Movie Review: Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2/Rated PG/Universal Pictures/Dir. by Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud/98 min.

Let's just get this out of the way.  This summer has had some pretty terrific movies, but I can't imagine any movie coming between now and the end of the summer months that will be more inventive, clever, hilarious, colorful, mischievous, or flat-out fun than "Despicable Me 2", that rarest of movie sequels that maintains everything that made the original work, while keeping things fresh and surprising.

When the original "Despicable Me" was released three years ago, it was a huge surprise hit, winning over critics and audiences alike with Warner Bros.-style mayhem, Burton-esque appreciation of misunderstood villains, and Pixar-ian heart.  With over half-a-billion in box-office, a sequel was inevitable, but where could you go with this newly domesticated super-villain (if you'll remember, the original ended with him adopting, saving, and becoming very paternal with three adorable orphans)?  Much of his appeal was his flippant disregard for the niceties of daily life.  Would his humorous edge be lost with fatherhood?

The delightful and surprising answer is no.  While "Despicable Me 2" certainly shows his devotion to his children, he still doesn't deal with social annoyances in the most acceptable ways (his way of handling an obnoxious neighbor who is intent on setting him up on a blind date is particularly enjoyable).  However, his efforts to turn a new leaf for the good of his daughters has drawn the attention of the Anti-Villainy League, a secret organization not unlike S.H.E.I.L.D. in the Marvel Universe.  The A.V.L. decides they could use Gru's experience as a super villain in tracking down a mysterious figure who has stolen a particularly dangerous Dr. Jekyll-like formula.  His partner on this mission will be the awkwardly charming rookie agent, Lucy Wilde (voiced with energy by Kristin Wiig).  Various suspects are investigated and some red-herrings are thrown their way, but when the culprit is discovered, Gru realizes that the plan hits closer to home than he realized.

Gru is, once again, voiced by Steve Carell, brandishing an intentionally vague Eastern European accent.  His vocal work is really among Carell's best acting, showing a complete dedication to the emotional core of the character while simultaneously owning the comic value of the accent and awkward syntax.  He and Wiig have a genuine chemistry rarely seen in animated films (something difficult to achieve considering that the actors rarely record together).

Once again, the heart of the film rests with Gru's relationship with his adopted family, including his daughters and his genetically engineered minions.  "Despicable Me 2" realizes the comic value of the minions and finds creative ways to increase their screen time that feel completely organic to the plot, unlike, say, the "Ice Age" films, in which the delightful Scrat segments feel completely disassociated from the plot until they're poorly forced together in the climax (this happens in each "Ice Age" film).  The minions are comedy gold, with smiles abundant everytime they show up.  In fact, stick around through the beginning of the credits, because there is a really fun minion segment that references next year's untitled minion movie.

The film is delightful to look at as well.  The 3D is definitely worth the extra money, as the filmmakers don't lose an opportunity to throw explosions, bubbles, confetti, jars of jelly, and even the minions themselves at the audience, however, make sure that you see it in a theater where they show 3D in the brightest format because the colors are bright, playful, and engaging.

If the film has a fault, it is in the area of character arc and development.  Where Gru's change from super-villain to super-dad was the central to the original's plot, there really isn't much of a change in any of the characters from beginning to end, and most attempts to give characters motivation are basically played for laughs, which is a shame, especially when compared to the recently released "Monsters University", which did such a terrific job in the these areas.

Yes, I have seen better movies this summer, but this is simply the funniest movie I've seen so far this year, with sharply written jokes and terrific physical gags hitting strong and often.  The audience was enthralled from beginning to end, adults and children.  Between this and "Monsters University" families have an embarrassment of riches at the box-office right now.  For that matter, so do adults who just want to have a good time.  Yes, Gru may be a little less despicable, but he's every bit as entertaining.  

P.S. - Watch out for the scene where we learn the most macho way to die.  It may be hard to hear over the audience laughter.

Grade: A-