Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Genre

Animation | Comedy

Directors

Pierre Coffin | Chris Renaud

Country

USA

Cast

Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Fisher, Dana Gaier, Russell Grand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Moisés Arias, Nasim Pedrad, Kristen Schaal, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Vanessa Bayer

Storyline

While the ex-supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) is adjusting to family life raising his three daughters and researching a legitimate jelly and jam business with Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) and the Minions, a secret Arctic laboratory is stolen, The Anti-Villain League recruits Gru in the investigation, and together with eccentric AVL agent Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), Gru must find the new villain.

Opinion

Inevitably less original than its predecessor, Despicable Me 2 still is a funny animation flick that will amuse and entertain fans of the original.

Like in the first movie, the story is quite simple and predictable, and may lack slightly in freshness, but it feels like an updated animated version of a James Bond film from the 70's - The Spy Who Loved Me - and the result is quite good.

In the film there are enough topics to please everyone, from the spy story, to the love story; from the little girl who desperately wants a mother, to the father who does not want his daughter to grow up. But this is both a strength and a weakness. In fact, although the film deals with several themes in a pretty good way, it seems that the creators gave more importance to quantity rather than quality, and it's not that a good thing.

Also the film lacks of a surly, mean character like Gru's mother (who unfortunately appears only at the end of the film), a real supervillain like Vector - the new villain, El Macho, is too predictable - and the inner conflict that tore Gru apart in 2010, when the three girls arrived in his life, and put into question his own principles.

However, despite those shortcomings, there is a good amount of hilarious situations, good gags, the visuals are still impressive and very colourful, and the film works as a stand-alone film as well. Worth of a mention is the musical number performed by the Minions.

Steve Carell still does a great job in the lead role of Gru, and this time he is supported by a sweet and funny Kristen Wiig, a Latino Benjamin Bratt and a still unrecognizable Russell Brand.