Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-Review by Professor Popinjay

Despicable Me:

IHOP was doing promotions for the first Despicable Me film. I had seen trailers but my wife at the time was oblivious to what these weird one-eyed pancakes were supposed to be. I had a two-year old and a bun in the oven at that point. Naturally, I had to take the family to see this. My wife at the time was charmed by the story of this “villainous” character having to raise these three girls. It may be another fish-out-of water story in a sea of fish-out-of-water stories but I think it stood head and shoulders above so many cookie cutter plots. The humor was great, the story was focused and made sense and it had heart. I think it also tapped into a part of many who frankly would very much like to act as Gru does (Driving a huge road-hogging car, freezing the heads of everyone ahead of you in the coffee line, stealing the moon, etc.) but would never actually do these things in real life thanks to their ultimate respect for mankind and/or the law. Incidentally, I think this started a trend of “bad-guy” movies with Megamind and the even less subtly titled “The Bad Guys”.

Despicable Me 2:

Just as good if not better than the first film but man, I thought this film was going to go in a completely different direction than it went. They still had the cute factor with the three girls and the fatherly Gru. Smart move. I feel like the second film in the Monsters Inc. franchise should have incorporated Boo or maybe Boo’s daughter or SOMETHING to maintain the cute/family aspect but nope. We got a Cartoon Version of Animal House instead. It was enjoyable nevertheless but they do need to explore Sully and Boo’s continued relationship in my humble opinion. Sorry, I digress.

The theory I developed as this second chapter of Despicable Me unfolded was that this Ramsbottom guy was amassing a bunch of villains in one spot to keep them occupied and trap them while he completed some more heinous plot without other major villains getting in the way. It just seemed like the mall characters were more than red herrings. They acted like more than just simple mall merchants. There was a sinister and over the top edge to each of them. What if El Macho was the real red herring and he wasn’t the only villain there at the mall and Gru was the final villain Ransbottom needed to capture? Maybe there could have been some back story where each of the characters at the mall somehow inadvertently foiled Ransbottom’s previous plots without realizing it and now he’s taken steps to prevent just that.

Then we have El Macho’s mountaintop villa which inarguably looked like an airship. It had a freaking rudder! What if by the end we discover Ramsbottom is the real villain, the mall villains join forces and escape the mall and use El Macho’s friggin awesome air ship to intercept Ramsbottom and thwart his plan!?! That would have been an awesome movie!!!!

But it didn’t happen that way and it was great anyhow.

Despicable Me 3:

We have the girls developing a strong relationship with their new mom. Gru trying to be a great dad. Both Lucy and Gru are working for the Anti Villain League. We get introduced to Gru’s brother who is pretty funny. And we have this hilarious 80’s themed has-been child actor turned villain in Balthazar Brat. I had zero complaints about this installment. It was fun. I’ve seen it several times on purpose.

Minions:

Admittedly I was less interested in this one… until they introduced Sandra Bullock’s character. The origin of the minions didn’t really interest me. Like Monsters University, the cute factor was gone. The family values were on the back burner. We do meet up with a strange villainous family that gives three minions a ride. I thought they were weird and kind of unpalatable once they revealed themselves as villains. But ultimately… this was still a fun movie in the long run. Scarlet Overkill was a great villain and fun to watch. Sandra Bullock killed it in the part. She was hilarious! And her husband, Herb Overkill!?! I can’t even say his name without giggling. Herb Overkill!?! What, is he an herbicide salesman? Scarlett married a man named Overkill to become Scarlet Overkill!?! I’m dying! Love it.

Minions 2, The Rise of Gru:

I don’t know if I’ve seen all of this one. I’ve entered into this era where kids’ movies are just on all the time at my house while I’m running around supplementing the needs of a wife and five children and I see bits and pieces of things all the time. I’m sure I’ve not actually sat down and watched this though. Honestly 95% of the films I do see, I watch standing up and at twice the speed. Such is the fate of a man forced to live under a rock for ten years. No, I wasn’t in prison, if you’re curious. Just very isolated.

Anyway, what I did see of this, I liked. It looked funny and you delve into the relationship between Gru and his mother a little more. That’s nice.

Despicable Me 4:

The story of the Gru family relocation and the added aspect of the baby puts the plot all over the place I think. Every character is having their own separate storyline and it’s going the way of Pirates of the Caribbean. Just too many storylines. Simplify Maaaaan!

The baby seemed a bit sudden. What about a chapter where Gru and Lucy are trying to have a romantic evening that keeps getting thwarted by children and other villains. I can relate to that. If I had a dollar for every date night that’s been interrupted by a supervillain, I’d have like $7.50.

That one time only half-counted.

Sans the lack of focus with the plot, Will Farrel was a great villain as Maxime Le Mal. I was very impressed with his French accent. Honestly I didn’t think Will Farrel was that versatile but he pulled it off.

Despite the all-over-the-place plot, DM4 had enough redeeming moments and it was entertaining. Great run guys! Should we park the bus or keep beating this horse until it stops spitting out money? I pray please quit while you’re ahead. Don’t become your own villain!

BTW- Great music through the whole franchise! Really sells it.