The challenge of sequels is of course trying to do or say something fresh, so that it’s not just a rerun. To that end, Despicable Me 3 trots out: 1) a twin brother for Gru; 2) a ‘unicorn’ for Agnes; 3) a new villain named Benjamin Bratt though he’s so 80s, totally retro (complete with mullet, M.C. Hammer shoulder pads, and lots of 80s music, cue Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’, etc.). At 90 minutes it should be short enough to keep anyone’s attention, but if you came to see a sequel to the Minions movie, abandon hope. They play a minor role in this one, even compared to the other Despicable movies.
Is there character development? Well yes— Gru’s wife Lucy does a better job of being step-mom to the three adopted girls. Gru grows into some sibling messing around and rivalry with his new-found brother Drew. In regard to the laugh-o-meter, I didn’t really laugh a lot in this movie, but there was one excellent tender scene between Gru and Agnes when he attempts to explain to her that unicorns aren’t real. Yes, the minions in jail scene is cute, but all too brief. No, there is nothing in this movie that should prevent one from taking the family to it, bearing in mind that when you are dealing with villains there will be weapons and booms. What did not work for me was the scenes in Freedonia where Drew lives. What was the point of the pigs and the cheese festival?
Nevertheless, there more than enough enjoyable material here to keep the millions of ‘minion’ and Gru fans happy. And the last scene in the movie alludes to a sequel involving Drew again. We shall see, as Agnes would say if ‘it’s so fluffy I want to die’.
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