In Despicable Me 2, Gru, his merry cast of Minons, and adopted daughters, Margo, Edith, and Agnes are back in a sequel where our reformed superhero has lots to smile about. Early in the movie viewers see Gru making arrangements for Agnes’ birthday party and demonstrating how he’s fully embraced the role of fatherhood. Viewers also learn that he’s given up his evil ways in favor of a new jam and jelly business produced in partnership with Dr. Nefario and thanks to the help of the Minions.
Disclosure: Universal Pictures invited me and the kids for a Despicable Me 2 weekend and covered our travel, accommodations, and passes to Universal Studios and provided us with other goodies during our visit. No compensation was received and opinions are my own and those of my Minion loving travel companions.
However, malevolent criminals still exist in the world and through the course of the movie, we learn that one of Gru’s nemeses from his early villain days is back and ready to cause world destruction. As a reknowned reformed supervillian whose crimes are legendary Gru is recruited by Anti Villain League (AVL) to help solve the most recent crime involving the theft of a potion taken from a lab in the artic tundra. Gru and his partner, Lucy (Kristen Wiig), team up to figure out who has taken the substance that has the power to transform creatures from good into evil.
Throughout the movie the theme of love reigns supreme when Gru isn’t fighting evil villains of the world. Even though Margo doesn’t look any older than in the original movie, she’s turned into a young woman in Despicable Me 2 who has an eye for boys. Gru serves as the overprotective father, keeping a watchful eye on his eldest daughter and attempting to enact a rule that she stays six feet away from boys at all times.
At the same time, meddling neighbors and friends are trying to play matchmaker to Gru who is still single by suggesting single women he should date and even going so far as to set him up on a date that ends badly. The girls even get involved by trying to register him for an online dating site.
The growth of the characters that we loved in the first movie and hysterical antics of the ever-present Minions make this a fun sequel to the first film with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Those who haven’t seen the original movie will fall in love with the charming characters. Dave, Stuart, Larry, Kevin, and all the Minons are back and hilarious as ever and still giggling about butt jokes.
Boys and girls alike will identify with the characters sentiments about love because while Margo develops a crush, Agnes openly expresses her disgust about anything remotely mushy. There are tons of action sequences full of gadgets (yes, the Fart Blaster comes back!) and Minion mayhem and even though the end may be slightly predictable for adult movie-goers, kids and adults alike will leave with a warm fuzzy feeling that good always triumphs over evil and love conquers all.
Despicable Me 2 will be in theaters on July 3.
How fun! I’m really enjoying your updates on this trip. I bet your kids will never forget this one.