A Despicable sequel... In the best way!!

Rating: 7/10 (9 August 2013)

As unphased as I am by the imminent departure of Louie Walsh from the X Factor, he did coin a memorable phrase during his tenure there.. 'The Likability Factor'. And that's what this movie has... Despite the by-the-numbers plot, and sometimes questionable attempts at humour, the relationship between former bad guy Gru and his three (whisper it) adorable daughters is real and affecting, just like in the first one.
When a hardened cynic such as myself falls for the love between three adopted children and their new dad, you know it must be doing something right. Equally productive is the addition of a new love interest for Gru... A crazy redhead with a thing for gadgets and talking non-stop. Voiced by Kristen Wiig of Bridesmaids fame, she is a great addition to the franchise and you can tell her and you-know-who belong together.
But let's face it... ALL the marketing for the movie is based around those little one-eyed yellow guys called Minions. They're as dumb as posts, speak utter gibberish and kids love 'em. I found them all rather hit and miss, sometimes their antics were cute and hilarious, on other occasions they were a real pain in the... neck. But at my screening whenever they arrived, there was an audible coo from the assembled TTF ( Tiny Tot Federation) so what do I know? Let the small fry have their fun...
Overall, an impressive sequel that manages the impressive feat of being comparable to the original... But the question is, where do we go from here? The conclusion is pretty finite, but if this has made enough money... You can guarantee Hollywood will find someway of making a follow-up. After all, if there can be a sequel to Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, ANYTHING is possible... 7/10