FAB OR FLOP? | 'Despicable Me 3' surprises with new villain
The world is divided when it comes to Minions. You either love them or you hate them. So, after two 'Despicable Me' films and a 'Minions' prequel, it leaves everyone wondering how far can they go with the franchise.
Along with the Minions, 'Despicable Me 3' saw the return of the three loveable sisters Agnes (Nev Scharrel), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), their adoptive father Gru (Steve Carell) and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) - the family's newest member introduced in 'Despicable Me 2'.
With a story that centres around the trials of family, this film has a slightly different tone. After marrying Gru at the end of the last film, Lucy is struggling to prove to the girls that she can be mother material. Gru discovers that he has a twin brother, and upon meeting him must choose between his villainous brother or his new wife and daughters. All the while, the Minions are experiencing a dilemma of their own: stand by Gru who has given up villainy, or find a new master who will continue to be despicable. Discovering what family means is something many can relate to, so this film does have some touching moments. Generally, when it’s decided that a film will be turned into a series, the sequels can start to feel forced. It isn't entirely necessary for 'Despicable Me' to have 2 sequels. The prequel, Minions, would have been enough to tie up everything neatly and tell the story of how the Minions came to be. But luckily for Directors Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, the third film works because of their new villain: Balthazar Bratt. Regardless of how you feel about these films, there is no denying that introducing a new villain in each film has paid off, giving each film a fresh and unique quality. This film's villain was incredibly developed, and voiced by the talented Trey Parker (known for being half the brains behind animated television series 'South Park'). This is where the film production gets interesting. Parker's character doesn’t want to let go of the 80s and as such, he becomes a villain known for his 80s trends. Decked out in a purple suit with shoulder pads, sporting a mullet and using Rubik's Cube weapons, he makes an interesting addition to the film. With so much love for the 80s, there is a lot that can be done to allow 80s kids a chance to reminisce on the glorious decade that was. The music choices for the film took you back to the 80s. At the beginning of the film, there is a cheeky reference to 'Star Wars' - a well-played reference at that, that works to cleverly explain the absence of Dr Nefario - Gru’s assistant in both films prior. There is no doubt that bringing the 80s to the world of Minions is what makes this film watchable for those who aren’t major fans of the series. Spotting the 80s references makes the film a little more interesting for everyone, and a whole lot of fun. The film ends in a way that alludes to another film, which seems a bit like overkill; however, with other animated series such as 'Ice Age' potentially going on to their sixth film, who knows when the Minion madness will stop!
'Despicable Me 3' is in cinemas everywhere now. Keep an eye out for those 80s references, and feel free to share your thoughts with us!
