In this latest installment of Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, Gru is faced with new challenges. If welcoming his mischievous son, Gru Jr., into the family fold wasn’t enough their tranquil life takes a dramatic turn. How? The notorious criminal mastermind, Maxime Le Mal, breaks free from prison and sets his sights on seeking revenge against Gru. So, now Gru and his family are sent into witness protection and have to navigate through this unexpected threat.

Most of the beloved voice cast is returning for Despicable Me 4, with Steve Carell reprising his role as Gru and Kristen Wiig as Lucy, his wife. Miranda Cosgrove and Dana Gaier are back as Edith and Margo, while Madison Polan takes over the role of Agnes. And joining the cast is Will Ferrell, voicing the new villain Maxime Le Mal.

TOO MANY STORYLINES MUDDLE THE HEART IN DESPICABLE ME 4

I’m a huge fan of the Despicable Me movies. I love the family dynamic and how Margo, Edith, and Agnes affect Gru’s cold villain heart. So, I had high hopes for Despicable Me 4 with the introduction of Gru’s biological son as well as the addition of witness protection into the mix. I thought all this could have led to a captivating storyline. However, it seems that the focus has shifted in the fourth installment.

In addition to being in witness protection to escape his arch-enemy, Maxime, Gru reluctantly partners with a novice villain, who is also his teenage neighbor, Poppy Prescott (Joey King). Sadly, the introduction of numerous new characters resulted in several storylines being discarded, leaving little room for the emotional core that has continually been the series’ strength since the original.

It has been 7 years since the release of the 3rd installment, and I can’t help but wish that the creators had considered aging up Gru’s three daughters, Margo, Edith, and Agnes. It would have been exciting to see how the girls navigated the chaos of witness protection as pre-teens.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t comedic moments throughout. And as expected in a Despicable Me movie, there is plenty of minion chaos for the family to enjoy. I just wish there was more heart.

Despicable Me 4 hits theaters on July 3, 2024.

KEEP READING

The Imaginary: Studio Ponoc Delivers A Beautifully Animated Feature [Review]