Unfortunately, while 2015's spin-off Minions suffered from lack of substance, this film lacked... something else.
Have you ever gotten hyped-up watching the hilarious trailers and excerpts of an upcoming film on YouTube - then you watch the movie and realize that you've already seen the funniest, cleverest, most memorable parts? Yup, that's DM3 in a nutshell.
Steve Carrel voicing the bald, grumpy Gru and his blonde, gregarious twin Dru is funny. Trey Parker as the 80s throwback villain Balthazar Bratt is funny. But neither is especially side-splitting or uproarious, and the sympathy factor is comparatively limp.
Despicable Me was absolutely hilarious, introducing the world to the overall-clad, goggled yellow creatures called Minions and the adorable trio of Margo, Edith and Agnes. We all pulled for Gru to overcome his solitude and embrace adoptive fatherhood.
Despicable Me 2 faced the challenge of a super-villain turned good-guy by wrestling with love and motherhood. Lucy Wilde forced Gru way outside his comfort zone, but eventually became his perfect counterpart.
The Despicable Me 3 concept definitely feels like stretching for the remnants at the bottom of the barrel. "Long-lost twin brother" is a pretty worn cliche, and there aren't many surprises in this straightforward plot. I'm not going to spoil it, but honestly there isn't that much to spoil.
The good: At the philosophical heart of the film are twin dilemmas that many real-world people must face: job loss and step-motherhood.
Fired by his employer, along with his wife, and deserted by his friends, Gru comes to a lonely place. The scene that begins with him alone in the basement surprised me by its realism and warmth. Here we have a main character blasted in the face by life's hardships, and what does he have left when he has nothing left? A wedding band upon his left ring finger. That's what pulls him through the valley, and that's what drives him to press on. In a world of "I do until I don't anymore," it's refreshing to see the marital commitment upheld (even subtly).
When we met Lucy last time, she was a single woman on a career path with the AVL. Falling for Gru also brought three ready-made children into her life, and this time around we are reminded that motherhood can be messy. Margo is used to taking the mother role for Edith and Agnes, and not being mothered herself. Parenting is a tough challenge, especially since modern parenting doesn't exactly square with biblical parenting. Step-parenting, a consequence of our fallen and broken world, is a greater challenge requiring a special dispensation of grace. Illumination isn't going to look to God's Word for step-parenting help... given that, their take blends mercy and truth surprisingly well.
The bad: Some may take issue with me here, but I'm frankly disappointed that the film sends mixed messages about villainy and heists. I believe there is a time and place when "doing the right thing involves an act of piracy, then piracy itself can be the right course" (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl) - but this line is drawn poorly in DM3. Is it really a bad thing to be a villain? Or is it fun, cool, and hip to break the law, steal things and not get caught?
Also - I get that Minions could overshadow the rest of the film given their massive popularity. But the role they end up playing in the plot feels artificially suppressed... Their relative absence feels like an over-correction. I'll be honest - I didn't really come for the plot. I came for the cute factor with the girls, a little bit, but mostly for the Minions. And not only was their role diminished, and not only had I already seen their funniest moments in previews - when their plot-line finally intersected back with our other characters, they didn't materially contribute to the climax. The brothers' relationship was central (and I get that), but the Minions' role felt like a poorly tacked-on afterthought.
The lame: Worst ending of the franchise, by far! Is Dru going to take over the Minions and use them for heists, even though the yellow guys just proclaimed their Gru loyalty afresh? Minions are too hilarious and incompetent to be truly evil (another reason Minions struggled).
At least for this reviewer, though, it was much more disappointing to have no closing Minion song, no dance scene, not even any crazy Minion credits! I never leave the theater until all the credits have run - but I did this time. There was nothing to see.
If you haven't caught the Minion-speak version of "Modern Major General", by all means do. It's a riot. But if you haven't caught the movie at the theater, wait for Redbox. It's not terrible, it's okay. But (IMHO) it's not worth the price of tickets and concessions.
~ Tim the Nerd
