Number 4 is fun no more.
Animated movies have different approaches towards kids and adults. It’s all based on how the viewers are able to view the movie or whether or not they can stay in their seats and keep their parents sane. I acknowledge the reactions all the time. Even with the wonderful sequel “Inside Out 2,” I’m sure kids would be restless with the behaviors within them. I’m sure, in fact, I’m absolutely positive that they be as rambunctious as they watch “Despicable Me 4.”
I’ve been a big fan of the “Despicable Me” movies ever since those yellow Minions reached for 3D greatness and became purple monsters and ever since Steve Carell has been able to have fun voicing their villainous master Gru, who has been able to make himself a better person. But there comes a certain point when the franchise’s billon dollar success has consumed the heart and hilarity of it. I felt that disillusionment with the prequel-sequel “Minions: The Rise of Gru” and now, “Despicable Me 4.”
As fans know, Gru and his wife Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wiig) are agents of the Anti Villain League (AVL), and because he busts the film’s new villain-the French cockroach enthusiast Maxine Le Mal (voiced by Will Ferrell)-he and his family must be in the AVL’s witness protection program. And because they have to live under the last name-Cunningham-their youngest daughter Agnes (now voiced by Madison Skyy Polan) refuses to lie about her fake identity, which reminds me nothing more than Cailou throwing a tantrum about not going to the circus today. And he was going tomorrow.
Speaking of which, all three girls-Margo (voiced by Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (voiced by Dana Gaier), and Agnes, are still the same age, because director Chris Renaud admitted that they wanted to follow “The Simpsons” tradition that they’re “frozen in time.” Meaning they don’t really want the girls to grow up. But Gru now has a bouncing baby Gru-Gru Jr. (voiced by Tara Strong) to be exact-so I’m going to have to assume in the next movie he’ll still be a baby like Maggie Simpson. But given his typical surly disposition against his father, his diaper changes in the Minion style of a NASCAR pit crew, and his ability to use pouches to tame an angry honey badger, maybe he should find himself in “The Incredibles” universe and have a playdate with Jack Jack. But I don’t want to give Disney any ideas.
And what becomes of the Minions this time? The once retired AVL leader Silas Ramsbottom (voiced by Steve Coogan) develops a new superhero program, where five of them can be yellow, silly versions of the X-Men and the Fantastic 4. The Mega Minions to be exact. And I think one of them looks like round, but better looking version of The Thing.
And that honey badger comes in when Gru’s new neighbor Poppy (voiced by Joey King) aspires to be a villainess, and that animal was his alma mater’s mascot. So, kidnapping him could boost her admission recommendation.
I’ve almost always appreciated the company for their choices of star-studded voice actors and lively characters (“Sing,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”), but I also think they should start trying elements we wouldn’t have expected from them. I’ll probably enjoy their next entry, or maybe the one after that. I can’t predict the future. But I can’t praise their current entry, “Despicable Me 4,” which has too many subplots crammed into one small movie.
It has the bright colors to entertain kids, and it does have its own cover version of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” with all of Gru’s enemies cameoing (and I knew Vector would eventually come back to Earth somehow), but it doesn’t really break new grounds. When you’re a kid, you have the spirit to eat up the Minion Mayhem and adventures. But when you’re an adult, you prefer the original, which was an unexpected delight. Maybe this franchise will make a comeback, but for now, I stopped caring. Sorry, Gru. This can’t ride without an adult.
