Anthony's Film Review - Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Despicable Me 2 provides more of the humor and heart of the first movie...

The first Despicable Me movie was one that I almost didn't want to watch, because it looked mediocre and average on the surface. But once I gave it a try, I was in for a treat. It's not a great movie, but it's good enough on a basic level for the whole family. It was enough for me to give Despicable Me 2 a chance, and I'm happy to say that it's not inferior to the first movie. If you're the kind of person who wants a sequel that must be better than the original, you won't find it here. But if you don't want a movie that is less fun, don't worry. Despicable Me 2 is still good.

As before, Steve Carell provides the voice of the main character named Gru, who had been a supervillain in the first movie but has become a family man under unusual circumstances. In the beginning of the movie, he is holding a birthday party for one of his three foster daughters. However, another supervillain has used a giant airborne magnet to steal a top-secret laboratory from the Arctic Circle. This is when a woman named Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wiig) kidnaps Gru, not because she is a villain but because she is a member of the Anti-Villain League that would like Gru's help in finding the perpetrator behind the Arctic laboratory heist.

What makes Despicable Me 2 a fun movie is that the story is like a spy adventure, but it doesn't really feel like one. That's because the mission to uncover the villain begins at a shopping mall. Intelligence indicates that the villain is one of three suspects, each running a different kind of business at the mall. In addition, family situations occur at the same place, like when the three girls show up while Gru is doing his spy work and when one of the girls thinks Gru and Lucy might fall in love.

Before I forget, let me talk about the one thing in the Despicable Me movies that is as amusing as the main story, or perhaps more so: the Minions. Those funny and lovable little yellow creatures are back doing all the work that Gru orders, with humorous results. This time, however, they are a bit more important to the plot, not only a funny sideshow. Hopefully, that should satisfy those who want more from the Minions than just physical comedy. But if that's all you want to see with the Minions, you'll certainly be happy about their presence.

Despicable Me 2 is really like the first movie in terms of the pacing, humor, and heart. At the same time, it manages to provide enough new material to make the movie a fresh new entry to the series instead of an exact repeat. For example, the movie features a memorable upbeat song by Pharrell Williams called "Happy," which is inspiring even outside the context of this movie. Overall, if you're a Despicable Me fan, you'll no doubt enjoy Despicable Me 2. It'll make you laugh and smile, whether as a kid or as an adult (or maybe even as a Minion).

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Despicable Me 2, visit the Internet Movie Database.

In addition, check out my reviews of the following:

The Despicable Me/Minions Films