I watched Despicable Me only to understand what was the deal with the Minion memes. Although I did understand what it was all about, I decided to take a look at the sequel also, since I found so many things to like in that movie, especially the characters and the comic timing. And I'm really glad I decided to make that decision. Despicable Me 2 is, in every way, better than the first movie. Although I don't really like animated movies which don't hold much value other than giving the laughs, this movie is actually much better than most such movies.
The thing I really like about Despicable Me 2 is that it is able to expand over the story that the prequel did. Normally in animated movies that are just made for the laughs, the sequels don't work so hard to make the story. They just bring back the villain, and bring in more explosions. There are also characters who are suddenly pulled out of nowhere, which isn't something that happens over here. This movie knows it's just made for the laughs, yet it takes the effort of making it more complicated than it needs to be.
Dr Nefarious retires in this movie. I really liked him. He seemed to be something like a grandfather to all the Minions. I still remember the scene where the Minions are working and one of them wears a fruit dress and dances singing something like "Eto hola macarena kala kala macarena" (I don't know what it was, but it was so memorable). Then there's the scene where Gru is invited to the secret agency where the two Minions laugh at Bottom.
The thing I like about Despicable Me is how many characters there are to love. There's the Minions who are so adorable, there are the three daughters whom I feel like pulling cheeks of, there are the new characters in the form of the Mexican man and Gru's wife. They all have characteristics and emotions, and the movie takes time to explore over all of them. In live action movies this is easy since their runtime is higher, but in animated movies where the runtime is less than two hours, this is actually a pretty big deal.
Although Despicable Me 2 isn't exactly what I'd call a memorable movie, it is fun while it lasts; something it promises of being. It's not something that you're gonna carry in your memory for the rest of your life, but that's probably what makes it so much fun to rewatch. It's a definite recommendation for anyone who is looking forward to watching something fun for the weekend with children.
This loony 'toon is dizzy with wonderments, especially in 3-D. The spindly-limbed character design owes more to Charles Addams' family than to Walt Disney's kingdom, while the story and settings evoke James Bond on laughing gas.
This shallow sequel to 2010's much cleverer Despicable Me — the 10th-biggest animated movie in U.S. history — seems to be merely going through the motions.
great movie for the whole family to enjoy
Much funnier than the first one, Despicable Me 2 actually has me liking the second installation in a series much better than the original. A lot of sequels add in new characters. Some serve a purpose. Others not so much. This movie adds in new characters that are important. With funnier lines, funnier actions, and tons of minion madness, the movie has us focusing less on Gru's villainy, and more on the love life he never had.
Let's kick it off with the visuals. "Despicable Me 2" maintains the colorful and whimsical animation style of its predecessor. The character designs, especially the Minions, continue to be a visual delight, and the film introduces new locations that add variety to the palette. However, the animation landscape was evolving, and while "Despicable Me 2" looked good, it didn't push the envelope in the same way some other animated films were doing around that time.
Soundtrack:
Now, the soundtrack. Much like its predecessor, the musical score here is forgettable. It doesn't leave a lasting impression, and the lack of a standout theme means that the film doesn't benefit from a sonic identity. It's a missed opportunity to elevate the emotional or comedic moments with a memorable musical backdrop.
Story and Characters:
Let's dive into the narrative and characters. "Despicable Me 2" follows Gru as he reluctantly joins the Anti-Villain League to help thwart a new threat. The film introduces Lucy Wilde, voiced by Kristen Wiig, as Gru's partner in crime-fighting. While the addition of Lucy brings a new dynamic to the story, the narrative lacks the freshness of the first film. It falls into some predictable sequel tropes, relying on familiar character arcs and a formulaic structure.
Themes:
Now, the themes. "Despicable Me 2" touches on themes of family, love, and redemption, but it doesn't delve much deeper than the surface. The emotional beats feel recycled, and the film doesn't bring much innovation to the table thematically. It's more concerned with delivering gags and Minion antics than exploring meaningful character development.
In the grand landscape of animated sequels, "Despicable Me 2" is a serviceable follow-up that doesn't quite capture the magic of the original. It relies heavily on the established charm of the characters, particularly the Minions, but lacks the emotional depth and storytelling finesse that would make it a standout in the animation genre.
It's an enjoyable watch, especially for fans of the first film, but it doesn't break new ground or offer a compelling reason to revisit the world of Gru and his mischievous crew
The first film was amazing. It had a great story arc and we watched Gru gradually grow and develop as a character.
This one is not so good.
It trades comedy for pop culture references, and the comedy it does have just falls flat. Half of the screentime is devoted to the minions, who are generally not funny and are just wacky characters for the kiddies. The plot is also quite boring, and has no trace of the personal stakes for Gru that the first film did. It's just a boring mess.