Minions Review

Voice Cast:

Pierre Coffin as The Minions

Sandra Bullock as Scarlett Overkill

Jon Hamm as Herb Overkill

Michael Keaton as Walter Nelson

Allison Janney as Madge Nelson

Steve Coogan as Professor Flux / Tower Guard

Jennifer Saunders as The Queen

Katy Mixon as Tina

Michael Beattie as VNC Announcer / Walter Jr.

Geoffrey Rush as Narrator

Hiroyuki Sanada as Sumo Villain

Dave Rosenbaum as Fabrice

Alex Dowding as Royal Advisor 

Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda

Minions Movie Plot:

From the beginning of time, the Minions have tried to find the perfect evil boss to work for as henchmen. After numerous failed attempts, the Minion community is overcome by depression until three brave Minions—Kevin, Stuart and Bob—set out to find them a new master. It’s 1968 and their quest takes them to New York and then Orlando to the Villain Con where they convince villainess Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock) to take them on as they’re sent to steal Queen Elizabeth’s crown.

Minions Review:

In this Minions movie review, one thing that’s immediately evident from the latest animated feature from Illumination Entertainment is that they wanted to create something even someone who wasn’t born when Despicable Me 2 came out two years ago would still be able to enjoy. And the plan worked because that movie’s supporting characters, voiced by co-director Pierre Coffin, work on such a simple and visceral level that anyone can understand and appreciate them regardless of age, gender, nationality or background.

As one might expect, so much of the humor in Minions is visual, from the opening title sequence where we get to see from whence they came, rising from primordial ooze as they upgrade from one fishy master to a T-Rex to various men. Whether it’s bad luck or just incompetence, they keep losing their masters to horrible accidents, so it’s up to three brave Minions to save their “people” by finding the perfect evil boss. Kevin is the leader and brains of the group, Bob is the youngest, while one-eyed Stuart is (according to the film’s narrator and for lack of better words) “an idiot.” As much as the Minions pretty much all look the same–no, we’re not sure if there are any designated female Minions like the Smurfs, and only have one that will inevitably be saved for the sequel—the three main ones are given such distinct personalities it immediately draws you into the story.

It’s 1968 when they leave their cave and end up in New York City, where they learn about a “Villain Con” in Orlando and the trio is picked up while hitchhiking by a family of bank robbers who take them to their destination. The idea is that once there, they’ll get to meet public enemy #1 Scarlett Overkill (as voiced by Sandra Bullock) and impress her into taking the Minions on as her henchmen. That’s pretty much what happens and for the first assignment, Kevin, Bob and Stuart must steal Queen Elizabeth’s crown, a plan that backfires putting them at odds with Scarlett.

The “voice cast” is mostly Coffin himself mixing non-sensical chatter with an occasional familiar word (Banana!), but there’s no question that the Minions are entertaining enough to carry the story. In fact, it’s the human characters, including the surprisingly game Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm, voicing Scarlett’s hipster husband, who aren’t able to stand up to the gibberish-spewing heroes. While the humans are all given funny moments and personality traits, the film’s energy dwindles when the Minions aren’t on screen. Other fun characters, like the bank-robbing parents voiced by Alison Janney and Michael Keaton, just don’t get enough screen time to really have much of an impact.

Even so, Illumination Entertainment has certainly stepped up their game in terms of the quality of their movies, both in terms of visuals—this is a beautifully colorful and vivid film—but also in terms of the strength of their storytelling and humor. While it’s not quite Pixar level just yet, Minions is on par with some of the better DreamWorks Animation movies in that it knows how to offer ways to keep both kids and grown-ups entertained.

For instance, the British setting allows for lots of ‘60s references, including one of the funnier nods when the Minions watch an episode of “The Dating Game” where the three bachelors—named Kevin, Bob and Stuart—each display similar characteristics as our heroes. The 1968 setting also lets co-directors Coffin and Kyle Balda play with a fun soundtrack that includes the Doors, the Kinks, the Stones and of course, the Beatles (An Abbey Road reference seems a bit obvious.)

The Bottom Line:

In the review of the Minions movie, knocking Minions is kind of like kicking puppies, since they’re just as cute and adorable and their humorous antics are thoroughly enjoyable. Minions is basically meant as pure and harmless entertainment, nothing more or less, and in that sense, it succeeds.