Despicable Me was
a delightful surprise from Universal's fledgling Illumination Entertainment.
Although it ended on a satisfying conclusion, its box office take of over $543
million ensured that a sequel was forthcoming. Despicable Me 2 certainly didn't disappoint, at least in terms of
ticket sales, it pulled in over $918 million and stands as the fifth highest
grossing animated film of all time.
For those who missed it, Despicable
Me followed eccentric super-villain Gru (Steve Carell) on his diabolical
quest to steal the moon. As part of his scheme, Gru was forced to adopt three
little girls: Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie
Fisher). Gru was the proverbial Grinch whose heart grew two sizes bigger once those
adorable moppets wormed their way into his life.
The sequel finds Gru more than comfortable in his new life
as a single father. Things are going great though a little dull as Gru attempts
to turn his elaborate laboratory into a factory for jams and jellies. Luckily,
Gru is recruited by Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan), the erudite leader of the
Anti-Villain League. A mysterious mastermind has stolen an experimental serum
that could be used to create an army of monsters and only Gru has the
experience needed to find him. Gru is reluctantly paired up with agent Lucy
Wilder (Kristen Wiig, who previously voiced Miss Hattie) to go undercover at a
glossy shopping mall where the bad guy might be hiding out. Gru has his eye on
Eduardo Perez (Benjamin Bratt), a boisterous restaurateur who may secretly be
the infamous El Macho, a villain who supposedly died while riding a shark
strapped with explosives into a flaming volcano. However, Gru's most fearsome
foe may be young love when Margo falls head over heels for Eduardo's suave son
Antonio (Moises Arias).
The biggest criticism lobbied against Despicable Me 2 is that the lead protagonist has lost his edge. An
opening sequence where Gru dresses as a fairy princess for Agnes's birthday
party might attest to that. Screenwriters Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio may have
dulled Gru's fangs a bit; they've still captured the madcap pace and unique
sensibilities of the first film. We see Edith running around in a ninja outfit
and a bizarre subplot in which Gru goes on a blind date. Despicable Me was like a candy colored Bond adventure and its
successor continues those threads with the AVL's underwater base and other
high-tech gadgets. There's a submarine car, lipstick taser, Gru's trademark
freeze ray, fart guns, and an opening sequence in which a giant magnet snatches
up an Arctic research station. The sequel builds to a thrilling conclusion with
Gru going into full John Woo mode with guns that shoot his foul-tasting jelly.
Steve Carell gives it his all with a slick Slavic accent,
but its Benjamin Bratt who gives the best vocal performance as Eduardo. His
over-the-top energy perfectly matches the zany tone of the movie. Oddly enough,
Al Pacino was originally cast in the role before Bratt stepped in at the last
minute. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing that character.
The real scene stealers though happen to be the Minions,
Gru's not-so-helpful helpers that look like a bred Oompa Loompas with Twinkies.
They speak in their own unique language and their kooky antics are a constant
source of Three Stooges-esque slapstick. The Minions might sidetrack the main
plot from time to time, but the cute factor is undeniable. Unsurprisingly,
their presence is beefed up here and they're set to star in their own picture
in 2015.
With Pixar and Dreamworks having a virtual stranglehold on
the animation genre, its nice seeing another player emerge in the field. Despicable Me 2 is a delightful sequel
with plenty of heart that will please young and old alike.
Rating: *** (*****)
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