Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

It’s no surprise that the minions have become a worldwide phenomenon, their appeal to younger children is easy to understand (although in some cases, the obsession amongst many adults is baffling) and through three Despicable Me films (2010-2017) and the original Minions spin-off (2015) they, and Steve Carell’s Gru, have charmed millions across the globe. I’ve never quite got on board with the mad minions sub-culture, although the films themselves are harmless enough. It’s always been a stronger experience when Gru is involved, and although the Minions spin off was fine, it lacked the character that Steve Carell so wonderfully voices. So it’s great to report that Minions: The Rise Of Gru is, for my money, the best film of the lot. Set as a prequel to the original Despicable Me trilogy, we follow a young Gru as he attempts to become a part of the infamous ‘Vicious 6’ a criminal enterprise dubbed the most villainous in the world. After his job interview goes badly, he ends up joining forces with Wild Knuckles (voiced by Alan Arkin), an ex-member of the gang who betrayed him and left him for dead, to best the Vicious 6, accompanied of course, by the minions. Set in the seventies, the film has a rich colour palette to complement the time, and the film nods to everything from Mission: Impossible (1996-Present) to Kill Bill (2003-2004) in a frenetic ninety minutes that barely gives you time to think. Which is probably just as well, thinking about the ludicrousness of what you’re watching won’t do you any favours; instead, just go with the slapstick nonsense of it all, and enjoy the wonderful touches and nudges along the way. It’s difficult to see how they string out another movie after this one, but then again, I said that after the original Despicable Me, and here we are on the fifth outing for the young lads. 6.9/10