Hilarious but with Clichés

Rating: 8/10 (23 July 2015)

Minions is the prequel to Despicable Me when the minions are seeking the greatest villain to serve. Unsuccessful in their search, they retreat to a cave in the arctic, but Kevin (one of the minions who makes the most appearances in the Despicable Me films) refuses to give up and so ventures on a quest to find the minions a master. Joined by Stewart and Bob, they travel to Orlando where they discover the most celebrated villainess to date: Scarlet Overkill. After a competition, she hires them to work for her and her first assignment for them is to bring her Queen Elizabeth's crown. However, the minions do something entirely different...
Having watched the trailer, I already acknowledged the plot. If I dissect it, the first half an hour is golden and thoroughly enjoyable. The humour came thick and fast and I felt eager to see what the remainder of the film would bring...needless to say, I was slightly disappointed. The villainess determined to prove that females can be as malicious as males, not to mention the fact that she desires the queen's crown in order to become the queen herself, is all too familiar. What could have been an invigorating plot that distinguishes itself from that of other action and adventure stories for children starts as superb but becomes cliché-ridden and predictable from the middle onwards. Despite this, the ending was perfectly satisfying and Gru being introduced to the minions was a great addition.
The minions are all likable with Kevin, Stewart and Bob delivering the most laughs and being the three minions which are different from the rest. However, the human characters were much less impressive. Scarlet Overkill is the stereotypical villainess who intends to prove that women can do evil as well as men and dreams of being queen, when she could have been a single woman who craves company and some thrills in her life. She is the main issue I have with the film, whilst the other humans who made an appearance were just plain.
I must commend the animation used, for it is impeccable. The same foulproof animation which is used in the Despeicable Me films is used here and it is pleasing to the eye. Clearly, just as much dedication has been put into this film than what was put into the Despicable Me films.
Overall, Minions is a brilliant family film which both children and adults will admire, but it could have been so much better had it not been for the aggravating clichés which crop up in the middle.