Minions & Monsters

Sixteen years ago, I’m willing to bet the people behind Despicable Me had no idea they were launching not one, but two successful franchises. Sure, they probably hoped Gru and company would stick around for a sequel or two, but did anyone really think those little yellow sidekicks—the Minions—would become stars in their own right? They were cute, chaotic, and if they weren’t busy serving a supervillain, you might even call them cuddly. Yet here we are: three Despicable Me movies later, and now a third Minions film. Honestly, I think the world is a little better because of it.

Set decades before the events of Minions, Minions & Monsters begins during the Golden Age of Hollywood. A tribe of Minions stumbles onto a movie set while searching for their next great boss to serve. There they meet Max (Christoph Waltz), a Hollywood director who’s initially furious after the Minions derail his production. It doesn’t take long, however, for him to realize they’re exactly what his movies have been missing.

Before long, Max turns the Minions into silent-film superstars, and they quickly become Hollywood’s biggest attraction. But just as they’re riding high, the invention of sound changes everything. Since the Minions don’t exactly speak English, their careers come crashing down overnight.

Once again without a purpose, they begin searching for someone new to follow and eventually cross paths with Dort (Jesse Eisenberg), a robot bent on world domination. Not every Minion is interested in that plan, though. James and a few others have dreams of making a monster movie instead. Teaming up with a friendly monster named Groomi (Trey Parker), they set out to find the perfect creatures to star in their film.

Of course, Groomi has plans of his own, and before long the gang accidentally unleashes a monster capable of devouring the world. Thankfully, if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that you should never underestimate a Minion.

Written by Brian Lynch and Pierre Coffin, who also co-directs and once again voices the Minions, Minions & Monsters is equal parts love letter to classic Hollywood and giant monster movie. The first half is an absolute joy, racing through the Golden Age of Hollywood with countless Easter eggs and references that will probably take multiple viewings to catch. Film fans are going to have a blast spotting nods to classic stars, iconic movies, and Hollywood history.

By the time the monsters finally arrive, you’ve almost forgotten they’re even part of the title. They simply become the cherry on top of an already entertaining ride. More than anything, the movie proves that you can drop these little yellow troublemakers into just about any setting, and somehow they’ll make it work.

Minions & Monsters delivers one of the smartest comedic premises the franchise has had to date. While it never quite sustains the brilliance of its first half, it keeps the laughs coming from beginning to end. I do wish the story felt a little more balanced, especially when it comes to juggling its many ideas, but for every misstep, it delivers two genuinely funny moments in return.

Add in a breezy 90-minute runtime, colorful animation, and the Minions’ trademark chaos, and you’ve got another crowd-pleasing adventure that keeps this franchise rolling along. It may not be the best Minions movie, but it’s another reminder that these little yellow guys still know how to “illuminate” the screen.

Brian Taylor

Member of the North Texas Film Critics Association, and lover of all things Cinema