Predictable Gru

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This article was published 03/07/2017 (3196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Seven years ago, the movie Despicable Me begat a billion-dollar franchise with the story of a supervillain named Gru who sees the error of his ways after he adopts three orphan girls in the course of a plot to steal the moon.

It was funny and, in the world of animation, refreshingly different — with dark-ish, naughty humour perversely complemented by sunny, crisp, pristine animation.

What took it over the top was its population of Minions: yellow, goggled, capsule-shaped, goobledegook-speaking villain enablers (who would go on to star in their own movie in 2015) providing oft-inspired cartoon slapstick.

The freshness is gone in this third instalment in the series, notwithstanding the efforts of its three credited directors (Eric Guillon, Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin).

We find Gru with his new superspy bride Lucy (Kristen Wiig) working for the good guys, trying to foil a diamond theft by up-and-coming mastermind and former child star Balthazar Bratt (voiced to obnoxious perfection by Trey Parker).

Shortly after losing his job with the agency, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) learns from his callous, disapproving mother (Julie Andrews) that he has a twin brother named Dru (also voiced by Carell, in a higher-pitched voice).

Gru takes the whole family to visit his brother in the mythic country of Freedonia (a shout-out to the locale of the Marx Brothers’ best movie, Duck Soup). Despite Dru’s golden locks, Gru finds his mirror image when it comes to having lived with parental neglect.

Thus, Gru is susceptible when Dru asks him to be a supervillain mentor, a scheme that will see Gru have another shot at taking on Bathazar in his apocalyptic bid to destroy Hollywood.

The premise is barely sufficient for a feature, which is why the story is padded with several tangential subplots.

The subplots include Lucy’s attempt to win over her adoptive eldest daughter Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), youngest daughter Agnes (Nev Scharell) attempting to track down a live unicorn and the rebellious Minions’ adventures beyond Gru’s supervillain lair, including an appearance on an American Idol-like talent show (performing an all-gibberish interpretation of Gilbert & Sullivan, if you please).

It’s all good for a few laugh-out-loud laughs.

As usual, the movie is pitched to parents more than kids, one of the reasons much of the humour is derived from mocking the ’80s, the decade in which villain Balthazar is hopelessly stuck with his padded shoulders, elaborate mullet, keytar and his personal soundtrack committed to cassette tape.

But it’s also a pretty random affair. Subplots don’t particularly serve the main plot.

The bulk of the Minions are so removed from the main action, they might as well be in their own movie — again.

Here’s a handy reminder, Despicable Me 3 writers: plotting isn’t just something supervillains do against their enemies.

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @FreepKing