Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Directors: Kyle Balda & Pierre Coffin, Universal Pictures, PG, 90 Minutes.
To add some cheerfulness to everyone’s day during these COVID-times comes the third in the popular ‘Despicable Me’ franchise.
Again featuring Steve Carell as the voice behind the character Gru, together with Kristen Wiig as his feisty wife Lucy.
As agents of the Anti-Villain League (AVL), Gru and Lucy are on the trail of bad guy, Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker – TV’s ‘South Park’), who after stealing the world’s largest diamond then escapes by using self-inflatable bubble gum.
For failing to stop Bratt from getting away both Gru and Lucy are fired by their new boss Valerie Da Vinci (Jenny Slate – ‘Zootopia’), they return home to find some solace from their children and their many minions.
Then out of the blue a stranger informs Gru that he has a long-lost brother called Dru (also voiced by Carell), this compells Gru, Lucy, their three young girls-Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Nev Scharell) to visit Dru.
After learning of his brother’s changed circumstance Dru convinces Gru to join him in his first heist to steal back the diamond from Bratt, this turns out to be as amusing as it is disastrous for the despairing Dru.
The real challenge for both brothers comes in the concluding scenes as they try to stop a giant sized robot of Bratt that’s attempting to run riot over Hollywood and using the diamond to send destructive rays over tinsel town.
This third instalment from directors Balda, Coffin and co-director Guillon would have to be by far the best in the franchise despite its fanciful storyline and some over-the-top scenes.
Apart from Wiig’s wonderful portrayal of her Lucy character there is Carell’s perfectly-pitched performances, voicing the differing characteristics of both brothers in this movie and demonstrating once again the enormous talent of this celebrated comedian.
Even though ‘Despicable Me 3’ may be aimed at a younger audience, it will certainly have special appeal to adults alike during these difficult times.
Despicable Me 3 is to be televised on 9GO at 7.00pm on Saturday 13 March.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
