Minions, directed by Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin, follows the titular yellow "objects" as they bumble their way through history, from one villain to the next, ignoring some high-profile "villains" in order to compete with the six years and younger crowd.
In 1968, 42 years Before Gru, which would coordinate with the release of the first Despicable Me film in 2010, the Minions land at a convention dedicated to villains. There, they meet Scarlet Overkill (a surprisingly null and void voice performance from Sandra Bullock). Obviously, things escalate from there, to the point where the Minions are just bouncing around or some shit.
The film seems like an escalating series of dares from one scene to the next, and it's as if Coffin lost a bet and had to make this film, as there's no passion or heart. For a colorful animated feature, it's rather dull.
It's a close-minded and easy to follow narrative, given there's really no dialogue at all, save for the gibberish language the Minions use. While Minions did not answer the existential questions about their existence that I had hoped they would, Minions still begs to entertain in just over 90 minutes, hopping from one set piece to the next.
But what's more difficult is to make a story arc for the Minions, which is mostly done by Geoffrey Rush's tasteful voiceover. Since these minions can't speak, it's difficult to really care for these characters and they only act through facial expressions is a challenge. But co-director Pierre Coffin (who also voiced ALL of the minions in this) uses that to his advantage, throwing gags (mostly visual) just right into your face, just a barrage of puns.
But, another point I wanted to make is this: the Minions are solid sidekicks in the first two "Despicable Me" movies, released in 2010 and 2013, respectively. But, to carry an entire movie was a stretch that didn't exactly hit a home run with me.
The novelty of the Minions wore off after a few minutes and it became yellow creatures stumbling around in their own spin-off. Sure, they're great in Despicable Me--but to merit their own movie is wildly ridiculous, and after the lukewarm Despicable Me 2, the franchise takes another nosedive.
But then again, something about 'Minions' is somewhat improvisational, as if the writers seemingly just wrote down whatever came to their heads, and it required having the minions being involved with some high-wire antic. It doesn't come off as if you're watching a movie--it's as if you're watching a series of twenty-minute programs of a 'Minions' TV show.
However, this doesn't mean I got a kick out of it. With all of these things that the screenwriters feel that they have to get done in a checklist sort of way just feels off, the minions themselves are still sort of charming characters, but as leads they struggle to succeed.
While I don't demand Memento-like storytelling, I demand at least some method of coherence through a narrative. Though Minions fails at generally everything it sets out to be, one being decently funny, it has enough shit bouncing around the toddler crowd will love it. The ones who demand an actual story will walk out disappointed.
This is a troubling sign for Universal and Illumination, as now that they've secured a legion of fans and moviegoers alike, they can churn out absolute shit. While Minions isn't absolutely a complete monstrosity of cinema, it wastes nearly everything it has.
To be the hilarious, irreverent comedies that the first two Despicable Me films were is too tall of an order for Minions. It's wonky and tied up in a ball of rehashed humor and visual gags.
Overall, Minions is entertaining if you want to see a colorful, partially engaging, and over-the-top animated comedy. Other than the Minions, the human characters have nothing to boot, or even given anything remotely decent---with a voice cast that includes Jon Hamm and Michael Keaton. Ah, well. Here's to D3spicabl3 M3.
2/5 stars
WHAT OTHER WRITERS:
Jeffrey Kemp: 1/5 stars
Colin: 2/5 stars
In 1968, 42 years Before Gru, which would coordinate with the release of the first Despicable Me film in 2010, the Minions land at a convention dedicated to villains. There, they meet Scarlet Overkill (a surprisingly null and void voice performance from Sandra Bullock). Obviously, things escalate from there, to the point where the Minions are just bouncing around or some shit.
The film seems like an escalating series of dares from one scene to the next, and it's as if Coffin lost a bet and had to make this film, as there's no passion or heart. For a colorful animated feature, it's rather dull.
It's a close-minded and easy to follow narrative, given there's really no dialogue at all, save for the gibberish language the Minions use. While Minions did not answer the existential questions about their existence that I had hoped they would, Minions still begs to entertain in just over 90 minutes, hopping from one set piece to the next.
But what's more difficult is to make a story arc for the Minions, which is mostly done by Geoffrey Rush's tasteful voiceover. Since these minions can't speak, it's difficult to really care for these characters and they only act through facial expressions is a challenge. But co-director Pierre Coffin (who also voiced ALL of the minions in this) uses that to his advantage, throwing gags (mostly visual) just right into your face, just a barrage of puns.
But, another point I wanted to make is this: the Minions are solid sidekicks in the first two "Despicable Me" movies, released in 2010 and 2013, respectively. But, to carry an entire movie was a stretch that didn't exactly hit a home run with me.
The novelty of the Minions wore off after a few minutes and it became yellow creatures stumbling around in their own spin-off. Sure, they're great in Despicable Me--but to merit their own movie is wildly ridiculous, and after the lukewarm Despicable Me 2, the franchise takes another nosedive.
But then again, something about 'Minions' is somewhat improvisational, as if the writers seemingly just wrote down whatever came to their heads, and it required having the minions being involved with some high-wire antic. It doesn't come off as if you're watching a movie--it's as if you're watching a series of twenty-minute programs of a 'Minions' TV show.
However, this doesn't mean I got a kick out of it. With all of these things that the screenwriters feel that they have to get done in a checklist sort of way just feels off, the minions themselves are still sort of charming characters, but as leads they struggle to succeed.
While I don't demand Memento-like storytelling, I demand at least some method of coherence through a narrative. Though Minions fails at generally everything it sets out to be, one being decently funny, it has enough shit bouncing around the toddler crowd will love it. The ones who demand an actual story will walk out disappointed.
This is a troubling sign for Universal and Illumination, as now that they've secured a legion of fans and moviegoers alike, they can churn out absolute shit. While Minions isn't absolutely a complete monstrosity of cinema, it wastes nearly everything it has.
To be the hilarious, irreverent comedies that the first two Despicable Me films were is too tall of an order for Minions. It's wonky and tied up in a ball of rehashed humor and visual gags.
Overall, Minions is entertaining if you want to see a colorful, partially engaging, and over-the-top animated comedy. Other than the Minions, the human characters have nothing to boot, or even given anything remotely decent---with a voice cast that includes Jon Hamm and Michael Keaton. Ah, well. Here's to D3spicabl3 M3.
2/5 stars
WHAT OTHER WRITERS:
Jeffrey Kemp: 1/5 stars
Colin: 2/5 stars