Minions

Let's get a few facts out of the way about Minions.  Fact # 1: It will make a killing at the box office, especially overseas, since the main characters are the Minions from the Despicable Me movies, who talk in this sort of gibberish language that sounds vaguely French at times.  Since this means the stars of the film speak in a made up language without the need for subtitles, it will do big in other countries.  Fact # 2: The movie is a cartoon, not an animated film.  What's the difference?  A cartoon is filled with slapstick gags, goofy characters, and a lot of bouncy music.  An animated film would be something more akin to Inside Out or When Marnie Was There, which uses the animation format to tell a deeper story that can appeal to both kids and adults.

Which leads us to Fact # 3, and this is most crucial: If you found the Minions annoying at any time in their earlier two features where they were comic relief side characters, then their starring vehicle is going to be hell for you.  Your enjoyment of Minions will hinge entirely on what you think of the characters walking in.  Not that this matters, seeing that every red-blooded child in the world is going to drag their parents to see this movie.  The good news is that this is not the soulless cash grab designed to cash in on the popularity of the characters that you would expect.  It's a slight, but enjoyable film for kids that adults will find energetic and with a certain manic genius behind it all.  The Minions themselves (who are all voiced by the film's co-director, Pierre Coffin), show a little more heart and personality here than they have in the past.  The filmmakers even set the story in the 60s - an era that we don't see represented a lot in children's entertainment, and gives the movie an excuse to have an extensive soundtrack of music from the era.

The clever opening almost serves as a pseudo documentary narrated by Geoffrey Rush about how the Minions rose out of the water and evolved millions of years ago, seeking an evil master that they could serve.  They tried serving T-Rexes, Pharaohs, Napoleon, and even famous monsters like Dracula, but their relationships with their master never seemed to last long, as the constant antics of the Minions themselves usually led to the comical demise of whoever they were serving.  Eventually, the little yellow pill-shaped creatures were forced to build their own society in Antarctica, but without an evil master to serve, the Minions quickly became listless.  That is when a take charge little guy in the group, a Minion named Kevin, decides to set off and find a master for his kind.  This kicks off the actual plot of the film, as Kevin is accompanied by two of his fellow creatures, Stuart and Bob, to explore the uncharted world for a new permanent boss.

The quest that the three little guys embark on leads them to New York City, circa 1968.  While exploring the sights of the city and the era, they learn of a top secret convention of super villains that is being held in Orlando, Florida.  Knowing that they can find a villain to serve there, the three Minions hitch a ride to Florida with a family of bank robbers, the parents being voiced by Micheal Keaton and Alison Janney.  Both Keaton and Janney bring hilarious energy to their roles, and I found myself wishing that the movie had used them more.  At the convention, villains and criminals from all walks of life gather to show off their latest evil inventions, or seek new sidekicks and lackeys.  The main event of the convention is that the world's leading super villain, a woman with the wonderful name of Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock), is seeking new minions in her latest plan to steal the crown of Queen Elizabeth II (Jennifer Saunders).  Kevin, Stuart and Bob know that she would make a great new evil boss for their people, and seek to win her trust.

It'd like to stop and discuss the Scarlet Overkill character just a little.  It's obvious that Sandra Bullock is having the time of her life providing the voice for the evil character, and I liked her design.  I especially liked the hidden weapons and jet packs that pop out of her gowns and dresses.  But as a villain, Scarlet really should have been a lot more.  She really does nothing but scream at the Minions when they screw up her plans, and she doesn't play as big of a role as I had hoped.  That being said, Minions is the kind of movie where the jokes fly fast and furious.  Whether the satirical targets are British culture, or the movie is just focusing on the slapstick antics of the main characters that will have kids in the audience rolling in the aisles, there is a sense that the movie really just wants to please and entertain.  And for the most part, it does.  Yes, it kind of faded from my mind almost the second it had ended, but I enjoyed it while it was playing out.

But then, I'm not the target audience for this movie.  It's perfect for very young children, as the plot never really gets all that complex, and it's really just an excuse for more antics from the yellow guys who are being marketed so heavily, it seems like you can't turn around at your local store without seeing a Minion face plastered on it.  Still, it never comes across as a cash grab, thanks to the talented cast of actors who tackle this material tirelessly.  As for the Minions themselves, the movie actually manages to give the three main characters distinct personalities, allowing us to tell them apart.  Heck, there were even times where I found myself understanding what they were supposed to be saying to each other, which was kind of a weird experience.  The movie has some moments of smart humor that adults will laugh at, and the cameo near the end is a clever idea.

Minions may not be all that necessary of a movie, but it's fun, and it does a good job of bridging the gap between itself and the main Despicable Me features.  I don't know if I would enjoy seeing these guys headlining another movie, as I think they work better in smaller doses.  Still, I can easily see this becoming a new favorite for many kids this summer.

See the movie times in your area or buy the DVD at Amazon.com!

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