Despicable Me 4

 

It’s too friggin’ hot to think so, getting down to tacks of brass for this one.

I’m a fan of the franchise and absolutely love the Minions so I was very excited to see this one. Having braved the 111-degree temps to get to the theater to watch Despicable Me 4 I was left sweaty and with the overall feeling of, “meh.” 

DM4 has its moments: the gas station scene, the pit crew minions, the final prison scene for instance, but overall, the film is flat.  Definite “pockets” of interest over the hour thirty-five-minute runtime, but they’re inconsistent at best. All of this makes the pacing slow as you wait for the interesting tidbits you get here and there in between the dull parts. I’d say maybe it was a “me” thing, but even the kids in the audience weren’t engaged and showed signs of boredom and listlessness throughout the movie.

There’s are multiple plots and themes that are or at least would be interesting except they are underdeveloped, and I was left feeling cheated with each as a result. The lack of focus, story, and character development made for a bland viewing experience.

Once again, here’s another movie where the villain isn’t really worthy of being considered a villain. A weak and forgettable antagonist. New and old characters alike are pretty much glossed over, lacking motivation and interest. A fact that hits the Gru family hard. The premise isn’t leaned into enough to spark much interest into their plight, so you basically don’t care about them.  

The bulk of the entertainment generated watching Despicable Me 4 comes in the form of the minions. Even more so than in the other films. However, that’s not enough. The been there seen that and lack of inspiration keeps even the minions and their antics from be able to save this film completely.  

Once again Pharrell Williams delivers another soundtrack that will bring a smile to your face and have you singing along. Good animation although I do wonder who Sofía Vergara ticked off to have her character look that way. 

Yikes. Scary.

For my time and money Despicable Me 4 is the weakest film in the franchise to date. It’s not horrible, but it’s definitely lacking and a disappointment for me. The few sprinkles of characterization, humor, relatability, and creativity aren’t enough to save this film from being a so-so movie experience easily enjoyed in the comfort of your own home down the line. 

For me, Despicable Me 4 wasn’t worth the effort of actually going to the theater to see, especially not in this heat.

Despicable Me 4 gets a 5.5 from me.

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