Minions

How do you NOT love The Minions? They are cute and goofy and full of such exuberance! It would take a complete moron to destroy this movie.

In a prequel to the Despicable Me movies, the audience gets a chance to learn all about The Minions.

Where did they come from?

Why do they want to serve an evil master?

How did they settle on overalls as a fashion statement?

In 1968, after spending many years in a frozen cave with no master to serve, our minions have fallen into depression because they are not fulfilling their destiny in this life.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Kevin (voice by director Pierre Coffin) proposes a journey to scour the planet for some evil, dastardly mischiefmaker who will take The Minions under his or her wing as a key component in a scheme to dominate the world.

However, only young Bob (voice also by Coffin) wants to go, and Stuart (yep, Coffin again) is kind of tricked into the whole adventure.

Before you know it, Kevin, Bob and Stuart find themselves traveling to a top secret villain convention, where they meet and impress the world’s greatest supervillain, Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock).

Together, they hatch a plot to steal the British crown from Queen Elizabeth.

Is this trio up to the task?

Can they reunite with their fellow minions?

Is Scarlett the master they want?

Is she the master they need?

As directed by Coffin and Kyle Balda, Minions is a slapstick triumph. As our little heroes speak in hilarious gibberish, the animation team makes them come to life with vivid personalities and emotion as they engage in all sorts of chases and goofball antics. The second bananas command the screen in this opportunity to step into the spotlight.

We love them because they are full of an infectious glee, even as the story starts to wane. Writer Brian Lynch doesn’t take this animated film to the levels of an Inside Out, as we see a thin story with a plot slapped on to help us find an ending. Yet, it won’t drive you crazy because the slapstick is so imaginative and non-stop.

Plenty of famous voices pop up, but let’s give special recognition to the one superstar who felt this was an acting gig and delivered. Jon Hamm is awesome as Scarlett’s inventor husband, Herb Overkill.

Making Herb part-scientific genius and part-groovy 60’s party boy, Hamm is able to use his talent to make the character as equally excitable as any minion. They are kindred spirits, and the scenes they share together are among the best, even when you can’t tell it is Hamm doing the voice.

Bullock has moments as Scarlett, but you always know it is Sandy Bullock. Michael Keaton and Allison Janney will make you laugh as the family helping Kevin, Stuart and Bob reach the villain convention, but these are small roles and a tiny subplot that could have been made into an entire movie (and you might wish it was).

In the end, what truly moves the audience and makes Minions so likable is the dedication each one has to the other. You won’t see many live action movies where the characters care so much for their pals, and will do whatever it takes to help them in a pinch.

The Minions just graduated from sidekicks to heroes.

Minions is rated PG for action and rude humor.