Despicable Me 4 ‘Review’: Gru and his Minions are Back

The popular Despicable Me animated movie series is back with its fourth iteration, Despicable Me 4. Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage direct the film, bringing back Gru, who is now an anti-villain again, voiced by Steve Carell. It also introduces new characters and challenges seven years after the last film. Are the Minions up to their usual antics in the movie? Does it meet the standards set by its predecessors? Let’s dive right in!

The storyline.

The biggest global animation franchise in history, which has grossed over $4.6 billion, is back with its fourth installation. Gru has become a dedicated anti-villain league agent. Together with his wife Lucy and their three adopted daughters, Margo (played by Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (portrayed by Dana Gaier), and Agnes (portrayed by Madison Polan, navigate a new family dynamic. When Gru Jr, their biological son, enters the picture and seems to be fond of everyone, but his dad Gru.

That’s not all that the family has to face,  there is also a fresh antagonist, Maxime Le Mal voiced by Will Ferrel and his femme fetal girlfriend Valentina, voiced by the Emmy nominee Latinx star Sofia Vergara. Because of this, the family has to flee into a safer place with new identities. That,  comes with its own set of problems, injecting a sense of thrill and uncertainty into the storyline.

The voice cast also includes familiar actors such as Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom and Pierre Coffin as the Minions’ voice. Additional cast members include Joey King in the role of Poppy Prescott, a wannabe supervillain, and Stephen Colbert as Perry Prescott, Gru’s fresh neighbor.

Comedy, Animation and what Critics Are Saying

Despicable Me 4 maintains the same level of quality in animation and storytelling as its previous films. Heitor Pereira composed the music for the movie, with Pharrell Williams adding new songs like the popular “Double Life”.

Critics have had varying opinions about the movie. During its early stages on Rotten Tomatoes, it has maintained a score of  63%. Reviewers commend the film for its comedy and entertaining ability, making it an enjoyable choice for families to watch, and this is even attested by Sofia Vergara below.

Nonetheless, some people argue that the movie did not capture the attention of grown-up viewers with its clever jokes, an essential element in popular animated films.

Opinions from the audience are split evenly. On IMDb, some users enjoy the movie for its breezy and enjoyable tone, ideal for a youthful audience. A fun-filled adventure that appeals to franchise fans, earning a user review score of 8/10. On the other hand, some users are not as satisfied, rating it 4/10 and complaining about the absence of character development and significant plot.

However, the animation remains excellent, and Steve Carell’s voice acting is a highlight. Adding new characters brings a new perspective, and while the humor is geared towards kids, it still brings plenty of laughs. For those who love the series, seeing the familiar characters and embarking on new journeys is enough to justify watching it.

Conclusion

The primary critique of the film focuses on its plot and the growth of its characters. In contrast to the first two movies, which showed significant development for Gru and built emotional bonds with viewers, this latest instalment appears to prioritize physical comedy over storytelling complexity. Some fans believe the franchise is spreading too thin, becoming a series of funny moments instead of a unified plot.

The fourth Despicable Me movie has its ups and downs. It is an enjoyable, entertaining film that will likely satisfy younger viewers and dedicated fans of the series. Nevertheless, individuals seeking the emotional depth and clever humor present in the previous movies may discover it to be missing. The future direction of the series is uncertain, but currently, it provides a fun and enjoyable break from reality.