You can’t help but be charmed by the current of weirdness that washes through the computer-animated “Despicable Me” franchise which debuts this week in theatres and is worth the price of a ticket.
The movie introduces a collection of colourful new villains, including Jean Clawed, who’s voiced by Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Nun-chuck, a Lucy Lawless-voiced character who, yes, is a nun-chucks-wielding nun. Yet while a young version of the series’ anti-hero, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), is front and center in this romp, the draw continues to be the Minions. The odd but obedient little yellow fellows voiced distinctly and clever again by the uniquely gifted Pierre Coffin
After an adventure that ultimately landed them in the late 1960s, we meet up with them, serving a nearly 12-year-old Gru, in the mid-’70s. Gru worships a daring supervillain team of the day, the Vicious 6. In the movie’s opening minutes, the group travels to Asia to steal a powerful item known as the Zodiac Stone. After the gang’s leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin), narrowly escapes with it, another member the Afro-sporting Belle Bottom (Taraji P. Henson), snatches it from him and literally cuts him out of the team, filling the sudden leadership void herself.
Gru is thrilled when he’s granted a chance to interview for the opening with the Vicious 6 and excitedly heads for an interview in their secret lair within the music store Criminal Records. There, Gru meets a future associate, then-aspiring mad scientist Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), but the interview is a bust. However, in hopes of impressing Belle Bottom and company, Gru swipes the Zodiac Stone. Instead, that puts him in their crosshairs and leads him to his favourite baddie, Wild Knuckles, who becomes his mentor.
Meanwhile, the familiar Minion trio of Kevin, Stuart and Bob are worried about Gru and try to catch up with him, while a new minion character, the larger, almost-round and highly chatty Otto tries to redeem himself after disappointing Gru.
Ultimately, the Minion-fulled gags are enough, such as when our fearless trio takes the place of a flight crew and attempts to fly a passenger jet to San Francisco. I won’t spoil all the fun, but be aware it is one of at least two instances where you’ll get a peek at bare Minion behind. Well, i can say this is another clever, weird and again entirely Minion-y experience.
To watch the trailer click on the link below
