Despicable Me 2 Review

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrave, Elsie Kate Fisher, Dana Gaier, Steve Coogan, Ken Jeong, Benjamin Bratt

Running Time: 98 Minutes

Certificate: U

Synopsis: Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.

DESPICABLE ME was released in 2010 and it’s unique use of humour and approach really, and quite unexpectedly, greatly impressed me. The elements of slapstick comedy, alongside a script and visual humour that pushes very close to the child/adult divide is unlike other mainstream animation around and deserves more praise than most. DESPICABLE ME 2 also succeeds on all those levels, with an added ‘relationship’ interest to the narrative with the introduction of a love interest for Gru and, let me say this very quickly, Gru & his crazy crew of mischievous, marvellous minions return for more inventive adventures!

After stealing the Moon and returning it in their first outing, Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) is now a retired ex-super villain but with the full-time job of being a single parent with dreams of a proper, non-villainous career.  He’s got his girls to look after, the loveable troublesome trio of Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Agnes (It’s So FLUFFY! – Elsie Kate Fisher) and Edith (Dana Gaier) return and their adopted father has turned to making Jam & Jellies instead of masterminding evil deeds, except he’s not worked out how to get the flavour right, well, his minions haven’t.

Yes, those masterful minions, the kings of slapstick and visual comedy are still a massive part of proceedings in DESPICABLE ME 2 and it’s all the good for it. On the sad side, his trusty partner Dr Nefario (voiced by Russell Brand), isn’t happy with his career anymore, because he’s missing all the bad things they used to do and so Gru is out on his own.

However, when a mysterious new foe steals a science laboratory with a giant magnet spaceship, we’re introduced to secret spy Lucy Wilde. The wonderful Kristen Wiig lends her voice to Lucy and her character is as quirky and quick-witted (in both a fighting and comedy sense) as Gru. She works for the Anti-Villain League (AVL) and has been recruited to team up with Gru, so they can both hunt down the baddie and try to save the world from an unknown terror but don’t worry, this isn’t political at all as DESPICABLE ME 2 is so brilliantly separated from reality, you’re too involved in the action.

So yes, the minions, they’ve definitely got a bigger part to play in this follow-up, and they’re still just as laugh as out funny for many reasons. The jokes range from visual stupidity, to severe pain and onto some ridiculously childish chuckles that will have you laughing along, in fact, if you don’t then it’s likely you’ve never laughed at a funny name or word.

DESPICABLE ME 2 has gone bigger and braver and they’ve done it brilliantly. It could be said that the plot isn’t as tight as the first and it nearly becomes a little too domestic in places but most sequels hit that from time-to-time. I initially didn’t see the need for a follow-up to the original madness but they’ve hit all the right notes of that kid/adult crossover once again and, to be completely honest, it’s the best fun I’ve had in ages.

DESPICABLE ME 2 opens in the UK on June 28th