Movie Review – Despicable Me 3

“Hi, my name is MontiLee and I’ve never seen the Despicable Me films”
“Hi, MontiLee!” “We love you.”
Aww, thanks. I really appreciate your support. See, I’m not sure what was happening in 2010, but I likely found better things to do. Same in 2013 when Despicable Me 2 (2013) came out, and I know for a fact I was washing my hair when Minions (2015) hit the screens. Movies ready-made for merchandising feel like 90 minute advertisements, and my hair doesn’t wash itself.
DESPICABLE ME 3 (2017) isn’t less of an ad, but it’s much more enjoyable being poked in the eye with a sharp stick.
Gru (Steve Carell) and Miss Lucy (Kristen Wiig) find themselves suddenly out of work (the trailers tell you why, so no surprise there), which worries their small family, Agnes, Edith, and Margo. On top of that, Gru has a small rebellion on his hands. Now that he’s free from being a Good Guy, his Minions, led by Mel, believe Gru should return to a life of villainy. Gru put the kibosh on that and the Minions walked out – there’s a few fancy numbers in here and a rather amusing prison montage that breathes life into an otherwise sleepy gag. You don’t see much of the Minions in this movie as they have their own side adventure. It’s cute, but why they’re making another full length feature (due in 2020) is beyond me. The cherry on top of this poop sundae is Gru finding out he has a twin brother who comes complete with money and a fabulous head of hair.
There is of course another super villain in all of this, Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker). He’s that rare breed of surviving if emotionally-stunted 80’s child star. His master plan involves a plan taken from his canceled TV show, so you know it’s going to turn out well.
There’s a side story about Lucy struggling with the transition from Agent to Mom, but it’s shrill and a little artificial.
Oh well.
Like some of the other sequels I’ve seen this year (Alien: Covenant, Transformers: The Last Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Rings), this is a movie for completionists only. If you’re not a Minions fan or Despicable Me fan, wait for the DVD or skip it all together. Chuckle-worthy, yes, but not the laugh out loud fun you may be expecting. It’s standard fare that can be appreciated by the very small or emotionally stunted.
Despicable Me 3 is rated PG for the thrilling action, reckless driving and flying with car-plane hybrids that carry impossible weapon payloads, as well as the cute, if crude humor that comes from Minions baring their bottoms for banana prison tattoos and green gaseous farts.