Despicable Me 2

Year: 2013
Directors: Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin
Voice cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Steve Coogan


Plot: The Anti Villain League recruits Gru, who has now retired and become a full time father to the three girls he adopted, to assist them in catching a new super villain who is in possession of a deadly mutation serum.


Review: Gru and the kids are back again. The first Despicable Me introduced a bad guy who isn't really a bad guy and made him a hero and a loving father. Now the filmmakers decide to make him an even bigger hero, though it's good to note that for a few moments in this sequel, he gets to be a bit bad, in a fun way of course.

However, the main attraction of this film as well as the last one has always been the yellow, pill shaped minions, and here they have even more screen time, which is good because there's rarely a moment of boredom when they appear. Directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin voice the minions themselves and do an awesome job. Whether you're a kid or not, you'll find them absolutely lovable.

But all films need a plot, in this case Gru has been recruited by the Anti Villain League to stop a villain that is hiding out in a shopping mall. He is paired up with AVL agent Lucy Wilde and put undercover in the mall. Soon Gru has his sights on someone who could be their guy, but there are complications. And would you believe it, the writers decided that Gru ought to have a romantic companion!

The filmmakers' idea to have Lucy become romantically involved with Gru just didn't fly with me. Not that they didn't do a decent job of it at least...they did. But this part of the film took up a significant chunk of the film that it almost made their mission seem secondary. Besides, we already know Gru's a good guy deep down, we don't need him to have a romantic partner, at least I think so. 

On the bright side, the three girls are still adorable as ever, especially the youngest one, Agnes. And there's the minions, and as stated above, they never disappoint. In fact they get to sign off the film with a couple of great song performances. Great job, guys.

So other than an unnecessary overblown plot element, DM2 is a nice feel good film for people of all ages. Stay during the end credits for more minions. (3.5/5)