This Week's Movies - Despicable Me 3

Gru and Lucy are fired from the Anti-Villain League after failing to capture super bad ‘un Balthazar Bratt, a former child star-turned-megalomaniac obsessed with all things ‘80s, while the Minions leave town in protest at Gru’s ongoing goodie-two-shoes-ness. But all is not lost! Because Gru’s long-lost twin brother, Dru, has appeared out of nowhere and invited the whole family to his pig-themed mansion. All sound a bit odd? Excellent.

Pros:

1. It’s funny. Consistently, regularly, casually funny. Previous Despicable Me films (as well as the Minions movie) have been patchily amusing, but this one just ticks along very nicely, distributing a healthy number of sight gags, weird noises and flashes of supreme silliness as it goes. It just works. In fact, I’d casually say it’s the best film of the franchise so far.
2. Trey Parker’s ‘80s-obsessed big bad Balthazar Bratt is a minor stroke of genius. Gigantic shoulder pads, oversized beatboxes, a sincere and overwhelming love of Michael Jackson’s back catalogue… Bratt’s got the lot when it comes to that particular decade, and the resulting character is very entertaining, particularly when he busts out a “dance fight” instead of actually, you know, fighting. Neon lasers, VHS tapes, pink bubblegum... there’s just something really delightful about him. Maybe it’s the mullet.
3. Likewise Dru, Gru’s twin-brother, is a very pleasant surprise. While he could easily be either a useless copycat or an exact opposite to “Despicable Him”, he’s more of a loveable goof, and he works well bouncing off Gru. Sure, he wears white while Gru wears black – surprise surprise! – but with his excitable, oafish persona, the natural sense of competition between the two and his outrageously luscious shock of blond hair, there’s definitely enough to him that you’ll quite like a repeat appearance inevitable sequel.

Cons:

1. The Despicable Mes will never hit the emotional heights of a five-star Pixar or golden age Disney. These are manic Saturday morning cartoons, powered by childishness, sugar and fart noises. You will not be moved, you will not be touched, you will not feel anything. Anything but giddiness, at any rate.
2. While it’s fun and funny and all, it’s not particularly inventive. Don’t go expecting any twists or reveals or anything along those lines. It’s bouncy and light but there is very limited depth, plot-wise. At one point there is a “unicorn”, though, so if you weren’t expecting one of those, well, spoiler alert.
3. It needs more Minions.

Three word review: Superb silly fun.