
I’d like to start by saying that I’ve somehow never seen any of the ‘Despicable Me’ films before today. There was that ancient time when I remember switching on the very first one, but since then, I’ve completely avoided watching the series. So, to bring myself up to snuff before diving into ‘Despicable Me 4’ I quickly turned to Google, only to find five films in the “Despicable Me” universe. Who, in their right mind, thought that this series needed another film?
But somehow, on a cloudy Saturday morning, I found myself in a cinema queue along with a half-dozen groggy parents and kids roaring like fireballs, holding a coffee cup, and thinking for the billionth time how did I land myself in the cinema?! But all’s well that ends well – audience, what a fantastic show I witnessed. It was not the best movie I’ve seen this year, and I’m not going to watch it any time soon in the future.
But Despicable Me 4 brings a welcome feeling of easing up after busy and stressful working days.
Let the critics say what they want, call me biased for I am an unabashed fan of the franchise having never once seen it falter. I see it as a challenge to my love of the franchise, and I thrive on that, and that just makes me want to watch even more of it. Let me also remind you that this is the fourth installment in the series which changes the game for such spin-offs. Yes, for me it was rather exciting, but some say that these aren’t “groundbreaking storylines,” which I thoroughly disagree with!
These storylines bring with them unique perspectives and dimensions, and I would rather have that than some cliché, wooden plots that have become increasingly common in films nowadays. While some were critical about this installment being a soulless repeat of previous ones, I see it a bit differently, I think it has a deeper message. So allow me to gather my thoughts, because otherwise, I might get too annoyed with those who don’t appreciate these films for what they are.
Even the most basic details: places of interest, characters, and conflicts were brought to the forefront and showcased effectively. There was always something happening, something or someone being introduced to the point that it became overwhelming. One could say that I got a bit concerned when I heard that Illumination would be producing “Despicable Me 4.” However, I cannot see the end of this series.
Lycée Pas Bon is a school where Gru, and his three minions, bump into Maxine Le Mal (shout out to Will Ferrell) whom Gru used to go to school with. Gru once participated in a school talent show and for some reason, it didn’t go down very well for her so she clearly doesn’t have nice feelings towards him (we’ve all been there). In what you’d think is a mild overreaction Maxine instead decides to become an enormous cockroach and goes after Gru with a vengeance. So Gru has to change his entire life, shift to a different place and build a new life for him and his family and as they say, things do not work out as one would have thought.
The ‘Minions’ in a scene from “Despicable Me 4.” Shall we say there’s a great deal of humor; or more simply put, the film as a whole can be described as, “great wholesome, family fun? Absolutely! ‘Despicable Me 4’ has it all: the witty adult jokes, the bright and colorful scenery, the classic antagonist and hero theme, and overall fun. Of course, this can’t be compared to the rest of the series for I have not seen them like I have this stand-alone however, it still works and manages to surprise me from time to time.
And I can’t quite put into words the aghast look on my face as I ask how I have lived all of this life and never got to encounter such wonderfully delightful characters as the minions. They played the role of ‘heroes’ quite poorly for laughs, and in what could only be described as a parody of the Marvel Universe, which definitely appealed to me and I think they make and carry the film completely.
In this case, let me be clear: No, ‘Despicable Me 4’ will not win any Best Movie awards this year. But, if you want a good laugh and to feel as if you are a child once again, for an hour and a half, then this is the movie for you and you are guaranteed a good time.
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