We’ve seen a few fantastic animated films released this year. DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods was original and fun and last month Disney Pixar’s Monsters University, the satisfying prequel to the 2001 film, brought in over $170 million at the box office.
Universal Pictures’ sequel to the wildly successful 2010 film Despicable Me had their work cut out to stand out among the animated films this year. Other animated films including Turbo, The Smurfs 2, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 and Frozen all have release dates throughout the remainder of the year.
Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is settling into fatherhood and has retired of his villainous plans to take over the world. His three girls Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and unicorn loving Agnes (Elsie Kate Fisher) are all as cute as ever and try to convince Gru to date and put himself out there. Gru’s reluctant until he’s recruited by the AVL (Anti-Villain League) by the beautifully quirky secret agent Lucy (Kristen Wiig).
Gru and Lucy team up in attempt to take down a new super villain known as El Macho (Benjamin Bratt). With the help of his loyal yellow minions and Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), Gru sets out to save the world once again.
Steve Carell continues to prove he is a fantastic voice actor as the tough, yet warm-hearted Gru. Gru is beginning to feel more comfortable as the father to the three young girls and Carell adds another layer to our favorite character in this sequel. Carell’s performance as the lovable and disciplinary father is truly memorable.
Kristen Wiig, who voiced the horrible foster mom, Mrs. Hattie in the first Despicable Me, returns here as Gru’s love interest. If it weren’t for the minions, Wiig’s Lucy might be the funniest character in the film. Wiig is gladly welcomed back as a starring character in this sequel!
One of the major pluses in Despicable Me 2 is the cute, adorable and goofy minions. Can I just take 10 of them home with me?? The little yellow guys have a bigger role in this sequel and the film benefits all the more from them. In the first film, they provide lots of comedy and laughs, but here they are given personalities and more screen time. Without giving anything away, the climatic twist involves the entire minion clan and it’s up to Guru to save them.
Despicable Me 2 runs a little long somewhere in the middle, it feels like Gru and Lucy are searching for the villain forever! But the beginning and end make a satisfying and funny sequel. Thank goodness for the mini minions, who will keep anyone laughing and entertained.
Despicable Me 2 may not have the charm or the originality of the first, but it’s a pleasant and colorfully animated movie that’s appropriate for all ages.
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