Despicable Me 4

The “Despicable Me” franchise has always been in my opinion an okay-ish franchise that’s only known for its funny moments. 5 years after the 3rd installment in the franchise; we finally got to see “Despicable Me 4”. “Despicable Me 4” follows Gru who welcomes a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. However, their peaceful existence soon comes crashing down when criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal escapes from prison and vows revenge against Gru.

I hate to say this but this has got to be the weakest entry in the franchise yet! First off, I found the story to be extremely weak and messy this time around. Everything from the weak villain to the cringe-writing made for a harsh watch! What made the story messy was the amount of subplots. None of them made any sense, making the film feel disjointed and disoriented. While I’m aware that this is a “kids” movie, “Inside Out 2” managed to appeal to both older and younger audiences and felt coherent and satisfying. Sometimes simpler is better and I wish the movie focused on one storyline. 

On the bright side of things, I loved the animation here. Illumination has made a huge leap forward in terms of animation and while it does not rival Pixar’s animation it still looks visually pleasing. Everything from the vibrant colors to the excellent 3D models made for a visual fiesta! Lastly, I must praise the great voice work. Steve Carell returns as Gru delivering another great performance. Pierre Coffin remains an excellent voice for the minions and steals the show most of the time with his charisma!  All in all, if you want a quick and mindless watch then look no further!