VIDEO: Minions review

Despicable Me’s adorable yellow henchmen embark on a quest to find the biggest, baddest villain around.

The minions were a highlight of the original Despicable Me. They were then given more screen time in, and made more integral to the plot of, Despicable Me 2. And yet again, that decision was merited. Unfortunately, as Minions shows, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.

Despite their childlike wonderment, the minions have been on the earth far longer than you or I. They live with one purpose: to serve the most evil villain. The opening minions through history sequence is a delight, showing the minions assisting whatever fish was gobbling up the others before lending their services to the likes of Dracula and Napoleon. Don’t worry; it never gets as dark as the grown-ups in the audience may be imagining.

After failing to keep those they serve safe for very long, they end up without a master. And while they make do for a while, they become unhappy. So Kevin decides to embark on a quest to find a new boss with Stuart and Bob for company.

They journey from their base in the arctic to New York in 1968 and then onto Orlando for Villain Con. Naturally, Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock) is top of their boss wishlist. After impressing Overkill, they’re invited to England, but must complete one final task – stealing Queen Elizabeth’s crown – before they and their buddies can get the job.

Minions isn’t without its highlights; there are some great pop culture references, uses of British stereotypes, and characters. But while the minions were scene stealers in the Despicable Me films, they struggle under the weight of fronting a movie themselves.

Perhaps they would have been better off if left to their own devices. As it is, they have to interact with humans who aren’t as interesting or interacted with as well as Gru and the girls.

Minions is certainly more of a spectacle than its predecessors, but doesn’t quite have the same compelling story or memorability. Young audiences will enjoy the babbling minions getting more screen time and the slapstick humour, while there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had for the older crowd too.