Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Sofia Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Miranda Cosgrove, Chloe Fineman, Steve Coogan, Chris Renaud, Dana Gaier, Madison Polan
Genre: Family, Comedy, Animation
Director: Chris Renaud
In Irish Cinemas: Now
When Gru’s (Steve Carell) old nemesis, Maxime le Mal (Will Ferrell), is released from prison, Gru and his family must adopt new identities and go undercover in a new town. As they adapt to their secretive new lives, the Minions rise to heroic heights.
It may have been seven years since the last Despicable Me movie. Still, Despicable Me 4 will feel familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in the ever-expanding billion-dollar franchise. This latest instalment features all the hallmarks of Illumination Studios: a steady stream of danceable pop music, an eye-popping palette, and colourful characters with big, round eyes and distinct, angular shapes. Much is happening in reformed supervillain Gru’s latest adventure (Steve Carell).
There are about half a dozen subplots, none of which come together meaningfully. One, involving the young, wannabe villain Poppy (Joey King), goes nowhere, although it does provide a few amusing visual gags. There are glimpses of an exciting story—one thread hints at Gru feeling insecure about his new baby disliking him—but it never gets a chance to develop. This is the most disconnected entry in the franchise yet. The screenplay by Mike White and Ken Daurio prioritises gags over the story.
New characters need more impact. The uninspired big evil Maxime le Mal (Will Ferrell) has an unhealthy obsession with cockroaches and a lifelong hatred for Gru due to a mishap at their high school talent show. His girlfriend Valentina (Sofia Vergara) fares worse, existing purely to feign boredom. It’s incredibly frustrating since they take so much time away from the characters we’ve come to love, including a surprisingly minimal amount of Minions in Despicable Me 4. Speaking of Minions, the new batch shows more promise.
A group of everyone’s favourite yellow creatures are turned into superheroes — dubbed the Mega Minions. They are riffs on familiar superheroes like The Thing and Elastigirl, and one gag even recalls a moment in Incredibles 2. They’re presented with a clever twist that allows for many laughs. Though there’s an overall lack of cohesion, there is still some fun to be had here. Despite being the weakest effort in the franchise, it manages a few laughs.
The movie looks fantastic, Gru remains lovable, and younger viewers will be engaged enough. However, Despicable Me 4 stalls with its overstuffed plot and need for an exciting narrative.
Overall: 6/10
Movie Reviewer
