Film review: ‘Despicable Me 4’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’

With their mix of sci fi and espionage film inventiveness, loveable quirky characters and violent slapstick humour, the Despicable Me/ Minions films have been some of the most fun and beloved animated movies of recent years.  The last film in this franchise, Minions: The Rise of Gru, was particularly appealing to the all-important Gen-Xers with its groovy 1970’s vibe and new batch of comical characters like the sinewy, fist fighting old man, Wild Knuckles. The fourth instalment in the Despicable saga maintains most of the series’ energy and humour but it suffers from a generic plot and a story that’s both overstuffed and underdeveloped.

This film sees Gru (Steve Carell) and family forced to flee to a safe house when Gru’s old nemesis Maxime La Mal (Will Ferrell) a bouffanted, taunting Frenchman in a pimp costume escapes from prison and comes after him.  In their new and very upmarket neighbourhood, Gru’s unconventional family have to deal with something just as menacing as a super villain, snooty yuppies.

With a touch of Addams Family culture clash, teen dilemmas, all the typical antics of Gru’s minion buddies as well as the main story of Gru’s battle with Maxime, there’s alot going on here.  Consequently, too many of the plot threads such as wife Lucy’s (Kristin Wiig) chaotic work experience and daughter Margo’s (Miranda Cosgrove) apparent exposure to school bullying aren’t developed.  Also, subplots like Gru’s teenage mean girl neighbour Poppy (Joey King) turning into a would-be supervillain just fizzle out.

Also, the film tends to jump around between characters and their subplots rather than build a clear through-line.  That fragmented style is reflected in the soundtrack which flips rapidly between bits of classic rock like Van Halen and other 80’s favourites.  As a result, the plot lacks momentum and feels more like a collection of set pieces and half-formed ideas rather than a cohesive storyline.

The film also feels more derivative than the other Despicable and Minions films, at one point a quartet of Minions mutate into something very reminiscent of Marvel Comics Fantastic Four while Gru’s confrontation with Maxime recalls the Austin Powers movies.

Despicable Me 4 still delivers plenty of amusement through the hapless Gru’s misadventures, some clever sight gags and dynamic action sequences.  The littlies will also be delighted by the minions’ crazed antics even though these creatures are at times a little brutal toward each other.

Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell all do fine voice work but Sophia Vergara isn’t given nearly enough to work with as Maxime’s femme fatale sidekick Valentina.

The animation is typically excellent, though, mixing a vivid sense of realism with an otherworldly quality.

This is a flawed film and suggests that the franchise may be losing a little of its magic but having set the bar pretty high it’s still a worthy piece of family entertainment.

Nick’s rating: ***

Genre: Comedy/ Action/ Adventure/ Animation.

Classification: PG.

Director(s): Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage.

Release date: 20th June 2024.

Running time: 95 mins.

Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

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