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In 2010, audiences of all ages fell in love with Despicable Me, the story of three adorable orphan girls, the heartless villain who takes them in, and the dim-witted Minions who are always close at hand. Now the whole crew is back for a crazy new adventure in Despicable Me 2.
The sequel finds retired super-villain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) enjoying a new and unfamiliar life with his three adopted daughters. Now that he’s a parent, Gru has decided to settle down—so when the Anti-Villain League asks him to help bring down a powerful new villain, he quickly declines the offer.
Unfortunately, though, Gru’s new jams and jellies business isn’t exactly an overwhelming success. So, missing the excitement of his old evil life, he agrees to go undercover with pretty AVL agent Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig)—and he soon finds himself face-to-face with a blast from his villainous past.
Like its predecessor, Despicable Me 2 is thrilling and clever, with a surprisingly wicked sense of humor and an eye for comic details. It isn’t an especially sophisticated comedy—the juvenile Minions and their noxious fart guns see to that—but it’s wonderfully silly and full of surprises.
The animation, meanwhile, is appropriately colorful and imaginative, with bright, cartoony sets that serve as a perfectly wacky world for the quirky characters. Gru has changed since we first met him. Now, instead of obsessing about darker things, like his status as a super-villain, he’s hosting birthday parties and dressing up like a fairy princess to entertain his kids. And that makes him even more charming than before. The girls, of course, are as cute as ever. And, together, this sweet and spunky little family makes the film every bit as adorable as it is action-packed.
Still, the nearly non-stop silliness of this animated adventure does sometimes feel a bit spastic. While the main story focuses on Gru’s mission, there are a number of little subplots running popping up along the way—like Gru’s non-existent love life, the mysterious disappearance of many of his Minions, and a budding romance between eldest daughter Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) and a “deviously charming” young man. There’s so much going on, in fact, that the story sometimes feels like a series of episodes, all patched together.
With its brilliant mix of action and romance—of kid-friendly comedy and parent-friendly references—Despicable Me 2 is a fun-filled animated adventure for boys and girls, moms and dads. It isn’t quite as cohesive—or as memorable—as the original, but it’s still a great choice for family movie night.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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