Everyone’s favorite pill-shaped troublemakers are packing their bags for another historical trek, and this time, the timeline isn’t ready for them. Our JP gives his take on “Minions & Monsters.”
Minions & Monsters
Universal Pictures
- Directed by Pierre Coffin
- Written by Brian Lynch, Pierre Coffin
- Produced by Chris Meledandri, Bill Ryan
- Starring Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr
Studio Synopsis:
Fresh off the worldwide blockbuster success of summer 2024’s funniest comedy, “Despicable Me 4,” Illumination expands its joyful animated universe with a riotous new chapter, featuring all-new characters, in the biggest global animated franchise in history: “Minions & Monsters.” This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.
The acclaimed voice cast includes Academy Award® winner Allison Janney, two-time Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz, Academy Award® winner Jeff Bridges, two-time Academy Award® nominee Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch (“Nouvelle Vague”) and Academy Award® nominee and comedy iconoclast Trey Parker, co-creator of “South Park.” The cast also includes Saturday Night Live alum Bobby Moynihan and Phil LaMarr (“Futurama,” “King of the Hill”).
“Minions & Monsters” is directed by Academy Award® nominee Pierre Coffin, a director of the first three “Despicable Me” films and the first “Minions” film. Coffin has also provided the voice for the Minions since their film debut in 2010. The film is written by Brian Lynch (“Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets” films) and Pierre Coffin and is produced by Illumination’s Academy Award® nominated founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Bill Ryan (executive producer, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”). The executive producer is Brian Lynch.
J.P.’s Take:
Those yellow tic-tac-shaped creatures, known as Minions, are taking their next trek throughout history.
In the third chapter of the “Minions” prequel series, “Minions & Monsters,” we discover another tribe that exists apart from the one that will eventually serve Gru. On their journey, they make a stop in early 20th-century Hollywood to try their hand at filmmaking… in a roundabout way. This adventure involves James, Henry, and Ed, who become best friends while continuing their mission to find and serve the world’s greatest villains.
Their story unfolds in a somewhat unique way, opening with a group of tourists being guided through the film museum by Olivia (Allison Janney), who becomes the storyteller. As they stroll through the exhibits, Olivia’s enthusiasm for cinema grows, as does the story of the trio who would make movie history. Clocking in at a mere 90 minutes, the film delivers a good deal of the typical rambunctiousness only the Minions can produce. Yet, within this outlandish adventure, viewers are given a surprisingly in-depth tale.
In the midst of all the mayhem is a loving, zany tribute, if a bit comical, to Hollywood, with odes to horror and sci-fi movies of old from the silent film era onward.. And once again, these lovable yet disaster-ridden rascals find themselves in a situation where they just can’t keep their masters alive long enough to serve them adequately. The real comedy stems from how their haphazard antics always lead to the swift demise of any antagonist they encounter, as they have a penchant for turning even the most formidable evil-doer into a mere footnote. In their initial encounter, they come to serve a warlock, one cloaked in mystery and power, who wields an ancient book of spells that can conjure up the most terrifying beasts and unleash dreadful curses. After the warlock’s elimination, Ed takes the spellbook with him for the rest of their journey.
In their second encounter, the Minions are fighting among themselves through the desert when they stumble upon a train robbery, which leads them to who they believe will be their next master. They soon discover, however, that the henchmen and the crew of robbers are merely actors, and the heist is just a staged scene for a Hollywood production. Well, that doesn’t stop them from making light of their predicament, leaving the audience to wonder if they’ll even face a nemesis that can withstand their chaotic mishaps.
This moment eventually leads to their third encounter — with a famous movie director, Max (voiced by Christoph Waltz), and the big-wig film executives Frank and Elwood Bright (both voiced by Jeff Bridges) — only to fall into the trappings of stardom. The plot really kicks into gear when that “roundabout” filmmaking comes into play, as the spellbook Ed swiped becomes the inspiration for James and Henry’s directorial debut. This is where they meet Dort (voiced by Jessie Eisenberg), whom we viewers believe is just a sci-fi convention-goer dressed in costume, whom the Minions gravitate towards, believing Dort will be their next master.
They’re then drawn in by his scheme to overthrow the Earth, bringing along his arming of bots with him. Although this third go-round isn’t quite as funny as the first and second outings, it’s certainly their zaniest. They come up with some of the wackiest ideas to hit the big time, including summoning a squid creature, who turns out to be a miniature version of Cthulhu, whom they befriend, yet he ends up turning on them.
Being a film enthusiast, “Minions & Monsters” felt like a movie within a movie. I sank my teeth into this rollicking romp through spoofed titles from early sci-fi and horror films that my parents grew up watching. That provided the anchor for me, as these little walking / talking Twinkies not only create chaos but pay homage to the magic of filmmaking and the pitfalls that come with the territory. But for others, however, the Minions as a whole may not be their cup of tea, as their antics may prove exhausting and simply mind-numbing. To be honest, their wild and zany shenanigans are just subterfuge to draw viewers to their true purpose.
The vocal talent of “Minions & Monsters” features an impressive ensemble, led by franchise veteran Pierre Coffin, who once again voices the Minions. This time, he breathes distinct life into a brand-new trio: the artistic, film-loving James; his loyal best friend Henry; and Ed, a deaf Minion who communicates via sign language—all while Dick steps up to lead the broader tribe. The film’s antagonistic and monstrous forces include Trey Parker as the deceptively named, Cthulhu-like creature Goomi, and Eisenberg as Dort, an alien robot designed as a clever homage to Gort from the 1951 classic “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Joining Janney, Waltz, and Bridges, Zoey Deutch plays the headstrong suffragette Debbie, while Bobby Moynihan and Phil LaMarr voice Phillips and Howard, two creatures liberated by Goomi. Finally, “Star Wars” filmmaker George Lucas appears in a fictionalized cameo as himself.
“Minions & Monsters” feels more focused and purpose-driven than their first two outings, although Part One certainly set the stage for a prominent debut. And although this isn’t quite as funny as Part Two, this is certainly their zaniest outing yet. That was enough to keep my attention till the end.
Admittedly, the “Minions” movies are a guilty pleasure for me; therefore, I’m a fan who looks forward to their next output.
Official Site: Minions & Monsters
