Movie Review: Illumination’s ‘Minions: The Rise Of Gru’

The Minions have grown to incredible heights since Sergio Pablos invented what would become a franchise 12 years ago. If you lose points, Descendants includes three sequels (one two years later), two prequels, more than a dozen short films. , TV specials, video games and the inevitable theme park.

For parents who have lost track (children don’t forget such things), my favorite bad guy She gave birth to her first child legally, slavesIt’s been five years, and while it’s hard to prove it was worth the wait (its debut was delayed by two years due to covid), this hippie-era San Francisco sequel is pretty hilarious for about the first hour. , but then welcome. Still, it will keep the kids entertained as it opens Friday through Universal.

Among many other factors, this is another Enlightenment creature that adults can not only get used to but also enjoy to some extent thanks to a series of cheeky counterculture jokes, cheerfully crafted costumes and reefs. 70’s biker culture and music; At one point, the main villain gathers at the record store booth to restore his reputation by listening to Linda Ronstadt’s song “You’re No Good.”

But while that fun permeates profusely throughout the film, which is also quite well-crafted and animated, there’s also a sense of rebellion here, continuing to exploit some of the highly paid characters just because it’s financially worth it. not because it requires inspiration. In the end, there’s just too much narrative complicating flip-flops, close calls, brutal chases, left-and-right turns to fill the 90-minute movie time.

Illumination’s Chris Melandander Talks “Minions”, Streaming Vs. Theatre, Chris Pratt “Super Mario” and Fear of Failure: CineEurope

Same, slaves It subsides without unnecessary awkwardness, and the reasonable laugh rate is a stark reminder that big-screen comedy still falls short this year.

Since its recent appearance, the Vicious Six have had a few setbacks, the most recent being the removal of Alan Arkin’s Wild Knuckles. This sudden opening inspires Grus (Steve Carell) to get to work: “I want to be a superbug!” says it out loud, but when rejected, new strategies have to be found.

He takes his revenge by stealing the most valuable asset of the gang, the zodiac stone, and immediately chases after both Wild Knuckles and the gang consisting of Bell Bottom (Taraji P. Henson) and Stronghold (Danny) at this reduced point. Trejo), Nanchak (Lucy Lowles), Revenge (Dolph Lundgren), and Jean-Claude (Jean-Claude Van Damme).

from now on, slaves It is constantly in operation, focusing on it decades ago at the San Francisco Counterculture Center. With a distinctly unscrupulous demeanor, hippies (turned into animals) meet badass bikers in a thrilling climax infused with an abundance of region- and period-specific humor that is sure to exceed youth, rather than the importance of the zodiac stone’s strength. after the years. thing. Even if the movie seems like it has moved and shrunk a lot to you, you still feel like a brigade of smart pants is in control; They hit just twice as hard as running home.

Needless to say, the visuals are sharp, creative and witty, sometimes even more so than the dialogue, not to mention the colorful voices that don’t get the job done first. Gru will no doubt be back for more rounds now that he has recovered.