MINIONS (PG)
Released by Universal Pictures
Reviewed by Adam Mast
Sometimes, supporting characters are best left being supporting characters. That theory has never been more evident than it is in the well-intentioned MINIONS, an animated movie that, despite its energy and lively vocal work, has a difficult time matching the pure joy and creative pulse of the films that spawned it. A shame too, because MINIONS starts off in strong enough fashion.
In this DESPICABLE ME spin-off, those cute, rambunctious yellow critters known as MINIONS are front and center in their very own movie. As this film opens, we learn that Minions have actually been here on this planet for far longer than we have.
They are a simple species. All they really want is to find the perfect villain to serve, a dream that eludes them throughout a large portion of history. Things look up during the 1960s, however, when three Minions—Kevin, Stuart, and Bob—break away from the pack and head out in search of an almighty villain that they and their army of friends can finally call “master.” This journey takes our fearless—and clueless—trio all the way to Orlando where they come face to face with iconic villainous Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock) at a baddie get-together called “Villain-Con.”
Upon meeting Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, Overkill and her inventor husband, Herb (Jon Hamm), take an immediate liking to their new found servants. So much so that they send the little guys on a special mission to prove their worth. Meanwhile, the rest of the Minions wait patiently in the middle of nowhere for the return of their free-thinking comrades.
Following a rousing—and sprawling—opening in which we see the Minions crossing paths with dinosaurs, Egyptians, Dracula, and Napoleon Bonaparte, this spin-off settles into the confines of its ‘60s backdrop, and that’s when the film sort of stalls. It’s not that MINIONS is bad, mind you. It certainly isn’t void of energy. Furthermore, Bullock and Hamm have some nice moments, as do Michael Keaton and Allison Janney as an eccentric couple who pick up a hitchhiking Stuart, Kevin, and Bob. Also effective are both the ‘60s-centric soundtrack and an obvious but much welcome climax that brings the Minions together with a familiar face.
It’s just that there’s something stagnant about the overall plot of this movie. Quite frankly, it’s a little boring. The Minions were so cute in the DESPICABLE ME films, and they were also crucial in Gru’s growth as a character. Here, our beguiling heroes have to carry the weight of the entire movie on their little yellow shoulders, and they aren’t quite up to the challenge. For whatever reason, MINIONS suffers from too much of a good thing.
While MINIONS doesn’t quite succeed as a whole, it isn’t for a lack of trying on the part of directors Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin and screenwriter Brian Lynch. In addition to creating a colorful movie, the idea that Minions were responsible for a handful of poor choices made by mankind throughout the years is a hilarious one. Had the storytellers stretched out the first act concept of this flick to an entire 90 minutes, this might have been a far more amusing movie. Having the Minions engage with dozens of historical icons throughout history may sound high concept, but it’s more appealing than having three Minions deal with a villain that feels like a less defined version of Steve Carell’s Gru in DESPICABLE ME.
MINIONS is making a killing at the box office, so clearly it’s touching a nerve with audiences, most notably children. Having said that, if you want something that’s going to speak to audiences of all age groups in equal measure, may I suggest you check out INSIDE OUT instead.
