The Despicable Me franchise returns with its fourth mainline installment, delivering more of the Minion-fueled antics that have made it a global phenomenon. Directed by Chris Renaud, Despicable Me 4 offers plenty of zany slapstick and colorful chaos, ensuring it will entertain younger viewers. However, for longtime fans and weary parents, this latest entry feels like a mixed bag — sporadically charming but undeniably running out of fresh ideas.
Gru (Steve Carell), now firmly established as a family man and Anti-Villain League agent, faces his latest nemesis, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), a former supervillain classmate who harbors a decades-long grudge. Maxime’s vendetta comes to a head when he escapes from prison and threatens to harm Gru’s newborn son, Gru Jr. To protect their family, Gru and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) go undercover in a snooty suburban neighborhood, taking on hilariously mismatched personas. Meanwhile, the Minions continue their signature brand of bumbling hijinks, and Gru reluctantly mentors his aspiring teenage supervillain neighbor, Poppy Prescott (Joey King).
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On the surface, Despicable Me 4 delivers exactly what fans expect. The humor is as goofy and irreverent as ever, with moments that land particularly well. Highlights include a slapstick-filled heist sequence featuring Gru and Poppy, absurd encounters with Maxime’s army of cockroaches in tiny helmets, and countless Minion-led sight gags. The commitment to over-the-top comedy, bolstered by Will Ferrell’s intentionally terrible French accent, keeps the energy high, even when the story starts to wobble.
Visually, the film doesn’t disappoint. The animation is bright, polished, and packed with quirky details, from suburban satire to surreal gags like a “yassified” cockroach transformation. The design of Maxime’s lair and the exaggerated character movements capture the franchise’s signature aesthetic, ensuring there’s always something fun to look at, even when the humor or plot falters.
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However, the film stumbles in its attempt to balance multiple subplots. Despicable Me 4 packs in too many ideas without fully committing to any of them, from Gru’s family’s new life in witness protection to Poppy’s villainous aspirations to Maxime’s elaborate revenge scheme. The result is a narrative that feels scattered and lacks the emotional depth of earlier entries. The sidelining of the girls — Margo, Edith, and Agnes — further exacerbates the issue, as their dynamic was a key ingredient in the series’ initial charm. Poppy is a welcome addition but doesn’t fully fill the void left by the reduced focus on Gru’s daughters.
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Despite these flaws, Despicable Me 4 has its moments of brilliance. The Minions, as always, deliver plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, from their ridiculous superhero transformation to a clever gag involving a Minion riding a bike powered by slapstick mayhem. The film’s ability to poke fun at pop culture and suburban clichés adds a layer of humor for adults, even if it occasionally veers into forced territory.
Despicable Me 4 is an entertaining, albeit uneven, addition to the franchise. While it doesn’t capture the heartfelt magic of the original or the sharp storytelling of the earlier sequels, it still offers enough laughs and visual flair to keep younger audiences happy. For older fans, it’s a fun, if forgettable, romp that shows the franchise may be running low on fresh ideas.
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TL;DR Review
Despicable Me 4 (2024)
Despicable Me 4 delivers goofy humor and eye-catching visuals, with standout moments like slapstick heists and absurd gags. While it struggles with a scattered narrative and sidelining beloved characters, it still offers laughs and fun for younger audiences. Older fans may find it entertaining, but it lacks the emotional depth and sharp storytelling of earlier films.
Review Breakdown
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Unruly Rating