An impressive sequel that is as funny as the first

Rating: 8/10 (16 June 2017)

As this sequel opens an unknown villain steals a polar research station for reasons that become clear later. Meanwhile Gru, who has left the supervillain business and is now attempting to make an honest living making jam, is kidnapped by Lucy, an agent of the Anti-Villain League (AVL). It turns out that the AVL believe the best way to catch a supervillain is to use a former supervillain. It is explained to Gru that the research station had been working on a mutating virus that turns harmless creatures into ferocious killing machines. The virus has been traced to a shopping mall so Gru and Lucy are to open a shop there to undercover who is behind the crime. He suspects Eduardo, the owner of the Mexican restaurant who looks remarkably like El Macho, a villain who had apparently died some years ago he suspects him even more when his son starts to show an interest in Gru's oldest daughter. AVL believes somebody else is involved though. Eventually the identity of the villain is revealed and many of the minions are captured and mutated into purple creatures! If all this wasn't enough one of Gru's neighbours is trying to set him up with a date but over the course of the film he develops feelings for Lucy.
After the success of the first 'Despicable Me' film a sequel was inevitable; thankfully this one was a lot of fun too. The story was entertaining with some decent twists however it is the funny moments that make the film such a joy. The minions are as funny as ever; they may be childish but that is what is so funny about them. Sadly the three girls Gru adopted in the previous film have a smaller role this time; mostly involving the subplot about finding a girlfriend for Gru and the eldest's involvement with Eduardo's son. The romance between Gru and Lucy won't surprise anybody but it provides some good laughs especially when she helps Gru get rid of an unwanted date. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who enjoyed the first film; I hope the third film proves to be as good.