’s a pretty funny film that builds on adult nostalgia and indestructible Minions trying to save their “mini-boss.”
It’s definitely worth it on the big screen if you’ve got kids but adults can totally wait for this to stream or buy outright.
