GRU-some, but not quite awesome – Beyond Bollywood

Director Chris Renaud, his writers Mike White and Ken Daurio have crafted a fine story, and the film boasts a creative supervillain. It offers quite a few fun, colorful scenes, but overall, the parts just don’t add up to deliver a tight screenplay.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️ ( 2 / 5)

By Mayur Lookhar

For a franchise called Despicable Me, there has been nothing despicable about this Illumination creation. On the contrary, its leading characters, particularly the gibberish-speaking Minions, have become global sensations, adored by people of all ages. Every time a new film comes out, yellow fever grips the globe. A large crowd, a yellow red carpet, and a large Minion toy for pictures naturally set the mood for some ‘Despicable’ action.

Created by Sergio Pablos, Despicable Me returns for a fourth installment, the sixth film overall in the franchise. After helming the first two films, Chris Renaud returns as director, while screenwriter Ken Daurio remains a constant name in all four films. Mike White joins the franchise as the co-writer.

Settled in life with a wife, three adopted kids, and a biological toddler named Gru Jr., Gru tries hard to impress his little child, who just wouldn’t be comfortable in daddy’s arms. Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) attends a class reunion at his former high school, Lycée Pas Bon, where he bumps into his former classmate Maxime Le Mal, a French-accented supervillain who has turned himself into a powerful insect. Gru doesn’t have much love for his school of villainy, but as a reinstated Anti-Villain League agent, he is there to capture the dangerous Maxime. It takes a collective effort from AVL agents and Minions to arrest Maxime. Enraged by his humiliation on a night when he was to receive an accolade, Maxime (voiced by Will Ferrell) vows revenge against Gru and his family.

A few days later, AVL chief Silas Ramsbottom (voiced by Steve Coogan), who has come out of retirement, informs Gru that Maxime has escaped from their high-security prison and is out to destroy Gru and his family. The AVL has arranged for the family to be relocated to the safe town of Mayflower. Ramsbottom believes the family will be safe as long as Gru curbs his instincts to stand out from the crowd. However, old habits die hard.

Usually, fatigue creeps into a franchise by the third film. For some, boredom sets in as early as the second film. Despicable Me 2 [2013] was never going to match the euphoria of the first film. The popularity of the Minions led to a prequel film in 2015, but it disappointed. Despicable Me 3 came two years later, and the introduction of Gru’s brother added some freshness. However, Minions: Rise of Gru [2022], the sequel to the 2015 film, was another disappointment. Producer Chris Meledandri, though, had faith in Renaud to give the franchise a booster shot with Despicable Me 4 [2024].

Mike White and Ken Daurio have crafted a fine story, and the film boasts a creative supervillain. It offers quite a few fun, colorful scenes, but overall, the parts just don’t add up to deliver a tight screenplay. After setting the stage for a Maxime vs. Gru battle, Despicable Me loses its way in the conflict in Mayflower. Yes, it’s a cartoon film, but beyond changing their names, Gru and his family do nothing to disguise themselves. If Poppy Prescott (voiced by Joey King), the nosy neighborhood child, knows that Chet Cunningham is actually Gru, how is it that no one else in town can see through their poor cover-ups? Poppy’s pointy nose raises questions about any connection to Gru. The character design, mannerisms, and King’s tone make Poppy the standout character of this film.

Do the conflicts in Mayflower undermine the core story and the main antagonist? While Chet Cunningham’s antics, such as helping Poppy rob Lycée Pas Bon’s mascot Lenny, are hilarious, they seem to detract from the main plot. Of course, Lycée Pas Bon principal Übelschlecht (voiced brilliantly by Renaud) and Maxime Le Mal then share a common foe, but the underwhelming climactic action falls below Despicable standards. Renaud doesn’t even utilize the trademark Despicable theme much.

With Gru Jr. caught in the conflict, the little toddler naturally becomes the center of attention in this story. Yes, mom and dad are Anti-Villain League agents, but Gru Jr. still carries the lineage of a former supervillain, a man who stole the moon in the first film.

Over four films spanning 14 years, you might expect Steve Carell to embody the Gru character entirely. Who would have thought that a bald animated hero with an aquiline nose, pot belly, and thin limbs could captivate global audiences? The character’s design is only part of it; Carell’s inimitable tone and charm are what make Gru so endearing.

The script gives little room for Agnes, Margo, and Edith. A Despicable film without Margo (voiced by Miranda Cosgrove) is hard to imagine. The innocent child struggles to lie, so her attempts to disguise herself as Bree Cunningham fall flat, but her honesty is admirable. Madison Polan replaces Nev Scharrel as Agnes, which explains her limited screen time.

While Gru and Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wiig) tackle outlaws as part of their job, it’s their bond with the three orphans that significantly contributes to the franchise’s emotional depth. This aspect feels somewhat lacking in the fourth film.

Will Ferrell is barely recognizable with his heavy, clichéd French accent. As always, the Anchorman star delivers an endearing performance. Meanwhile, Sofia Vergara is wasted as Valentina, Maxime’s odd-looking girlfriend.

And what about our Minions? It’s remarkable how Pierre Coffin voices these characters. The cute character designs and gibberish tones, with Coffin adjusting his voice for each character, highlight his talent. Let’s not forget Coffin co-directed the three preceding Despicable Me films. So, there is never a dearth of passion.

Chris Renaud gets to experiment on a few Minions in hopes of creating Mega Minions. Silas Ramsbottom aptly describes them as guinea pigs. The final result sees them acquiring powers reminiscent of human superheroes in other franchises. It wouldn’t be wrong to label this Mega Minions experiment as a cute spoof.

Silas Ramsbottom is an underrated character. Silas’ unique physicality, mannerisms, and Coogan’s tone make him incredibly entertaining. Perhaps English politician Keir Starmer would come close to resembling a real-life Silas Ramsbottom.

In terms of critique, Despicable Me 4 falls short on several standards. However, Gru and company are returning after seven years. The film proves enjoyable in individual sequences. Based on the visuals from the special screening, we anticipate audiences will flock to theaters to see their favourite Gru and Minions.

Despicable Me 4 is set to be released in theatres on 5 July.