3.5 Stars
Directed by: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Trailer:
From IMDB: While Gru, the ex-supervillain is adjusting to family life and an attempted honest living in the jam business, a secret Arctic laboratory is stolen. The Anti-Villain League decides it needs an insider’s help and recruits Gru in the investigation. Together with the eccentric AVL agent, Lucy Wilde, Gru concludes that his prime suspect is the presumed dead supervillain, El Macho, whose teenage son is also making the moves on Gru’s eldest daughter, Margo. Seemingly blinded by his overprotectiveness of his children and his growing mutual attraction to Lucy, Gru seems on the wrong track even as his minions are being quietly kidnapped en masse for some malevolent purpose.
I think it’s pretty safe to say that if you liked the first “Despicable Me”, you will enjoy the sequel. I was very dubious as to whether I’d like the original movie when it came out, as the trailers did not humor me much. But after oodles of encouragement from friends to go see it, I eventually did. And of course, it was adorable, heartwarming, and quite entertaining. Gru’s story of redemption and growing into a father figure for Margo, Edith, and Agnes is lovely. And of course, you can’t help but laugh at the minions.
Bless those minions. I think I read somewhere that they weren’t even a part of the original script for DM1. I can’t even imagine these movies without those little yellow potatoes.
Despicable Me 2 was 50% plot and 50% Minion shenanigans. Lets just say I laughed out loud at all things minion.
Not to say the plot was bad. I personally don’t think it was as good as the first one. DM2 is focused on Gru’s budding relationship with Lucy, a member of the anti-villain league. Their spy tomfoolery was quite entertaining, and it was sweet to see someone come to love Gru when he had been an outcast all his life. They are both sent undercover to work at the most insane mall I have ever seen. Imagine DisneyWorld, but inside a mall. One of the owners of a store in the mall is believed to be the villain the AVL is after, and it’s up to Gru and Lucy to figure out who. Gru suspects the owner of Salsa a Salsa, Eduardo, who he thinks is the presumed dead super villain El Macho, but no one listens to him. When Eduardo’s son catches Margo’s eye in a hilarious subplot showing the ridiculousness of young love at first sight and the over dramatic state of many YA tv shows/movies/novels, Gru becomes even more certain of Eduardo’s villainy.
Agnes. Her adorableness is the other glue that holds this franchise together (aside from the minions). She is the epitome of cuteness and even though she is young, she has an old soul, sensing when Gru is distressed, and knowing when he is doing something out of love for her. There was really just too much cute. I couldn’t handle it.
There was a reenactment of a certain scene from “Alien” with a chicken that was both surprising and hilarious. I believe there were also scenes reminiscent of “World War Z” thrown in as well.
I usually avoid seeing 3D, as it tends to make my eyes hurt, but we were stuck with the over-priced version this time. Fortunately, I was spared a headache, and the 3D didn’t bother me at all, though I don’t know how much it added to the presentation.
I can hear the rejoicing over the Minion movie, set to release in December of 2014.
All in all, very cute, a solid sequel, and worth it to go see it. If you’re not a cartoon enthusiast, wait to Redbox/Netflix it, as this is not the sort of movie that is dramatically improved on a big screen. But I can guarantee, between Agnes and the minions, you’ll leave the theater with a smile on your face.