In this sequel to 2010’s animated gem Despicable Me, we find former evil mastermind Gru (Steve Carell) now playing the role of full-time Dad to sisters Margo, Edith and Agnes. Young girls need a mother, however. So when he’s not hosting birthday parties for toddlers and keeping preteen Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) away from boys, Gru’s avoiding the nosy neighbor, who keeps pushing blind dates on him.
The domestic bliss doesn’t last, however, and before long Gru is approached by the Anti-Villain League (AVL) to help them catch a mysterious super villain on the rise. Although initially hesitant, Gru eventually takes the gig, going undercover as the owner of a cupcake shop in the mall. Unsurprisingly, it appears that the mall — that center of American suburbia — is the hub of clandestine treachery.
With the help of his fledgling partner from the AVL, Lucy (Kristin Wiig), Gru begins his investigation into the infamous El Macho (Benjamin Bratt), who has been presumed dead for over 20 years. However, the case against the man Gru believes to be El Macho is weak, which doesn’t bode well for our rehabilitated hero.
Despicable Me 2 is undeniably funny, thanks in large part to the voice-acting (Carell and Wiig in particular), comedic scenes that grow out of Gru’s inexperience as a parent and on the dating scene, and of course his loyal army of gibberish-speaking Minions. Their speech alone — the beep-boops and the inflection — would merit more than a few laughs, but it’s their antics that push them over the edge and into comedy gold. From singing Agnes to sleep to driving the getaway car for Gru and Lucy, the Minions are always entertaining and would undoubtedly do well in a movie of their own.
Performance wise, Carell’s Gru is as awkwardly endearing as ever. Navigating the waters of pre-teendom is difficult for even the most seasoned parent, but Gru takes Margot’s first crush especially hard. At one point, he even ends up in an incredibly funny dance-off with her would-be boyfriend. Wiig, who voiced a different character in Despicable Me, has a very distinct way of exaggerating her speech, which is immediately recognizable in the movie and gives Lucy a vibe that’s equal parts whacky, dramatic and cool. She is a spy, after all, albeit an inexperienced one.
Despicable Me 2’s story, however, is fragmented and underdeveloped. The romance that develops between Gru and Lucy feels unformed, jumping from a mere flirtation to a full-fledged love story in no time. To be fair, this creation of love out of thin air is typical of many films. Additionally, the resolution of the film is anticlimactic. Perhaps I’ve become too accustomed to long drawn out endings, with at least one false ending (sometimes more than one), but it just seemed a little too easy.
All that said, Despicable Me 2 is perfect for its target audience — children and families. The narrative flaws and flimsy plot are easily forgiven, and won’t detract from your enjoyment of the film. Between Monsters University and Despicable Me 2, this blockbuster summer movie season has definitely offered up some great animated family fun.
This article appears in Jul 4-10, 2013.