After three Despicable Me movies and one stand-alone Minion film, the Minions and Gru are back for a prequel. Minions: The Rise of Gru is the story of how the greatest villain got his henchmen and even Gru’s story of how he got his start in being a villain.
But is there enough to keep fans happy and to bring viewers into the theater? The short answer – is yes. The movie starts out a bit slow, you see Gru as a child and him stating his desire to be a super villain in class, and being laughed at by his classmates. You meet the Viscious 6, the evilest super villains who have cheesy and punny names – that of course, Gru looks up to. There are a few eye-roll moments, but after that – the movie quickly recovers and finds it’s momentum and will convert even the harshest of critics.
Minions: The Rise of Gru takes you back to the 1970s suburbia filled with hippies, retro style, and a soundtrack that you’ll love – even the Minions’ rendition of some of your classic favorites. The peace-loving time period tosses in an adventure with an ancient amulet, a job interview with super villains, and a Chinese New Years’ festival that includes an epic battle scene and one of the most adorable minions to date.
Of course, the movie has a lot of silly Minion antics, and their adorable minion speak that by now we almost think we understand. But the movie also has a lot of nods towards the original movie and things that fans will notice from the original series and characters that make appearances later. It uses the world that Despicable Me built up and gives fans the origin story for a lot of the world that was built later in fun ways that will have you laughing.
Yes, Minions: The Rise of Gru is ridiculous but isn’t that why we fell in love with the series originally? Gru is still the lovable bad guy, but the Minions always steal the show and fans hearts.
Have a Minions fan in your house? They’re going to absolutely love this new movie. Filled with the origin story of Gru and his Minions and other Easter Eggs that fans will recognize from the original movies, it’s a fun adventure that seems to be just the perfect length for young viewers. Minions: The Rise of Gru hits theaters this weekend.
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About Minions: The Rise of Gru:
This summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled in Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement.
It’s not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions.
When the infamous supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6, oust their leader—legendary martial arts fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar® winner Alan Arkin)— Gru, their most devoted fanboy, interviews to become their newest member. The Vicious 6 is not impressed by the diminutive, wannabe villain, but then Gru outsmarts (and enrages) them, and he suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to master the art of kung fu to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.
Featuring more spectacular action than any film in Illumination history and packed with the franchise’s signature subversive humor, Minions: The Rise of Gru stars a thrilling new cast, including, the Vicious 6: Taraji P. Henson as cool and confident leader Belle Bottom, whose chain belt doubles as a lethal disco-ball mace; Jean-Claude Van Damme as the nihilistic Jean Clawed, who’s armed (literally) with a giant robotic claw; Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, whose traditional nun’s habit hides her deadly nun-chucks; Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, who dispenses his enemies with spin kicks from his spiked skates; and Danny Trejo as Stronghold, whose giant iron hands are both a menace to others and a burden to him.
The film also stars Russell Brand asYoung Dr. Nefario, an aspiring mad scientist, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, an acupuncturist with mad kung fu skills, and Oscar® winner Julie Andrews as Gru’s maddeningly self-absorbed mom.