There’s no mystery why Universal and Illumination Studios keep churning out “Despicable Me” movies—the last sequel in 2017 grossed over $1 billion globally. However, the question of why audiences keep watching may be tested by this fourth installment (excluding the “Minions” spin-offs). The latest edition is a tired, disjointed medley of madcap visual gags, producing as many genuine laughs as can be counted on a Minion’s three-fingered hand.
In the realm of sequels, babies often represent the last refuge of scoundrels, and “Despicable Me 4” follows suit by introducing Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) and Lucy’s (Kristen Wiig) son. Semi-amusingly, the child can’t stand his dad, reacting with screams or other antics whenever Gru picks him up.
Gru continues his do-gooder mission, starting with the pursuit of a villainous former schoolmate, Maxime (voiced by Will Ferrell), who has the ability to transform into a cockroach—a spectacle as unappealing as it sounds.
Maxime soon escapes prison, forcing Gru and his family to hide in a safe house under assumed identities. From there, the film meanders as the family adjusts to their new environment, including Gru’s encounters with a snobbish neighbor voiced by Carell’s friend Stephen Colbert, marking a sort of animated reunion for “The Daily Show” and “The Ambiguously Gay Duo” alumni.
Despite the long gap since “Despicable Me 3,” the film still leans heavily on the obligatory Three Stooges-style antics involving the Minions, along with occasional excrement jokes aimed at younger viewers. One of the more promising ideas—a quintet of Mega-Minions with Fantastic Four-like powers—ultimately goes nowhere, serving no real purpose in the plot.
Whatever novelty the franchise had when it debuted 14 years ago has waned with each successive film, despite the enduring financial rewards. While the success of “Inside Out 2” highlights a robust appetite for animated sequels, the ambition gap between the two films is stark.
One of the few memorable laughs comes when the Minions expertly change a diaper, then launch the soiled item into the distance—a process that serves as a handy metaphor for the disposable nature of the movie. Universal and Illumination Studios can only hope that the memory of this lackluster entry fades before they present another serving of warmed-over Gru-el.
“Despicable Me 4” premieres July 3 in U.S. theaters. It’s rated PG.
