As Good As the First.

Rating: 7/10 (2 July 2015)

Despicable Me 2 (2013): Dir: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud / Voices: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand: Sequel to the entertaining and popular 2010 animation. Ex-evil mastermind Gru settles down with his several adopted children until he is tasered by a female agent and abducted. Apparently he is set up on a mission to find a villain who has set up shop in a shopping mall. Typical setup is actually well written with a number of neat twists. Steve Carell returns to voice Gru, who is celebrating a birthday party for one of his children in the film's opening. He knows the rules of villainy when his predictions at the mall turn out to be correct. Kristen Wigg voices his new partner Lucy, who is a resourceful agent and eventually becomes Gru's romantic interest. Benjamin Bratt plays an Italian restaurant owner named Eduardo AKA El Macho whom Gru views as a suspect. Miranda Cosgrove voices Gru's oldest daughter whom begins seeing Eduardo's son and Gru resents this. Russell Brand voices Gru's wheelchair bound scientist who resents that Gru is now making jellies and jams as oppose to resorting to his former villainy ways. He leaves Gru's residents and resurfaces later to realize where his value truly belongs. Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud make what appears to be a basic sequel but at least the screenwriter has fun with details such as Gru's yellow minions being kidnapped and transformed for the worst. If families enjoyed the first film then they will likely enjoy this sequel as well. Like many sequels, this film avoids being despicable. Score: 7 / 10