Now that we’ve seen the Minions — those roly-poly, bright-yellow, gibberish-polyglot henchmen — carry their own movie, can we really go back to treating them like sidekicks? If “Despicable Me 3” is any indication, then the answer to that question is a firm “No.” This third go-round with reformed supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) flags whenever the Minions or antagonist Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker) aren’t at the center of the action.
Back in the 1980s, Bratt was the teen star of a hit TV series, but after puberty hit, he and the show got the sack. Since then, Bratt became the gadget-wielding bad guy he once played on the small screen in real life, but his aesthetic never evolved: he wears a shoulder-padded track suit in a shade of purple not seen before or since 1984, and he’s not letting a bald spot keep him from sporting a king-of-the-mall mullet.
While Bratt is one of the best additions to this third entry, he’s too often off-screen so we can follow the less-interesting adventures of Gru and new wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig), who have both just been fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to stop Bratt from stealing the world’s largest diamond. That’s not the only shake-up in Gru’s life — one day he receives word from Dru, the twin brother he never knew he had, inviting him for a visit.
(Julie Andrews makes an all-too-brief appearance as the mother who separated the siblings when she and her husband divorced.)
With no other immediate prospects Gru, Lucy and daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Nev Scharrel) head off to Freedonia — Groucho Marx’s Rufus T. Firefly is sadly absent — for a family reunion. And while it appears that Dru is a successful pig farmer, the real family legacy turns out to be supervillainy, and Dru hopes Gru can tutor him in the ways of their father. Gru plays along, mainly in an attempt to steal the diamond back from Bratt.
There are more plates here than screenwriters Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio know how to spin — the Minions get packed off to jail for much of the movie, preventing them from interacting with the other characters, and subplots about Lucy’s worries over stepmotherhood, the AVL’s brash new boss Valerie Da Vinci (Jenny Slate), and a Freedonian boy with a crush on Margo never really go anywhere. (And if you happen to be an Edith fan, she particularly is left with nothing to do here.)
[powergridprofile powerrank=”164” node=”1005399” type=”project” path=”http://powergrid.thewrap.com/project/despicable-me-3” title=”Despicable Me 3” image=”dm3-adv1sheet-rgb-5-58c818a68f809-1.png”]
Not that there aren’t some hilarious and visually striking moments along the way, whether it’s Gru and Dru breaking into Bratt’s fortress in skintight suits that suggest a cross between “Danger: Diabolik” and “Spy vs. Spy” or the Minions’ elaborate, garbled take on an operetta classic.
The hits of the ’80s that underscore Bratt’s every move are a little on the nose, but at least the vintage pop songs are a diversion from the string of chirpy Pharrell Williams tunes, all apparently designed to be “Happy”-style earworms.
Parker revels in the trademark nasal arrogance he’s honed to perfection after decades of “South Park,” and Carell seems to be enjoying himself as he figures out a way to make the twins’ voices different from one another. But Lucy is such a seeming afterthought here that Wiig is stuck marking time.
Ultimately, none of these flaws will matter to the throngs of little kids who have made the previous “Despicable Me” movies (and the superior “Minions” spin-off) into giant global hits. But even parents who found the earlier outings reasonably tolerable may find themselves making excuses to linger longer at the concession stand.
18 Kids' Cartoons That Are Perfectly Acceptable to Watch as Adults (Photos)
Haven't you heard? Cartoons aren't just for kids anymore! Yes, there are animated shows and films that are made strictly for older audiences ("Venture Bros.," "The Simpsons," and "Futurama" are among them), but there are plenty that straddle the generational line. These are the cartoons that were technically made for a younger demographic but can be enjoyed just as much by adults. Don't be embarrassed.
"Looney Tunes"
It's the one that started it all. "Looney Tunes" has endured for so long thanks to its mix of slapstick humor and beloved characters, with episodes full of cross-generational, classic shtick that gets passed from generation to generation. Seeing the Roadrunner outsmart Wile E. Coyote and Bugs Bunny beating Elmer Fudd never gets old.
Getty Images
"Steven Universe"
There's not enough room to discuss everything that makes "Steven Universe" great, but we can try. It's a cartoon that balances mature storytelling with comedy, that features non-traditional family structures, highlights queer relationships, tackles dark subjects like depression and war, and creates some of the best original songs from any cartoon. It's a total package.
This time travel, fantasy cartoon recently returned to Adult Swim for a final season after being canceled in 2004. In total, the five seasons of this blunt and darkly comic show about a samurai who gets transported to a future controlled by an evil demon proved it was one of the most unique shows on television, both in style and substance.
Cartoon Network
"Gravity Falls"
This horror story about twins who live with their uncle in the small, mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon only ran two seasons, but there's so much to digest. There are monster fights, colorful characters and a battle against inter-dimensional beings that takes the world into a strange Armageddon. All the while, the twins and their uncle learn to be a family and to look out for one another as the world crumbles around them.
Disney
"Adventure Time"
This long-running show has been touted to adults since it first aired thanks to its absurd and random humor. As the seasons have passed and the characters have grown, "Adventure Time" has become so much more than its humor -- its highly intricate storyline and the countless theories that have been circulating since its first season that have all come true.
This cartoon about two slackers who work at a park was as much for stoners and adults as it was for a young audience. Each episode followed a specific formula: slackers Mordecai and Rigby try to get out of doing work, but then a life-changing, potentially world-ending event needs to be stopped. The two protagonists were out of their depth, but they eventually grew up.
Cartoon Network
"Over the Garden Wall"
This is a must-watch on Halloween. The 10-episode series follows the adventures of brothers Wirt and Greg as they try to find their way home. On the way, they meet all kinds of horrifying creatures -- from pumpkin people to a beast who turns lost children into trees. The show takes a lot from American mythology while creating a tense drama that never lets up.
Cartoon Network
"Star Wars: Clone Wars/Rebels"
People have divisive opinions about the "Star Wars" prequels, but many of those criticisms don't apply to "Clone Wars," which takes place between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith." It's a six-season show that expands on some of the best parts of the prequels, while also fixing them. Jar Jar only appears sparingly! Anakin isn't whining! Padme takes control!
This isn't that awful M. Night Shamayalan movie. This is the real deal. "The Last Airbender" and its sequel "Legend of Korra" are staples in the fantasy genre. They combine a unique world influenced by multiple Asian myths and martial arts styles, along with memorable characters that grow in realistic ways. "The Last Airbender" is more about childhood, but "Legend of Korra" is about adulthood, tackling issues like trauma and war in a sensitive manner.
Nickelodeon
"Hey Arnold!"
The Nickelodeon cartoon created by Craig Bartlett followed a group of fourth graders living in the big city, complete with a diverse cast and realistic situations. It ran the gamut of characters, touched upon issues like race, economic status and, over the seasons, told stories about the breadth of human experience.
Nickelodeon
"Animaniacs"
Try thinking about the State Capitols or the countries of the world and not also think about "Animaniacs" and their catchy tunes. The show introduced us to characters like the Warner brothers (and sister) and Pinky and the Brain, a billion catchphrases ("Hellooooo nurse!"), and some of the most dynamic and zany animation ever put on television.
The concept was hokey -- gargoyles come to life at night and fight crime. But in two seasons (the third one doesn't count), "Gargoyles" managed to blend comedy and drama for a rich fantasy series. The creators really experimented with storytelling, utilizing concepts such as time travel, magic, romance and Keith David for a vital 1990s flashback.
ABC
"My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic"
It's become a joke in the public consciousness at this point, thanks in part to its adult male fans, but "My Little Pony," in many ways, warrants its giant audience. It's about young ponies and their adventures growing up and learning about friendship, but it also features intricate jokes and references that keep you hooked.
Hasbro
"Batman: The Animated Series"
Okay, now we're into the superhero portion of the gallery. First we have the one all the superhero cartoons try to emulate. "Batman: The Animated Series" brought the Caped Crusader to life in a noir-inspired series that had just about everything. Best of all, we had his villains -- old and new (this was the first introduction of Batman mainstay Harley Quinn) -- and a new take on the classic character that has persisted to this day.
For many, "Justice League" and its continuation "Justice League Unlimited" were the things that introduced us to the bulk of the DC lineup. It was created by Bruce Timm, who helmed "Batman: The Animated Series," so it had a lot in common tonally with the previous entry on this list, but what made it stand out was how it incorporated storylines and characters from the DC canon so seamlessly and without sacrificing much for its young audience.
Warner Bros.
"Spectacular Spider-Man"
It only ran for two seasons, but arguably the best Spider-Man cartoon left its mark. The show took the webslinger back to high school, where he had to juggle being a superhero while also being a good friend and student. More than any of the movies or other shows, "Spectacular Spider-Man" understood the essence of the character and focused on his inner turmoil. Plus, the villain storylines -- and the cliffhangers -- are expertly done.
Marvel
1 of 17
There are plenty of animated series that straddle the generational line
Haven't you heard? Cartoons aren't just for kids anymore! Yes, there are animated shows and films that are made strictly for older audiences ("Venture Bros.," "The Simpsons," and "Futurama" are among them), but there are plenty that straddle the generational line. These are the cartoons that were technically made for a younger demographic but can be enjoyed just as much by adults. Don't be embarrassed.
Getty Images
