The art of the animated sequel is a funny thing. On occasion, we get nearly-eclipsing pieces of beauty that attempt to transcend the genre (the Toy Story sequels). But more often than not, we get mind-numbing bores (Shrek the Third). Easier put, animated sequels are usually hit-or-miss commodities – many unsure of whether or not to expand the first into a larger ballgame or just provide a cruddy copycat of the original.
I’m all for animation pushing cinematic boundaries (think Pixar), but sometimes, it’s just fine to offer more of the same. For the folks at Illumination Entertainment, making a follow-up to 2010’s surprise hit Despicable Me could have been a disastrous move. The strikingly original first installment had impeccable animation, heart-warming sentiment, a delicious sense of rapacity and those brilliantly addicting Minions that nearly set the bar for the phrase “implausibly-cute-yet-voraciously-annoying-in-high-doses.” Despicable Me wasn’t high art; it was the best kind of kiddie fun. So, why try to double it?
Okay, yes, a sequel was bound to make a boatload of cash, but from a creative standpoint, what was left to say about Gru, his daughters and the Minions? The universe set up in the first was interesting to explore, but a sequel could have tanked the entire formula. There was such a sweet simplicity to the first movie that I didn’t think could be duplicated, thinking that Illumination would just overload on Minions and slapstick to the point of blasting the franchise into oblivion. Thankfully, the animation studio proved me wrong.
Despicable Me 2 is the exactly same movie as Despicable Me, and I couldn’t be more pleased in the fact. Everything about the new installment that made the original so appealing is present, including the effective move of Minion-management.
This time around, Gru (Steve Carell) has traded in his conniving, moon-stealing persona for that of the work-at-home dad. Gru’s old antics (i.e. freezing people to cut in line at the local coffeehouse) have been replaced by throwing children’s birthday parties. The old days of villainy have been eradicated –with Gru’s old lab and workforce (the Minions and the elderly Dr. Nefario) being tasked to create a series of jams and jellies for consumer purchase. It’s a satisfyingly humble existence for the old villain (one that causes old Nefario to bolt for a new opportunity early on), but a determined spy (Kristen Wiig’s endearing Lucy Wild) kidnaps Gru and two of his adorable cronies, leading him to the underwater base of the Anti-Villain League, led by Silas Ramsbottom (yes, the Minions do find the suffix of Silas’ last name humorous. This is a kid’s movie, mind you).
There, Silas tells Gru of a business opportunity to assist Lucy in investigating the actions of a mysterious mall tenant who may be using a mutating formula for malevolent reasons. After a little self-prodding, Gru decides to jump ship to the good guy’s side, kicking off a journey that further changes the life of the formerly vile villain.
Sound a wee bit familiar? Gru takes off on a journey of self-discovery that features plenty of wacky supporting players and a generous amount of heart. It’s the same plotline the first followed to positive results, and it’s the same path that the new installment follows to a tee.
While we’re given a dose of the familiar, the new stuff characters work well. A suspect in the mutation plot, the lively Eduardo Perez (who may-or-may-not-be super villain El Macho) offers an infectious presence. As the owner of a Mexican restaurant at the mall where Gru and Lucy search for the culprit, he’s a magnetic presence whenever on screen (a lot of credit the skill of Benjamin Bratt’s vocal performance). He also has a son named Antonio who takes a liking of Gru’s daughter Margo (you can imagine how that goes). Kristen Wiig’s Lucy is another fun addition, providing an effective foil for Gru when the two are on the case.
Another aspect copied over from the first one to this is the level of all-ages humor. For every clever reference for mom and dad, there’s a 21 fart-gun salute for Nefario as he exits Gru’s labs. It’s the humorous balance for all ages that makes this stand above the usual family fare.
Adding three adopted daughters (Margo, Edith and Agnes) to Gru’s life was an emotional hook that was going to be hard to top, but adding in Lucy as a potential love interest for the single Gru was a nice twist. Gru vehemently fights the idea that his life has room for one more for most of the film’s run-time, but the film gains its signature charm from yet again proving Gru wrong in this arena.
If the Minions are the series’ secret weapon, Gru’s the beating heart that ties everything together. We watched his fiery exterior melt at the arrival of the three kiddos in the first one, and here, Gru’s denial of wanting to add a significant other is chiseled down in heart-warming fashion.
Speaking of the Minions, the most admirable move comes in their selected use (an idea I’ll call Minion-management – patent pending). The characters are used frequently in the film, but to the expense of the plot instead of empty laughs. Yes, the Minions get plenty of chances to showcase their trademark goofiness (a musical nod to All-4-One takes the cake), but rarely is it hot air. I’m a fan of the little guys, but never can I support meaninglessly sporadic antics. Instead of consuming the entire movie, the creatures are used to good effect here.
And it’s almost cliché at this point to comment on animation in a CGI-dominant movie (every film that comes out in the medium is technically-better than the last), but I’m an unabashed fan of the way Illumination animates their movies. The unique character design and sharp stylizing leave the movie looking great. I thought the studio’s take on The Lorax was sadly empty and morose, but even then, I found the animation to be grade-A. Thankfully, Despicable Me 2 doubles as both a quality and gorgeously animated film.
Watching Despicable Me 2 further proved that the newly-minted franchise is never going be one that rises above gentle hugs and fart guns. It’s the undeniably endearing mix of joy and gleeful immaturity that makes this series tick. We’ve got a Minions origin story set for next year, and I hope that the upcoming prequel and the inevitable third installment don’t stray from the formula that made the first two films work so well.
You know the old phrase. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” As long as this franchise remembers its marching orders, further installments should yield positive results. It’s hard to get tired of such well-made family entertainment.