Despicable Me 3 (2017): Minion Mayhem!

7.2/10Despicable Me 3
Minion Mayhem!

Despicable Me 3 waltzes onto the screen with all the grace of a one-legged unicorn; slightly wonky but undeniable magic. The film serves abundant villainy, wrapped in bubblegum aesthetics, seasoned with the hilarity of those banana loving yellow nuggets, better known as the Minions. It’s a bald-headed cocktail of family fun, madcap antics, and 80s nostalgia – a cherry-topped sundae that plays dangerously close to diabetes. But hey, who doesnt love a sugar rush?

When former child star villain Balthazar Bratt, now a diamond-stealing 80s-loving looney, steps onto the evil stage, Gru and Lucy get fired from their Anti-Villian-League jobs. With nothing left but their wits and an unexpected twin brother revelation, they strive to stop the diamond-powered Bratt while maintaining their quickly destabilizing adoptive family. Its a neon rollercoaster of family ties, neon-clad showdowns, and rogue Minion subplots – all stitched together with the fine thread of corny humor.

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While the movie amuses, its not immune to plotholes. Like a magical goat, Grus heretofore unknown twin brother Dru just appears without reason or backstory. Then theres the perplexingly inconsistent use of those glowing gum balloons. McCartneys 80s diamond dance, anyone?

Flaws aside, the films charm lies in its visual prowess and quirky wit – the aesthetic never fails to dazzle and the Minion mayhem induces fleeting but sincere belly laughs. The dialogue however, while engaging at times, occasionally falls flat, verging on the predictable. As villainous retro-fanatic Bratt, Trey Parker injects a dash of nostalgia which at times feels refreshing but can also feel like a missed one-hit-wonder. Its a sparkling spectacle that might benefit from a little less shine and a bit more depth.

The voice cast delivers performances as vibrant as the films palette. Carell, with double duty as Gru and Dru, brings both hilarity and heart. Wiigs Lucy is endearing, and Parkers Bratt scores on the fun scale. Directors Balda, Coffin, and Guillon balance slapstick and sentiment, albeit at a frenzied pace.

Conclusions

So, in a nuts shell, or perhaps more fittingly an acorns shell with extra butter, its a Saturday morning sugar-rush stuffed into a feature-length film. The candy-coated visuals, goofy voices, misplaced family values and Minions in prison gear mistaking a hot tub for a soup, are ingredients for wholesome fun. Despite having the fluidity of a hyperactive five-year-old on a sugar high, it’s infectious enough to keep the kids captivated and the adults grinning. The disheveled charm contained within its animation chaos is hard to resist. It’s silly, it’s absurd but hey, aren’t we all? Its delectably despicable, just the way, Im sure, you naughty rascals like it.

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