Minions: The Rise of Gru
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Groovy 1970s origin story has slapstick violence.
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Minions: The Rise of Gru
Community Reviews
Based on 35 parent reviews
Very well done and hilarious
What's the Story?
MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU is an origin story set in 1976, when supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is just shy of 12 years old and a fanboy of the Vicious 6, a supervillain collective he dreams of joining. When the group has an opening for a new recruit, Gru applies and is then mocked by his heroes during the interview. He retaliates by stealing a magical pendant that can summon the power of the Chinese zodiac during the Lunar New Year. Gru entrusts the pendant with his minions, but before Gru can recover it, he's kidnapped and taken to San Francisco by infamous villain Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin). A select group of minions travels to San Francisco to rescue Gru; in the process, they meet Master Chow (Michelle Yeoh), who trains them in kung fu.
Is It Any Good?
Tween Gru and the ageless and delightfully silly minions make this 1970s-set origin story a short-and-sweet adventure for families and fans of the franchise. There's a universality to watching loner Gru idolize a group (he even has their action figures), even if it is a bunch of villains that includes Belle Bottom (Taraji P. Henson), Stronghold (Danny Trejo), Jean-Clawed (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Svengeance (Dolph Lundgren), and Nun-Chuck (Lucy Lawless). The supergroup of supervillains is seemingly unstoppable, so being temporarily outsmarted by a kid obviously doesn't go down well, and the ensuing adventure for Gru and his bravest minions strikes a good balance between slapstick, sight gags, and general shenanigans and more serious fight sequences. Matthew Fogel and Bryan Lynch's script is easy enough to follow for younger audiences but also features Easter egg references to the original story by providing a peek at characters and gadgets that show up in the Despicable Me movies.
The actors are all very well cast. Oscar winner Yeoh stands out as an acupuncturist who can level any opponent the Vicious 6 sends her way. Arkin is an ideal Wild Knuckles, who experiences a surprisingly tender character arc for a baddie. Henson and Nun-Chuck are the most compelling villains, but the group's individual backstories aren't explored. The animation is familiar, with a bold mix of details that bring the 1970s to life. And once again, the franchise offers up a catchy soundtrack full of covers and originals of big dance hits like "Funkytown" (literally used as a torture device), "Goodbye to Love," and minion-fied versions of "Cecilia" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Bottom line? The Rise of Gru isn't perfect -- in particular, its depiction of Chinese culture feels one-dimensional and clichéd -- but it's true to the original, and the minions are still utterly charming.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Minions: The Rise of Gru. Do you feel that it's kept age-appropriate for younger audiences? How?
The central characters in the Despicable Me movies are villains, and yet they're still the ones we root for. Is it OK to have a sympathetic villain? How does that impact the characters' status as potential role models?
What does young Gru learn about teamwork and asking for help? How does he need his minions?
Which of the Easter eggs/references to the Despicable Me movies did you catch? Do you think there should be more movies in this universe?
Discuss the way Chinese culture is depicted in the film. How is Lunar New Year celebrated in real life? Is it similar, or different from what appears in the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 1, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: September 6, 2022
- Cast: Michelle Yeoh , Steve Carell , Jean-Claude Van Damme
- Directors: Kyle Balda , Brad Ableson
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Asian actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some action/violence and rude humor
- Award: Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated: July 2, 2024
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