Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
Gru and his family are back with another villain-filled adventure in the “Despicable Me” franchise. He has just welcomed a new baby boy into the family, who seems to enjoy causing him trouble. On top of that, he has a new arch nemesis intent on taking him down. Gru’s family must go into hiding so that they stay safe. Can Gru’s family blend into their new setting? Or will Maxime Le Mal destroy Gru and all he loves?
Positives:
I’d actually only seen the original “Despicable Me” movie before doing a binge of the rest of the franchise in preparation for this one. I can say with certainty that I prefer the Gru centric stories over the minion led ones. There is plenty of zany humor and eye popping animation that fans of the series will love. Kids are going to have a great time here as the franchise continues to expand. Gru has a new villain voiced by Will Ferrel, who is an excellent addition to the franchise. I enjoyed the premise this time around, seeing Gru and his family having to adapt to a new life. This gives each character an opportunity to deal with this new phenomenon in a different way, crafting some nice storylines in the process.
Another aspect of this franchise that keeps improving is the animation. The “Despicable Me” series has a distinct animation style that is creative and full of life. Younger viewers will especially enjoy the colorful characters and fast paced story. I saw the film in 3D, which made everything pop more. For the entire runtime, the story moves at a hundred miles an hour. There is not a down moment throughout the whole movie. So parents, this will undoubtedly keep the kids entertained for ninety minutes. I’ve enjoyed seeing Gru evolve throughout these movies and look forward to seeing where the franchise goes next.
Negatives:
I definitely enjoyed “Despicable Me 4”, but it still doesn’t compare to the heights of the original. I will give it credit for being better than the past few entries though. As I mentioned before, the movie moves fast. I could see audiences being exhausted at the fast paced story and numerous storylines going on at once. They pack a generous amount of content into one film, which was borderline too busy. If it was possible, the minions might have been even sillier in this movie. Their whacky shenanigans and high pitched voices are elevated to a new level here. They will continue to create laughs for those who like them, but those who don’t will find them at their most annoying. Still, I enjoyed having them return to supporting roles rather than being the leads.
Conclusion:
“Despicable Me 4” is a nice addition to the franchise. It provides everything audiences have come to enjoy. The slapstick humor, colorful animation, and fun loving family all impress again. But some may grow tired of the formula at this point as the minions and fast paced story are magnified. I believe families and the target audience will find some fun here, but casual viewers might not be as impressed. It’s a fun time at the movies and does enough to warrant another entry in the long running series.
