MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU -- An Adorably Hilarious Outing for the Little Yellow Goofballs

Review by Camden Ferrell

In 2010, Despicable Me was released in theaters and Minions became a global phenomenon. One can see them in all successive movies as well as on merchandise and in theme parks. They had their first solo outing in 2015’s Minions and are about to embark on their second solo movie Minions: The Rise of Gru. You should know what to expect going into this movie, and for those who are willing to sit back and go along for the ride, you will be treated with a silly, adorable, and quite hilarious family film that surpasses its predecessor.
 
At the end of their first movie, the Minions meet their future boss Gru. This movie, as one can interpret from its title, follows the ascension of Gru to villainous prominence, but this is still a Minions movie more than anything. I think the introduction of Gru to the narrative helps things feel more grounded, but it’s great that the Minions still command the spotlight in their own movie.
 
While on the surface, the writing appears to be on par with other entries in this franchise, it seems that they’ve finally cracked the code to writing a movie starring characters who speak their own language. Since Minionese is their primary form of communication, the movie relies heavily on physical comedy and interaction, and this sequel does a great job of balancing this out with its own narrative and human characters. This prevents it from feeling tired or repetitive as the original could often fall victim to such a flaw. 

This movie features familiar actors and new ones as well who are great additions to the series. Pierre Coffin lends his voice to the army of Minions and is just as good as ever. Steve Carell returns as Gru and is able to add a lot of comedy to the movie as well. New cast members that I really enjoyed consists of acclaimed actors like Michelle Yeoh, Alan Arkin, and Taraji P. Henson. The ensemble isn’t amazing, but they are fun and energetic additions to this movie.
 
While it doesn’t have Pixar levels of maturity, this is a movie that kids will definitely love due to its nonstop antics, but adults will also probably find much to enjoy in this harmless and hilarious film. Its message isn’t original or unique, but this movie never fails to make you smile thanks to a hefty dose of Minions in nearly every scene.
 
Minions: The Rise of Gru might be the best movie in this franchise so far, and it has plenty to enjoy from its great comedy, cute leading characters, and some fun cameos and easter eggs for fans of the series. As it gets hotter outside and schools are let out for the summer, this is definitely a good way to entertain yourselves in theaters this coming week.
 
Minions: The Rise of Gru is in theaters July 1.
 
Rating: 4/5