Check out Kidzworld’s movie review of Despicable Me 3. Are those Minions as cute as ever? Are Gru and the girls still a tight family? Will Gru return to a life of crime?
By: Lynn Barker
In Despicable Me 3, Gru (voice of Steve Carell) loves his family that now includes spy wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig). Things are okay but he secretly misses the excitement of a life of crime. So do his Minions who are hoping that Gru’s discovery of shady twin bro Dru (also Steve Carell) might result in some exciting, less-than-legal action.
Dru is delighted that Gru will go on a crime caper with himCourtesy of Universal Studios
Fired!
Gru is now an agent for the Anti-Villain League (AVL) busting major criminals alongside wife Lucy. He foils supervillain and former TV child star Balthazar Bratt’s (Trey Parker) theft of a ginormous pink diamond but Gru fails in bring Bratt in yet again resulting in new AVL Director Valerie Da Vinci’s (Jenny Slate) decision to fire the couple! The daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Nev Scharrel) are sure their parents will find new work but the Minions leave when Gru refuses to return to a life of crime.
The girls are happy to meet Uncle DruCourtesy of Universal Studios
Bratt wants the diamond to power his robotCourtesy of Universal Studios
Twin Bro Dru?
While Lucy attempts to get more “momish” with the girls, a weird butler arrives with the news that Gru has a twin brother named Dru who wants to meet him. Freaked, Gru confronts his mom (Julie Andrews) who admits that when she and Gru’s dad divorced, each of them took one twin to raise. Dru is quite wealthy due to a family pig farming business that is actually a front for bigtime crime. Anxious to meet his bro, Gru takes the family abroad to Freedonia.
Gru's mom tells him about his twin DruCourtesy of Universal Studios
Meanwhile
The Minions who have left Gru, end up crashing a “Voice”-type talent show and wowing the audience with a “Pirates of Penzance” musical number that results in their being sent to prison! The Minions become popular among the prisoners at their jail, but their longing for their family life with Gru motivates them to escape via a crazy balloon-like vehicle of their own making. Bratt steals the big pink diamond again planning to use it to power a huge robot made in his likeness to destroy Hollywood in revenge for his popular TV show being cancelled when he reached puberty years ago.
The Minions entertain in jailCourtesy of Universal Studios
In Freedonia
Flamboyant Dru has charmed Gru's family but Gru finds him overbearing. Dru reveals that bigtime crime is really the family business and he was hoping Gru would rekindle the biz with him and teach him how to be a great villain like their dad was. Lucy takes the children to tour the surrounding towns, where Margo rebuffs a local boy’s affections, angering the townspeople and little Agnes runs to the forest to find a real unicorn. Dru takes Gru on a crazy joyride around the island in their father's car and the siblings bond. When it’s discovered that Bratt has stolen the diamond again, Dru convinces Gru to take it in one last glorious bro plus bro heist. Gru, however secretly plans to give the diamond back to the AVL hoping to get his job back.
Bratt steals the diamond back from GruCourtesy of Universal Studios
Kidnap
After the brothers get the diamond back despite Dru’s very inept work as a thief and a rescue by Lucy, they argue when Gru intends to give the stone to the ATL. Infiltrating Dru’s mansion disguised as Lucy, the evil Bratt kidnaps the kids forcing Lucy, Dru and Gru to resolve their differences to rescue them and stop Bratt’s plans to use his huge robot to destroy Hollywood. Will they succeed? Will the Minions rejoin Gru? Will Agnes find a unicorn? Will Dru remain in the family or turn against his newfound bro?
Gru and Lucy race to rescue their girls
Wrapping Up
Despicable Me 3 is fast moving, full of silly laughter and has the heart we are used to in these films. It’s not as charming certainly as the first movie although little Agnes adopting a one-horned baby goat she mistakes for a unicorn is pretty darn cute.
Dru and Gru in their dad's cool crime vehicleCourtesy of Universal Studios
The film falls apart in the middle with the family wandering around on various unrelated adventures in Freedonia that don’t really move the plot forward and I wish the Minions had a bit more to do with the action but, until the end, they are off on their own adventure.
Lucy learns that Gru and Dru are doing a caper together
Your parents might get into all the ‘80’s references associated with villain Balthazar Bratt who is well-voiced by comic genius Trey Parker of “South Park” fame. We have Rubik’s cubes, Twister, a mullet haircut, crazy “Let’s Get Physical” aerobic exercise, the “Bratt Pack” etc. not to mention lots of ‘80’s music and dancing on the part of Bratt who was an ‘80’s child star.
Bratt is bent on revenge
The film does offer a new bad guy for future films and the family, plus Minions are together stronger than before. We can go four stars.
Despicable Me 3 Movie Rating:
Despicable Me 3 PosterCourtesy of Universal Studios
Despicable Me 3 is in theaters now!
Have Your Say
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