Lots of intelligent Heart and fun but not as funny as Minions

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2015)

I saw this and Minions back to back today. Was impressed with the thought that went into the plot and the messages. Very touching movie as you relate the way the motions are played and you think how one relates with family and friends in your life and as you grew up. For me, I kept thinking about how I communicate with my 84 year old mom who is quite stubborn but in need of a lot of support. Quality production with excellent animation (was also impressed with Minions animation). So not every movie can be everything and this movie was typically high quality Pixar message. Minions was just a fun romp. I recommend both highly in their own realm of animated movies. While I did very much enjoy Penguins of Madagascar, especially the second time I saw it, and loved many of their shorts as being really creative fun, I would say that Minions was a bit more entertaining as a spin-off movie than Penguins. So, if you really liked Penguins, I would think you would at least enjoy Minions as much. For me, I just want to be entertained for 90 to 250 minutes and catch a movie or two Saturday mornings to wind down from the work week and don't mind soft-pedaled messages mixed in with a lot of fun.