Minions

Rating: 5/10 (4 July 2015)

Despicable Me introduced the world to the impossibly cute yellow Tic Tac shaped sidekicks, with their help the film and its sequel became big hits, so it was only right that they were to get their own movie, this also serves as the prequel. Basically the small, yellow pill-shaped creatures, "minions", have existed since the dawn of time, evolving from single-celled yellow organisms into beings with only one purpose in life: to serve the most despicable of masters, they continue this throughout history. The only problem is, Minions have trouble staying with their chosen master, accidentally destroying them, these include a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a caveman, an Egyptian pharaoh, Dracula and Napoleon, so they isolate themselves from the world, starting a new life in Antarctica. By 1968 the lack of a master has driven most Minions to depression, so fearless Minion leader named Kevin plans to find one for his people, rebellious teenage Minion Stuart volunteers by accident to join, lovable little Minion Bob begs to join. After a long journey they reach New York City and learn about Villain-Con, a villain convention where supervillains from around the world gather to search for henchmen, held in Orlando, Florida, they hitch a ride with a family of criminals, coincidentally heading for the convention also. The Minions are impressed by many of the villains, but they rush to stage to impress the world's first female supervillain, Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock), it is when she sets a challenge to find henchmen that Bob wins it for them, she recruits them, they join her and husband Herb (Jon Hamm), taking them to her residence in London, England. Scarlet gives the Minions their first despicable mission, she wants them to steal St Edward's Crown, the crown of Queen Elizabeth II (Jennifer Saunders), from the Tower of London, she threatens to execute them if they fail. The Minions successfully break into the Tower, but the crown has already been moved, they catch up to the crown and steal it from the Queen's carriage, destroying it in the process, but in the chaos Bob crash lands into the mythical Sword in the Stone, pulling out the sword Excalibur, the Queen is removed from the thrown, and Bob is the new King of the United Kingdom. Scarlet confronts the Minions for being traitors because they stole the crown without her command, but Bob abdicates and a process begins for her to become the new Queen, but she betrays them, locking them in the dungeon to be tortured by Herb, but their unusual shape and abilities mean that any medieval torture devices fail to work. Meanwhile, the rest of the Minions in Antarctica are getting both bored and concerned for Kevin, Stuart and Bob, so they leave their home and journey across the many countries and continents to find them, the three Minions in the dungeon manage to break out and want to apologise to Scarlet, at Westminster Abbey they accidentally interrupt her coronation, and cause a chandelier to fall and crush her before she can be crowned. Scarlet survives and orders the attendees to execute the Minions, Stuart and Bob are captured, while Kevin hides in a bar, where the Queen is now working, Kevin learns Stuart and Bob will be executed, so he breaks into Herb's laboratory, and triggers a machine which turns him into a giant and destroys the Overkill residence. Kevin rescues his companions, Scarlet becomes enraged by and tries to kill the Minions with missiles, but the army of Minions from Antarctica and giant Kevin distract her, the supervillain escapes with Herb using her rocket dress, but Kevin holds onto the rocket, causing it to explode, Kevin shrinks back to his original size. Elizabeth becomes Queen again, in front of a crowd she rewards Bob a tiny crown for his teddy bear, Stuart is given an electric guitar, but swaps it for a snow globe when he smashes the guitar, and Kevin is knighted. Scarlet suddenly appears still alive and with Herb snatches the crown, but they are stopped, being frozen in ice by a a young Felonious Gru (Steve Carell), taking the crown for himself and leaving with it, Bob gives Scarlet his little crown to Scarlet, the Minions see Gru as their new potential despicable boss and chase after him. Narrated by Geoffrey Rush, starring Pierre Coffin as The Minions, and also starring Michael Keaton as Walter Nelson, Allison Janney as Madge Nelson and Steve Coogan as Professor Flux and a Tower Guard. Bullock has fun voicing the maniacal but insecure villainess, Hamm gets some good laughs as her daft husband, supporting cast members do well also, this film lacks structure and a storyline you can be really involved with, and it is certainly not as great as the original film the title characters came from, but you get exactly what you expect, a good amount of laughs and great computer animation, something for all the family to enjoy, a fun animated comedy. Worth watching!