Minions lead the way to laughs in 'Despicable Me 2'

Wispy spy-film plot leaves plenty of room for wacky comedy.

Minions lead the way to laughs in 'Despicable Me 2'

Gru (Steve Carell) attempts to understand his new partner, Lucy (Kristen Wiig), in Despicable Me 2.
Gru (Steve Carell) attempts to understand his new partner, Lucy (Kristen Wiig), in "Despicable Me 2."


'Despicable Me 2'

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan, Benjamin Bratt, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove

Behind the scenes: Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud

Rating: PG for rude humor and mild action

Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

Playing: Opens at 7 p.m. July 2 throughout Orange County (See theaters and movie times for 2D and 3D versions)

The quick hit

This wispy, charming sequel about reformed super-villain Gru teaming up with the Anti-Villain League features daft animation, exuberant vocal performances, and heaps of humor from Gru's caplet-shaped, nonsense-talking Minions.

Grade: B+

Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan), head of the Anti-Villain League, tries to lure the reformed evildoer Gru (Steve Carell) out of his cozy single father's life with the help of a star-struck AVL agent, Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), who thinks Gru's villainy "was kind of amazing." Gru's mission, should he accept it, is to locate the brilliant wretch who stole a "transmutation serum" that can change even innocent bunnies into hideous aggressive creatures.

Gru eventually counts himself in -- and so should any fan of corkscrew-funny animation. "Despicable Me 2" uses the franchise's wacky alternate universe and a wispy espionage plot to riff on everything from the runaway technology of spy films (Lucy's Mini Flamethrower matches Gru's freeze ray) to the cutesy excesses of shopping malls (she and Gru go undercover at a shop called "Bake My Day").

Gru, the arrested-adolescent genius who once deserved to get arrested, goes through some credible growing pains. He's a doting parent to his three adopted daughters (voiced with affecting emotion and flair by Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Fisher, and Dana Gaier). He's as moody and antsy as a shy teenage boy with grown-up females, except for Lucy, who's on his geeky wavelength.

The adult voice actors match the daft animation; they include Russell Brand as Gru's deceptively doddering techno-guru Dr. Nefario and Benjamin Bratt as the combustible macho Mexican-restaurant owner Eduardo. The story doesn't generate enough momentum, but the images and characters are always breezy and bold. And whenever the movie flags, Gru's tiny Minions save the day. The directors, Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, supply the Minions' high-pitched gibberish. These caplet-shaped, nonsense-spouting creatures have become masters of mugging.

The Minions provide mega-doses of pure inspiration. It's impossible to analyze how the directors wring so much humor out of their bright eyes and big pupils, the elastic skin around double or single eyes, and even their pathetically scraggly hair. Visually, these little guys are irresistible. Farcically, they're inexhaustible. Their toothy mouths reshape in an instant from wide-open "uh-ohs" to crumpled smiles. They turn juvenile ADHD into comic platinum. They're seductively funny not just because they're easily distracted, but also because they never pass up any chance to jump for joy.

Contact the writer: msragow@ocregister.com

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