Good watch, but inferior to the first

Rating: 6/10 (27 July 2015)

"Despicable Me 2" came out three years after the first film (and is maybe five minutes longer) and this may have been exactly the right time frame as this film was a gigantic box office success, even a much bigger hit than the already pretty successful original. And also in terms of awards, this one got more recognition. Just like the first, it was nominated at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes for Best Animated Feature, but also got in at the Oscars this time. Twice actually because Pharrell Williams' "Happy" became the possibly biggest hit of 2013. Unfortunately, in terms of the story, it did not reach the heights of the first film. The reason is very simple. The female character in here did not add as much to the movie as the three girls did in the first film and she also takes away quite a bit of their screen time. Coffin and Renaud really took the safe path in this film and repeated several aspects that made the first film such a success. One example would be that there is one major change in Gru's life brought by new human characters (or only one this time). That character gets abducted by the villain again in the end and Gru has to save her. A crucial difference here is that we have no idea until minute 70 really who the main antagonist is this time. Still, there is a father-son connection again just like in the original as well in terms of the villain, only that the father is the really bad guy this time. I have to say the villain was one of the pros this time, in my opinion superior to Vector.
The voice actors in crucial roles are the same again as in the first. Carell returns for the lead role and the three child actors are the same too (well, I should maybe say teenage actors). Steve Coogan joins the cast and so does Benjamin Bratt. Kristen Wiig is back as well and she voices a different, much more important character this time. Oh yeah and how could I forget about the Minions. They are great fun as always and the "evil minion" plot added a lot to the story, Nefario's resignation not so much really. In general, I liked this film, but it was missing the heart that the first delivered so nicely with the three orphans. I am generally not too big on the character of Lucy in this one here. All in all, I guess I would recommend it and I am curious about the new "Minions" film that I am going to watch soon. I hope the downward spiral does not continue with that one.