Despicable Me 3 - Movie Review

Going to a sequel for a movie you love is one thing, but by the time you get to the third movie in a series things can fall apart pretty easily.  I would have been content to wait until Despicable Me 3 came to Netflix, but the minions had other ideas, and even put seeing the movie on their summer bucket list, so we went to the film on the opening weekend with their grandparents.

Image Courtesy of Wikia

Despicable Me 3

What's in it for the Kids?
The same old characters they've fallen in love with over the past two movies, and a handful of new ones.  Some slapstick laughs kept my kids, and all of the other kids in the theatre in regular laughter

What's in it for the Adults?
This movie is geared at children, period, so don't go in expecting anything directed at the parents or you'll be disappointed.  There's a Star Wars reference to explain Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand's) absence in the movie that wasn't lost on me.  Voices are reprised by Steve Carrell, Julie Andrews, and Kristen Wiig. Trey Parker has been added as the latest villain.

Image Courtesy of Flickering Myth

Best Parts of the Movie
The slapstick comedy is king for kids watching this movie.  When I asked Molly and Jack for their favourite parts, both mentioned the slapstick filled scenes.  The latest villain who is trapped in his 1980's heyday provides some fashion and pop culture nostalgia to parents who lived through the 1980's, along with a decent retro soundtrack.


Worst Parts of the Movie
There were so many subplots in this movie that felt like they'd already been beaten to death in the first two movies.  Lucy is struggling with being a mom, Agnes loves unicorns, the minions want to be bad again, we get it! I get that it could be fun watching Steve Carrell play twins, but the whole long lost twin brother thing jumped the shark for me. This movie feels like someone drew ten ideas out of a hat and decided to roll, poorly, with all of them.  The movie focuses at a very shallow level on "real" family issues instead of the cool heroes fighting crime or bad guys being bad aspects. I fell asleep for a few minutes, twice. The minions were barely in the film, and when they were there was a plot hole that left Molly crying at the end of the movie.  In one scene, minion Bob is left behind by the other minions and it's never addressed again.  Perhaps that scene was cut? Either way Molly noticed and was quite upset.

Overall Rating
I would rate this movie 2.5/5, it wasn't terrible, but it was forgettable and blends with the other two movies too much, all while leaving bad aftertaste.  The kids enjoyed it, but at the same time, if they ask to watch it again when it comes out on Netflix, I'm going to opt to do something else.

To read my review of Captain Underpants click here

To read my review of Boss Baby click here

To read my review of the Lego Batman movie click here

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