Film 16: Minions (2015)

Some days I choose to watch a movie because it is considered one of the best; other days because it is one of the worst. Sometimes I'll pick a movie based on the assumption that it will be my kind of movie, and other days I go with a strong recommendation from a friend. However, there are some days where I don't feel like watching a movie, even though I know I must, so I end up throwing on a movie that I can simply take at face value and never pay any mind to again. This is how I ended up watching Minions.

For reference, I enjoyed the Despicable Me movies. I think that they both do an excellent job of characterising Gru and the girls, and end up being well-made and wholesome movies that are fun for the whole family. I also like the minions as a side character that drops in a cheap joke now and then.

I also don't think every film has to be Citizen Kane, which I just happened to watch right before re-watching this movie and starting this review (review pending; Kane is my 193rd new movie this year, so I have a few to get through first).

However, I am conflicted about this movie; how I feel about the movie is at odds with how good I think it is. I don't think the movie is bad, but at the same time putting the Minions front and center is so insipid to me that I can't like it either. So from here on out, I will try to remain objective as I discuss the movie, but don't hate me too much if I slip a little, ok?

The plot is simple, and basically just an excuse for the Minions to do minion things. We get the origin of the Minions and their existence through time. Apparently they aren't a creation of Gru, but evolved from a primordial state into their current form around about the same time the first creatures crawled up onto dry land. They also apparently need a Big Evil Boss in order to have purpose, and after a few years without one, a few finally decide to go find one. These few (Kevin, Stuart and Bob) find Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock), a supervillain with aspirations of the British Crown. Through failing the heist, Bob manages to get himself crowned by drawing King Arthur's sword.

Like I've been saying, the movie is so light on plot and character that there's not much more worth commenting on, but I will say that the animation is excellent; there's a well-animated cartoon-y aesthetic to the whole film, which makes the whole thing considerably more entertaining to watch. There's also quite a few off-beat humour moments that got a chuckle out of me, such as the British police officers in high pursuit drinking and pouring tea from delicate porcelain. 

The Verdict: Minions is a movie directed squarely at kids. The humour is child-like, the story light and inconsequential, the animation is gorgous, and the whole experience was a little pointless for me. Even after re-watching it for this review, I probably won't ever think on it again. Kids (and kids at heart) will love it, but I don't think I would recommend this film to anyone else. (Hey, at least I have another movie on my list that kids can watch, right?)

Rating: 5.5/10

Published July 9, 2016