DESPICABLE ME 4

US, 2024, 95 minutes, Colour.

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.

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 very 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 (Steve Coogan) engaging the help of now reformed Gru (the popular Steve Carell).

This time we have a new villain, top graduate to Gru’s jealousy, a Frenchman, Maxime (voiced by Will 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 actually caught and imprisoned but, of course, escaping and continued to threaten.

We have seen it before but we are happy to see it all again! This time 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, their shapes, yellow colour, range of situations, 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 Minions!

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 its daddy.

1. The popularity of the Despicable Me series, Gru and his adventures, the presence of the Minions?
2. The animation style, colour, movement, settings, real and imaginative? The characters in this style? The range of the Minions? The voice cast? The musical score?
3. The continuation from the previous film, the Institute, villains, the management, the awards? The social, Gru dramatic arrival, with the Minions, his expectations, the clash with Maxime? Maxime winning the award? His speech and attitudes? Ambitions? The picture of his girlfriend, Valentina, lips on lipstick?
4. Maxime and his career, the clash with Gru, the threats, the threats to the family, their going to the safe house, the continued threats? The visit of the old lady from the Institute?
5. Gru, his wife, support, the family, the happy scenes, the teenage daughter, the little children, the scenes with the new baby, severe with his father, smiling at his mother? His finally being abducted, Gru to the rescue, Maxime and his controlling the baby, the baby finally acting, reconciled with father, family?
6. Maxime and his actions, crimes, reputation, daredevil? Is arrest, imprisonment? His escape?
7. The buildup to the confrontation between Maxime and Gru, the action sequences, in the air, the flight, the baby, over the city, precarious situations?
8. Ramsbottom, his organisation, warning Gru, wanting his help, supervision?
9. The comedy with the Minions, the characters, behaviour, voices and sounds, action? And the variety of Minions, being called from all occupations, gathering, the Minion force?
10. An entertainment for children and adults?