If there is anything that Despicable Me 4 proves, it’s that the minions will outlast humanity. 

The Despicable Me 4 franchise has captured the hearts of the world since its inception in 2010, spawning theme park attractions, sequels, spinoffs, and minions of merchandise galore. It became a cultural phenomenon that has carried into the next decade with its core cast of a heavily accented Steve Carrell and never-aging Miranda Cosgrove sticking around while attracting major voice talent of Joey in its never-ending saga. 

The major draw outside its memeable minions is Gru, a bad man who can’t help but accept that his soul is a good guy. A father, friend, and mentor, he is one of the rare villains that you can’t help but root for. Over the four movies Gru has shown immense character development rare for an animated franchise as he battles his internal dilemma to be good but many have seen him go from a selfish loner to an around father who deeply cares for the well-being of his family and the end of the day just wants to fit in. Watching him onscreen there is something so magnetic about his presence that just makes you feel for the odd-looking man.

Despicable Me 4 is a story of a father going to lengths to keep his evil side at bay and protect those he loves. Going after an old nemesis from school who has decided to transform himself into the most disgusting pest known to walk the earth, Gru finds himself in trouble when he must move his family to a new city and change their name to not be found. Assuming their new identities seems to be a challenge from Lucy taking on the role of a hairstylist and burning off a client’s hair to one of their young daughters refusing to take her new name because it’s technically a lie. Despicable Me 4 sidelines the main family outside of Gru and his baby in favor of introducing aspiring supervillain Poppy, the evolution of the mega minions, and some throw-away characters that add comedic value. 

Despicable Me 4 seems to experiment more with the amount of screentime of its leads, villains, and scene-stealing minions that don’t necessarily find the right combination but it’s satisfying for what it is. These are characters many have grown up with and still hold a special place in the hearts of moviegoers that there is still so much that could be explored within the Despicable Me world. Illumination benefits from spacing out its sequels unlike many of its animated competitors dropping a sequel every other year so that the well-needed break from the banana-loving beings always feels like a warm hug back to a simpler time.  It doesn’t do anything spectacular to break new ground, but its destructive animation style with some fun visual gags and an incredible heist sequence involving a honey badger and wheelchair prove why the wait is always worth it to let these animators do what they do best.

It is unknown whether this is the final in the franchise as it knows exactly how to perfectly wrap up a ten plus year franchise with a nostalgia-induced musical ending that is a major payoff to anyone who has kept up with the lore. Despicable Me 4 fits the definition of a summer blockbuster possessing the zaniness of a joyful two hours of escapism underlying the heart of family values. 

Grade: B

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: Best Animated Feature
Should be Considered: Best Original Song

Where to Watch: In Theaters