Film Review: Despicable Me 2

The first Despicable Me film has come out as a personal favorite among CGI-animations; it is a zany world of mad supervillains, awesome gadgets and superweapons, funny characters, and some of the most quotable and most hilarious dialogue I've seen in a while.

This second film offers more of the same, for better or for worse. It does still dish out huge helpings of imaginative gadgets, transforming vehicles, crazy weapons, and mad villains. There's still a huge amount of slappy, silly comedy, amusing dialogue, and fun characters. The minions are back in full force, often stealing the show with their zany antics and unique lingo.

The only problem is, something feels out of place. Part of it is the comedy; there's certainly a lot of physical gags at work, but it doesn't feel as fresh or memorable as the first film. The dialogue is also lacking in particularly memorable or quotable lines. The gags feel like they're aiming more and more at the kids, and while they'll certainly get a kick out of everything, it'll leave the adults wishing there was something more.

I think the plot is also to blame. It is notable for progressing the characters along in their relationships. In doing so, it puts out a number of individual subplots that don't really tie into the main story. The subplots in the first film at least tied in with the main conflict, but here, it's purely distracting and random. That being said, I did enjoy the characters and their nuances.

This film utilizes the same animation style and quality as the first film. It shows a little more ambition as it fills up the screen with endless minions and detailed settings. Movements are cartoony and exaggerated, as before. Character designs are pretty much the same as before; they're wild, but distinctive. Even though some viewers found Kristen Wiig's character a little too animated and wacky, I enjoyed watching her. Voice-acting from the whole cast is great. The writing is okay. Designs for all the settings, props, costumes, and creatures are decent. Music is pretty lively and fun.

I personally favor the first film over this sequel, but it is fun to see the characters and minions back in action, and to see new faces and new gizmos on display. Unfortunately, the film seems to aim more at the lowest-common denominator, and the plot suffers a little; it's great for kids, okay for adults, and would be worth a rental for anybody who wants more of Gru and the imaginative world he inhabits.

4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Average | Film: Good)