"Back 2 Work"
Yeah,that's right.Gru and the Minions are back in Despicable Me 2 alongside new characters,but the question is...are they better this time around?? Well,okay.Just a quick answer to that question: "A little bit". But calm down and I'll talk about the factors that took the film down in a little while.Despicable Me 2 sees Gru's recruitment by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal and is still directed by Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud and stars Steve Carell (The Campaign/Despicable Me),Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids),Benjamin Bratt (Traffic),Miranda Cosgrove (TV's iCarly),Russell Brand (Arthur),Ken Jeong (The Hangover) and Steve Coogan.
Despicable Me 2 picks up where the first left off and shows Gru leaving his villainous side to take his responsibilities on being a father to his 3 adopted daughters Margo,Agnes and Edith.So yeah,in this sequel,Gru's no longer a despicable super-villain,but is now a loving father with a legitimate business.But just when he thinks he's living an ordinary life,he is then recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super-villain El Macho (played by Benjamin Bratt). First of all,the first had an exceptional concept that became unexpectedly good,and now the second takes that element then replaces the heart with the explosive action visuals.Sure,I loved the whole "Gru going undercover as a spy" plot,but I just had problems with the amount of "heart" 'cause they barely left it out.As if it was Cars 2 all over again.But nonetheless,it was still quite good.It's just that I missed all the heartfelt moments they had in the first film.If you're asking for the humor then Despicable Me 2 definitely has it.Tons of it! There.I said it. So even though Despicable Me 2 is less creative than the first,it still has a nice sequel touch that most animated movie sequels don't have these days.
In Despicable Me 2,we get to hear Steve Carell's voice work once again as Gru.And he is back and better than ever and I was definitely relieved to hear Steve Carell's wacky
accent as Gru.And his character's development from super-villain to super-dad is just great.Then we get to hear Russell Brand's voice talent again as Dr.Nefario,who in this movie sort of becomes a traitor but then again returns to the Gru's good side.Brand's voicework here is less good due to the fact that he sorta has little screentime.But the big reliever (for me) is,he sorta plays a fairly big role in the film's plot line.Now,let's get to the newbies...Well,in Despicable Me 2 we get to hear Kristen Wiig's voice talent once again,only this time it's lent to a different & new character.If in the first film she lends her voice to Miss Hattie,here she plays the vivaciously fierce AVL agent Lucy Wilde.Her voice talent here is even better and her voice fits the character perfectly.Then we have newbies Benjamin Bratt and Steve Coogan.Like what I said when I was talking about the film's plot,Benjamin plays El Macho,the film's antagonist.Bratt's voice work was amazing as he sounded both authentically sinister and very Mexican.But,I sorta felt that even though he has an army of Evil Minions,I still felt that Jason Segel's Vector was the better villain.Vector was simple but effective whilst El Macho was typical but explosive.Also,in the newbies' section we have Steve Coogan playing Silas Ramsbottom,the head of the AVL.Steve Coogan did a wonderful job in giving voice to his character as if he sounded authentically like the head of a secret agency in a spy movie.Above all else,the wonderful cast gave life to the film alongside the nutty humor and the yellow Minions' cuteness overload.
Now let's go on to the film's technical side which includes the camera work,the 3D,the "wow!" inducing special effects and the music as well.The first film was released in 3D,so what would be a better option for this film but to be released in the same secondary format that would enhance the film's viewing? Anyway,the first film sorta looked like a good 3D film (Despite the fact that I wasn't able to see it in theaters in 3D) but in this sequel,the 3D visuals improved.And the 3D somehow helps the film to improve.Now you can see all those cute Minions in 3D again.Enough of the 3D talk,and let's talk about the animation.The animation in DM2 looked even better and smoother than it was in the first film.If in the first film,the 3D animation still looked low-quality,here you can easily see that it is almost HD.All of the characters look even detailed than they were before.Alright,it's time to shift to the film's music department...Despicable Me had a funky-retro feel score handled by Heitor Pereira and R&B artist Pharrell Williams and that same music is back here in Despicable Me 2,only even better even by a bit 'cause almost the entire score from the first film is recycled here.Nonetheless,it was no big deal.But among the film's score/soundtrack,I loved the new track recorded for the film entitled "Happy" which is sung by Pharrell Williams and is played at one point in the film.So on a scale of 1 to 10,I give the film's score a 7/10 even though a lot of the scores here were recycled from the first film.But damn,I just really dig that "Despicable Me" theme.It sounds nefarious and simultaneously cool and funny.So overall,this sequel improved in terms of technicality,yes even the almost-recycled score.If I forgot to talk about the camera work or the special effects,they were good as well.
As how I would want to express,the directors of Despicable Me 2 sorta made themselves less creative and inventive after the last movie.This film had so much potential but all of it were wasted.No offense to the directors,I appreciate your directing efforts.I know it's not too easy to think of a film's concept.But despite the negative comments I gave this film,it still is a pretty good sequel to a beloved modern animated classic.
Despicable Me 2 isn't as good as the first but is still worth giving it a watch thanks to the charming,stress-relieving Minions and the still-effective and hilarious nutty humor.
This second outing for Gru and his Minions is still pretty good,therefore I would give it 7.6 stars over 10.Oh,definitely don't leave till the credits roll...You'll surely have a good time.
Having the 2nd biggest opening day for an animated movie in the Philippines, Despicable Me 2 is now showing in Philippine theaters in 2D,3D and select IMAX 3D theaters theatrically distributed by Solar UIP Philippines .Rated G by the MTRCB. Have a break and catch the Minion mayhem while it's still here.
*See Gru steal the Moon and adopt 3 cute daughters in Despicable Me.Available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video
**If you just can't get enough of the Minions,see their adventures pre-Despicable Me in their first full length solo film,Minions.Opens in theaters December 2014.
Video & movie clip courtesy of Universal Pictures and Movieclips.com
(TM) 2013 Universal Pictures & Illumination Entertainment.All rights reserved.
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