Despicable Me 2

Back in 2010, an animated film about a would-be villain and his plot to steal the moon made a huge stir at the box office. Despicable Me was a surprisingly fun family movie full of razor sharp humour, slapstick and heart. The film had a simple yet refreshing anti-hero concept and plenty of silliness for the kids, but also provided lots of smart, sassy humour for adults.

It comes as no surprise that a sequel has been made. Despicable Me 2 will undoubtedly follow the success of the original at the global box office, but how does it measure up?

Fans of the first film need not worry: Despicable Me 2 has stuck to the same formula and delivers another solid family treat. Although not a patch on its predecessor, the film does stand up on its own and ensures its viewer is rewarded with laugh out loud moments, as well as ones to get teary-eyed over, plus plenty of crazy plot developments.

We join Gru and the girls again, enjoying life as a family. The tranquillity is interrupted by the AVL (Anti-Villain League) who recruit Gru as a spy to see which new criminal is disturbing the peace. Not only does Gru have this to deal with, but the girls and his neighbours are also pressuring him into finding a girlfriend.

The film zips by at speed and such pacing is perfect for the target audience. Where the first film built its pleasure from quirky humour, Despicable Me 2 goes for the all-out crazy slapstick. The weapons, gadgets, vehicles and explosions are all exaggerated and hark back to the days of old cartoons, where the characters appear to be totally indestructible. This zany humour is a joy and at times completely hilarious.

While some viewers may quickly tire of this, the writers have crafted brilliant new characters (particularly Eduardo and Lucy Wilde), and subtle jokes to entertain the older viewer. The yellow Minions are back too and this time more integral to the plot, though the addition of two songs sung in their own language is two songs too many.

That said, Despicable Me 2 is a fun family viewing experience that is both cute and heartwarming. Don’t expect it to be as fresh as the first, but enjoy the charmingly chaotic story and animated visual spectacle in 3D, which will leave you wanting your own freeze ray.

Martin Broadley

Despicable Me 2 is released nationwide on 28^th June 2013.

Watch the trailer for Despicable Me 2 here: