- Actors: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan
- Directors: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda
- Writers: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio
- Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy
- Format: 4K, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (DTS 5.1)
- Subtitles: French, Spanish
- Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
- Region: Region A/1
- Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
- Rated: PG
- Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Release Date: December 5, 2017
- Digital Copy Expiration Date: May 2, 2018
- Run Time: 90 minutes
As the Minions
have become something of an unofficial mascots for Illumination Entertainment,
it should come as no surprise that their original franchise has returned for a
third outing. Their inclusion in Despicable Me 3 also feels somewhat forced,
providing a sub-plot that has little to no connection with the main storyline.
This disjointed portion of the narrative may seem out of place, kind of like a Minion sequel blended with the Despicable Me storyline, but it provides
a welcome relief from multiple super-villain schemes, including a double dose
of Steve Carell.
Having redeemed
the character of Gru (voiced by Carell) in the previous films, at the beginning
of the third he is working to take down villains instead of being one himself.
After a mission to stop former child star turned 80’s-themed villain Balthazar
Bratt (Trey Parker) fails miserably, Gru is fired from the Anti-Villains League,
with Lucy (Kristen Wiig) loyally leaving alongside him. Gru is uncertain what
to do, until he discovers the existence of a long-lost twin brother named Dru
(also Carell, with a slightly different voice). Dru has hopes of continuing the
family legacy of being a villain, though he lacks even the same competence as
the Gru from the first Despicable Me
film.
When Dru
proposes that he and Gru team up as a super-villain team, our reformed bad guy
must decide whether to return to a life of crime. They plan a heist to steal a
diamond from Bratt, which also happens to be the same diamond which resulted in
Gru and Lucy being fired. He keeps the mission a secret from Lucy, suggesting
that he may be considering going back to his evil ways, but also keeps the
significance of the diamond from his brother, suggesting that he could be
planning to use the stolen jewel to get back into the Anti-Villains League. The
morality of his final choice is kept somewhat mysterious, though even younger
children will likely predict where the film is heading.
Predictable as
it may be, Despicable Me 3 energetically
gives the audience what it has come to expect from the franchise. It draws from
comical slapstick classics for inspiration, often feeling like an amalgamation
of The Pink Panther, Spy vs. Spy, and an assortment of different Looney Tunes
cartoons. This is mildly amusing, for the most part, though it may fray the
nerves of some parents during its most frantic of sequences. The Minions, as
always, provide a welcome relief from the constant barrage of Gru/Dru/Bratt
shenanigans, though their journey veers a little too far from the main
storyline after deciding to abandon Gru in search of another villain.
Animated films
are fantastic for showcasing the latest technology, and this is true of 4K
Ultra HD presentations. Unfortunately, Despicable
Me 3 is no more groundbreaking in its animation than it is in its
storytelling. This is not to say that the animation is disappointing, because
it is more than serviceable, but not quite as impressive on 4K as one might
hope. Even still, there is a noticeable upgrade in the visuals, from sharper
detail to a higher range of colors. This is especially noticeable in the
presentation of Bratt’s colorful 80’s style and panache.
The 4K disc also comes with a
mini-movie, The Secret Life of Kyle, with the remainder of the special features
included on the Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray also has several additional Minion
Moments, which are basically just minute-long short films, and a handful of
deleted scenes. Aside from the extra footage, the Blu-ray also has character
profiles, mug shots and wanted posters of Minions, a music video, and a
making-of featurette. There are also several interactive featurettes for the
younger viewers, including a short sing-long from a section in the film. The 4K
Ultra HD release also comes with a digital copy of the film.
Entertainment Value:
7.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 8/10
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