Despicable Me 3 ** (2017, voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker) – Movie Review

Busy, fast-moving quirky, surreal, and borderline weird at times, Despicable Me 3 goes its own sweet way. Steve Carell gets to be a very, very busy man as the voices of twin brothers – his voices are characterful and quite fun – did they pay him twice?

Gru gets fired from the Anti-Villain League, along with Lucy (voice of Kristen Wiig), for failing to take down Balthazar Bratt (voice of Trey Parker) the latest bad guy threatening humanity, but with killer dance steps and Eighties music. Gru is shocked to discover he has a long-lost twin brother, the charming, cheery, successful and un-follicly challenged twin brother Dru.

Sibling bonding is the name of the game. Dru desperately wants to team up with Gru for a criminal heist, and soon they set their sights on a huge jewel currently in the criminal possession of Bratt and his Bratt pack.

There are quite a lot of laughs along the daft way of this third movie, fourth film if you count Minions (2015). It’s not that they have run out of ideas and inspiration. It’s just that it feels like enough already. Been there, done that, seen that. Though, luckily, it’s just a series of silly gags, and jokes can bear repeating if they are good enough.

Despicable Me 3 is definitely sweet carefree nonsense for young and young at heart audiences.

Co-director Pierre Coffin voices the Minions, as usual, though they could just put a repeat of the recording he made last time for the various noises.

Steve Coogan and Julie Andrews land minor voice roles as Fritz / Silas Ramsbottom and Gru’s Mom. They could have more to do.

It follows Despicable Me (2010) and Despicable Me 2.

Dave & Jerry, Despicable Me 3’s mischievous Minions, joined the parade and celebrated London Pride on 8 July 2017.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

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