Successfully appealing to both adults and children is the holy grail of family filmmaking, a feat many attempt but few achieve. Among the ever-increasing number of contenders, 2010’s Despicable Me prospered with its blend of villainous comedy and unexpected warmth, supplementing sentimentality with sight gags for all ages. Its protagonist stole the moon, but more importantly, the film won the hearts of a wide-ranging audience. Such box office success and critical acclaim necessitated a continuation of the story.
Despicable Me 2 returns to the life of rehabilitated scoundrel Gru (Steve Carell, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone), now a happy father to adopted daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove, TV’s iCarly), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Kate Fisher). Having chosen domesticity over world domination, creating delicious jellies and jams is his latest project – until his past comes calling. Enter Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig, Friends with Kids), a secret agent with the Anti-Villain League. With his unique experience on the other side of the law, only Gru can assist Lucy in neutralising a new enemy.
Despicable Me derived its soft centre from Gru’s need for acceptance, his comical criminality stemming from a lifetime as an outcast. Accordingly, returning franchise writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul once again ground the good versus evil battle in Gru’s personal struggle; but whereas the love of three charming girls filled the void and reformed his wicked streak in the character’s first cinematic outing, here it is affection of the romantic kind that Gru is seeking.
Thankfully, directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud are cognisant of the need for balance, furnishing the journey of mawkish discovery with a plethora of zaniness. The search for an adversary within the confines of a local mall may prove scattershot in its haphazard execution, but the jovial, joyful jokes it perpetuates are worth the price of admission. Slapstick reigns supreme, with a sinister Mexican restaurateur (Benjamin Bratt, Snitch) and his pet chicken providing added amusement. However, for much of the film’s running time, the biggest laughs spring from its best asset – those delightful minions.
With a spin-off feature slated for late 2014, the expanded presence of Gru’s army of offsiders serves an obvious purpose. The glorious, gorgeous animation essays their adorable antics with aplomb, whetting the viewer’s appetite for more without allowing their babbling ways to become overpowering. Excellent voice-acting by the entire cast complements their chaos, including enjoyable work from Steve Coogan (The Look of Love) and Ken Jeong (The Hangover Part III), until a scene-stealing ending. The minions’ ascendancy may mask the film’s facsimile of its predecessor, but it entertains and endears, while offering something for everyone.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Despicable Me 2
Director: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
USA, 2013, 98 mins
Release date: 21 June
Distributor: Universal
Rated: PG
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