Despicable Me 3

Gru and the Minions are back for more colourful havoc in Despicable Me 3...

Now working for the AVL (Anti-Villain League) alongside his new wife Lucy (voiced by Kristin Wiig), Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) encounters a new enemy; 80’s-obsessed villain Balthazar Bratt (voiced by Trey Parker). After a botched encounter with Bratt, Gru receives word from his long-lost brother Dru (also voiced by Carell). Gru, Lucy and Gru’s adopted daughters Margo (voiced by Miranda Cosgrave), Agnes (voiced by Nev Scharrel) and Edith (voiced by Dana Gaier) travel to meet Dru, who has an proposition for Gru. And, of course, the Minions are getting up to their usual mischief.

2010’s Despicable Me was a genuine surprise. Over-the-top and gleefully silly, the film was a cheerful and very enjoyable family animation. While nothing game-changing, it had enough charm and humour to stick with audiences. The unexpected success of the film in both cinema and home entertainment led to a still-entertaining, if slightly rambling, sequel in 2013’s Despicable Me 2, which was the third highest-grossing film at the worldwide box office that year (behind Iron Man 3 and Frozen). And considering that 2015 spin-off Minions broke $1 billion at the worldwide box office, Despicable Me 3 really wasn’t a surprising prospect. While the formula is starting to become slightly rote, there is still enough frenetic energy, visual wit and appealing voice-work here to make Despicable Me 3 an amusing, if familiar, summer pastime.

Steve Carell once again vanishes into the role of Gru with spirited abandon, blending his goofy villainy with a warm-hearted likability. Carell also gets a bit more work to do here voicing Dru, and he excels at portraying Gru’s more giddily excitable and unpolished twin. The scenes between Gru and Dru mark the most interesting new dynamic of the series, watching these two different yet similar brothers getting to know each other. Kristin Wiig is delightfully eccentric as Lucy, and the trio of Miranda Cosgrove, Nev Scharrel and Dana Gaier again breathe eclectic, bubbly life into the roles of Margo, Agnes and Edith respectively. In supporting roles, Steve Coogan is nigh-on un-recognisable as Dru’s butler Fritz (he also briefly voices the head of the AVL, Silas Ramsbottom), while there is a amusing return from one of the original film’s cast members. And, as Balthazar Bratt. Trey Parker (South Park’s Eric Cartman) brings a manical pep to every scene he’s in. Bratt is an inspired comical invention; his backstory and reason for being a villain, as well as his fascination with the 80’s, is hilarious. Parker’s vocal stamina enlivens every moment when Bratt’s on screen, but I wish he had more moments. I understand that Gru’s opponents have never been a pivotal focus in prior films, but with a creation as delightful as Bratt, I wish they’d changed the formula slightly (we’ll get back to the formula later).

While I have no issues with the cast, the writing and story (both by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio) leave something to be desired. The narrative is alternatively over-stuffed and flimsy, giving too much screen-time to pointless subplots whilst lacking enough creative juice to support a feature-length run-time. While entertaining (the Minions get into some amusingly out-there situations), some of this material feels more like a Minion short film than part of a feature length film. In all honesty, these subplots take away time I would rather be spending with Gru and Dru, or with Bratt. Also, while the scenes between Gru and Dru are fun, Lucy’s sub-plot is thoroughly predictable. Wiig is still a lovable presence and the moments between Lucy and Gru do have an endearing sweetness, but I wish they had given both Wiig and her character a story which didn’t feel so cliched for a family film.

Technically, DM3 falls in line with the other entries from the series. The soundtrack is full of enjoyable pop songs which only implement the film’s light-heartedness. The animation is consistently lively and vibrant, although it sometimes feels a bit hectic. Directors Kyle Balda, Eric Guillon and Pierre Coffin (the latter of whom also provides the ticklish vocals for the Minions) hit the beats efficiently, providing exactly what audiences have come to expect.

‘Providing exactly what audiences have come to expect’ can be either a good thing or a bad thing. I won’t say that Despicable Me 3 is bad, but there’s a growing sense of the obviously formulaic. Another recent third entry in a family series, Cars 3, showed elements of the formula for that series whilst also taking things in a new, interesting and surprisingly soulful direction. Despicable Me 3 is content with keeping things (mostly) the same, and while some will love it, I’m starting to find it a bit tiresome and hollow. Again, I don’t hate the film. There’s sufficient zest, silliness, bright animation and inspired vocal work to make DM3 an entertaining watch, and there’s an admittedly interesting set-up which might bring some of the audience back for a fourth instalment. But, if there aren’t a few new ingredients to the established recipe, I don’t think I’ll be a part of that audience.        

Final Rating: 3 out of 5