KSL Movie Show Review: Nothing new in ‘Despicable Me 4’
Jul 4, 2024, 3:03 PM | Updated: 3:27 pm
'Despicable Me 4' is a sequel that adds precious little of anything new to the franchise.
Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.
SALT LAKE CITY — I swear I’ve seen this animated feature or a close variation thereof in the past few years. It has Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) who hasn’t been “despicable” in some time. It features those Twinkies with at least one eye that speak gibberish in a funny way. And there is always a villain who has issues with said Gru with hopes of destroying him and his family.
I’d like to say there is more to this new sequel, but there really isn’t.
I know what you’re thinking. Wait a minute!
The trailer shows these “Megaminion” characters ala superhero mania, but they don’t have much to be super about. The new villain, Maxime Le Mal (voiced by Will Ferrell) who speaks with a French accent and uses cockroach hybrids to do his bidding, is just like all the other angry bad guys.
His girlfriend Valentina (voiced by Sofía Vergara) is only in it in passing.
The only hints of new in ‘Despicable Me 4’
Pretty much the only things with hints of originality are the creepy new neighbor girl Poppy (voiced by Joey King) who blackmails Gru to do something not even remotely despicable and the family welcomes a new baby, Gru Jr., who is reluctant to warm up to his formerly despicable father.
When the highlight is a hungry minion stuck in a vending machine for most of the film, you know your story might be in trouble.
Suggested other reading: KSL Movie Show Review: Nothing can save ‘The Garfield Movie’
So even though “Despicable Me 4” has all the requisite gags and goofs, it just feels like a massive retread with a whole gaggle of too-many uninteresting characters, some new some old, that wander around this movie looking for funny things to do.
If that still sounds like a winner to you, then go and be happy.
If not, and you haven’t seen “Inside Out 2,” I suggest you skip over this new and flashy and give a much better film a look-see.
To quote the great philosopher Forrest Gump, “and that’s all I have to say about that.”
DESPICABLE ME 4 (C+) Rated PG for action and rude humor. Featuring the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Will Ferrell and Sofía Vergara. Co-directed by Chris Renaud (“The Secret Life of Pets,” “The Lorax”) and Patrick Delage in his feature film debut. Filmed at Illumination Entertainment. Running time: 95 minutes.
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