#150 Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Dir: Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud

“Bottom”

When the world comes under threat from a new super villain, reformed Gru (Steve Carrell), now a family man settled with his adopted daughters, is brought in by the Anti-Villain League to help them protect the world. He is partnered up with agent Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), and with a little help from the Minions must find this new menace before his evil scheme is unleashed.

The “Bottom” line was Mark Kermode’s favourite of the film, made even more funny for me as when I saw it I had a middle-aged man repeating that word over and over again going through my head. However that was not my first or last laugh of the film, it’s full of funny moments and lines!

The first ‘Despicable Me’ film didn’t instantly strike a chord with me when I first saw it in the cinema on release, but with subsequent viewings, often with small children, I grew to really enjoy it more and warm to all the characters. I think that’s a good part of why this sequel was so eagerly anticipated, so well received by critics and audiences, and myself included. It has done incredible business in the worldwide box office, and I think that a 3rd is inevitable.

That’s made even more likely now with the new character of Lucy, who is brilliantly voiced by Kristen Wiig, who did lend her voice in a small role to the first film, but here is far more suited to the ‘kooky’ personality of this enthusiastic agent who has a soft-spot for Gru. Her character is very much needed, as Gru’s has changed so much, as though the film title still describes him as ‘Despicable’ he isn’t any longer. Thus, pairing him with someone else helps with the change in his character, putting him into a very funny and good-natured partnership as they work together ineptly.

Before any ‘Despicable Me 3’ is made, there is definitely a future Minions spinoff movie in the works. I’m not sure how well that will work as they can’t really articulate themselves so well, but it does seem that there will be a human villain that the minions will be paired with to provide the main part of the dialogue, and apparently she will be voiced by Sandra Bullock!

I’m probably looking forward to Sandy B and the minions a little more than a grown man should be!