Minions: The Rise of Gru
2022
***
Director: Kyle Balda
Cast: Steve Carell, Pierre Coffin, Taraji P. Henson, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Julie Andrews, Alan Arkin, Michelle Yeoh
In 1976, an 11-year-old Gru wants to join the Vicious 6, but instead he ends up being pursued by the very same supervillain team. The sequel to Minions is the fifth release in the Despicable Me universe. Gru has been a reformed villain for most of the main franchise, so his origin story seems pointless at this point. However, this short and adequately entertaining animation offers another scattershot collection of gags. The Minions remain irresistibly goofy characters.
