DESPICABLE ME 4, US, 2024. Voices of: Steve Carell, Kristin Wiig, Joey King, Will Ferrell, Sofia Vergara, Miranda Cosgrove, Pierre Coffin, Steve Coogan, Stephen Colbert. Directed by Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage. 95 minutes. Rated PG (Mild animated violence)
We might wonder how often we use the word ‘despicable’ in real life. However, since 2010 and the first Despicable Me film, the first thing we think of when we hear the word (well, most of those who are younger) are the films and, especially, with all respect to Gru, the Minions. They appeared in Despicable Me 2 in 2013, had their own film in 2015, reappeared in Despicable Me 3 in 2017. And, of course, these films can be regularly seen on streaming. The Minions are always with us. But, it is something of a surprise to find that it is seven years since the previous film.
It takes up where 3 left off; the Institute for villains, the escapades of some of the graduates, the agency led by Silas Ramsbottom (Coogan) engaging the help of now reformed Gru (the popular Carell). This time we have a new villain, top graduate to Gru’s jealousy, a Frenchman, Maxime (voiced by Ferrell). He is vain, something of a peacock in clothes and strutting, has an odd criminal girlfriend who spends most of her time putting on lipstick, determined to be a worldwide criminal phenomenon.
It doesn’t quite work out that way. Ramsbottom summoning Gru into action. Since we know Gru from the past, we know that this isn’t going to be swift justice being done, a whole lot of situations going wrong, Maxime caught and imprisoned but, of course, escaping and a continued threat.
We have seen it before, but are happy to see it all again. We see Gru’s wife and children again but there is a new bundle of joy, a baby son. He is a bundle of joy for his mother, always smiling and goo-gooing, but scowling at his father. Which means then that the baby offers an opportunity for Maxime to take him as a hostage, Gru in pursuit (even on high buildings, on an aircraft, all over the place).
And the Minions, plenty of them, sometimes awkward, often to the rescue, then mumbling and chirping, even, at one stage, their Academy, and dozens of them there on screen. And we are thinking and feeling, long live the Minion.
Lots of action, lots of colour, lots of comic situations (and the question of how long this kind of action franchise can continue), happy family reunion, and the baby now goo-gooing at its daddy.
Universal
Released 20 June 2024