Following the leader for eternity

Bob, Kevin and Stuart in a scene from "Minions." Image courtesy Universal Pictures.

There is something to be said about a film that doesn't try too hard to be anything more than a vehicle for entertainment, something to divert the audience’s attention for 90 minutes or so. Admittedly, that's not the most flattering compliment, although for a movie like “Minions,” the description is a tip of the cap to a product that is shiny, passingly clever, and keeps the kids engaged for an hour and a half.

A workmanlike spin-off/prequel from the “Despicable Me” films, “Minions” provides the (moderately awaited?) background story for the tiny, adorable assistants to evil mastermind Gru. As the film's title sequence and first act show, the eponymous creatures have survived for millennia through sycophancy, following the biggest, strongest and (occasionally) most evil/despicable being around until the minions inevitably cause harm to their master. After angering Napoleon during a snowy battle, the little misshapen corn dogs find solitude and some happiness alone in an ice cavern for around 150 years. That is, until they develop a deep, unshakable ennui from their inability to follow their raison d'être.

Lost, like this kitty, in a miasma of existentialism.

 To get out of the funk, three minions – Kevin, Stuart and Bob, all voiced by co-director Pierre Coffin – journey to find a new leader to worship and serve. After a brief excursion to New York City circa 1968, the trio road trips down to Orlando, Fla., for a villains' conference and a possible encounter with the most evil person in the world, Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock). Things inevitably work out well for Kevin, Stuart and Bob, as they become enlisted to be their new boss' flunkies and are whisked away to London to meet her inventor husband Herb (Jon Hamm) and given their very first task: To steal Queen Elizabeth's crown. As you can gather, shenanigans of various sizes and calamity ensue, actions that come with a side helping of characters voiced Michael Keaton, Allison Janney and Steve Coogan. Oh, and Geoffrey Rush stops by to narrate for a bit.

I've advocated in the past for a movie about the minions, who can be quite charming with their goofy denim overalls and amalgamated language (I picked up Spanish, Yiddish, English and French), and an origin story isn't a bad way to go about it. Even after watching it, I’d still like to learn more about their background, including how, exactly, do they multiply.

                                     This might be as good an explanation as any.

“Minions,” however, proves the little jaundice critters remain best served in a supporting role, as their banana-frenzied antics become a little obnoxious after about 30 minutes. (I'll amend my request to a show along with the penguins from “Madagascar” like “Garfield and Friends,” in which each group gets 11 minutes to shine.) The issue is the comedic nature of the characters is based so much on incessant, incoherent chatter – silence is not golden for these guys – it drains the viewer. They're still fun and all, but without a strong central figure to bounce off of or work around, they lose their appeal quickly.

“Minions” doesn't give the self-aware  Twinkie defects that leader to work with though. Bullock's Overkill is an interesting idea on paper, a proto-Baroness capable of taking the world down on a whim and with some terrific style. Alas, Bullock's vocal work never quite fits a character who should be more terrifying and explosive than sweet; she fits the latter personality trait when it arises, but one of the proverbial America's Sweethearts from the last two decades doesn't do evil. Voice casting matters (it's a reason why “Inside Out” is so great), and miscasting Bullock and the disappointingly shoddy Hamm adds unnecessary limitations to what could be a good film.

Or, at least, what would be a good film with less padding (it could justify 75 minutes easy) and fewer dips into the bottom of the comedic barrel with poorly executed fart jokes and lazy cross-dressing humor. The downer is “Minions” is quite hilarious when it puts a little effort into it: there's a pretty clever sight gag at Orlando's expense, along with a really great time travel joke befitting “Rick and Morty,” fortunately among others. It’s smart when it wants to be, although I wish it wanted to be that a little more often.

As it is, “Minions” is acceptable and sometimes more than that, something to keep the kids satisfied without running around the theater too much. It’ll become annoying for parents once they have to purchase the thing on DVD or online and rewatch in about six months, but the first watch offers a small blessing: 90 minutes of relative peace and quiet, along with a touch of fun.

Review: Three out of Five Stars

Click here to see the trailer.

 

Rating: PG

Runtime: 91 minutes

Genre: Animated

Ask Away

Target audience: “Despicable Me” followers, along with families.

Take the whole family?: It's bright and shiny enough for the wee, wee ones, so all clear on this one.

Theater or Netflix?: If you want to take the kids (and I’d recommend “Inside Out” first), go the matinee route and avoid the extra accoutrements. Along those lines ...

Why is the 3D even needed?:  Funny story on that one: “Minions” actually does make use of the technology, albeit at the very, very, very end of the film. It's a little post-credit song that's slight but cute and at least engages the audience in the old 1950s-style 3D bonanza. That does lead to one question though: Why not do that for the entire film, dagnabbit?

My inner prospector, pictured.

Watch this as well?: I'll vouch for “Despicable Me 2” being pretty solid – I skipped over the first one due to certain family members getting too old for such things though. Aside from the franchise, rent “The Iron Giant, “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away” for some high quality family entertainment.