Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Directors: Kyle Balda, Brad Abelson, Jonathan Del Val, Universal Pictures.
Adults should join the young ones for some entertaining escapism with this computer-animated action comedy.
In what is the fifth overall movie in the Despicable Me franchise, the second Minion spin-off shows mischief is at the heart of this series. Nevertheless, the minions do show dependability and collaboration, at the same time functioning to save the naïve, young and brave Gru (voiced by Steve Carell).
The 11-year-old Gru plans to become a supervillain, assisted by the Minions, whom he has hired to work for him. He’s ecstatic when he receives an audition invitation from the supervillain team led by Belle Bottom – Vicious 6.
Hopes are high of finding a new member to replace their founder, the supervillain Wild Knuckles, following their betrayal and the presumed death of Knuckles during a heist to steal the Zodiac Stone, a stone connected to the Chinese zodiac. Gru’s interview goes poorly, as he is ridiculed due to his young age. However, much to the outrage of the Vicious 6, he manages to steal the stone and escapes with Minions Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, handing the stone to another Minion, Otto, for safekeeping.
There are two other plot-hefty stories. One concerns the Minions learning kung fu from Master Chow (Michelle Yeoh) in order to save Gru after he’s been kidnapped, and the other is the surviving Wild Knuckles’ San Francisco-based quest for revenge.
The impressive voice cast includes:
- Steve Carell is Gru, a rising supervillain and the boss of the Minions
- Pierre Coffin is Kevin, Stuart, Bob, Ott – and rest of the Minions
- Taraji P. Hensonas Belle Bottom, the newly-appointed leader of the Vicious 6
- Julie Andrews is Marlena, Gru’s mother
- Alan Arkin as Wild Knuckles, the former leader of the Vicious 6.
They are all fun to listen to.
- Minions: The Rise of Gru is screening in cinemas
