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Once upon a time, there was a supervillain named Gru (Steve Carell) who adopted three adorable young girls in the hopes of using them for his nefarious goal of stealing the moon. Instead, he started taking care of them and eventually became a real father. You all know this story: the Despicable Me The franchise now includes four main films, two spinoffs, several short films, video games and theme park attractions. The latest part of the main story, Despicable Me 4features more of the franchise’s trademarks – over-the-top villains, minions – while losing sight of others.

This film series has come a long way since its debut in 2010, and while some may get tired of seeing endless Minions running around, I’ve always been fascinated by these films (with the exception of 2015). Minionswhich tested my patience). Despicable Me 4 is anything but a failureprovided plenty of laughs and several heartwarming moments. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing, even though I had a lot of fun watching Gru’s latest outing.

“Despicable Me 4” is full of storylines

Some get lost in the hustle and bustle

Gru’s family has been Despicable Meand this film introduces its newest member: Gru Jr., the newborn son of the former supervillain and his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig). A running joke is that Junior doesn’t particularly like his father, although Gru tries his best to win the baby over. However, domestic bliss is quickly interrupted by Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), one of Gru’s old classmates who has escaped from prison and is coming to get Gru. Our hero must pack up his family and move to a safe house, where they will be given new identities.

Despicable Me 4 presents some interesting challenges for its diverse characters. For example, bespectacled eldest daughter Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) must start over at a new middle school with no friends, and the ever-sweet Agnes (Madison Skyy Polan) struggles to accept her new identity because it would mean lying. Gru, meanwhile, is encouraged to act less like himself; that is, to be friendly to strangers rather than aloof. The family dynamics at the core of the series seem designed to explore these ideas with plenty of humor and heart.

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In “Despicable Me 4,” Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig reprise their roles and experience another adventure between Gru, Lucy and their new family.

However, Despicable Me 4 has more storylines than it can handle. Several Minions become superheroes (which are parodies of popular superheroes) in an experiment run by the Anti-Villian League, and we follow their first mission. In addition to the threat posed by Maxime, Gru helps his new neighbor Poppy (Joey King) with a robbery involving his alma mater, a school for villains that seems ripe for further exploration.

This story eventually intertwines with the Maxime conflict, but it also pushes away the rest of Gru’s family. Ultimately, it leaves Despicable Me 4 feels hollower than previous films. The franchise was built on Gru’s bond with his daughters, but aside from a few moments, the girls rarely get a chance to shine. In fact, Gru spends more time with Poppy. The brisk pace of the film makes the cracks between the various storylines obscure at first, but upon closer inspection, it is clear Despicable Me 4 has so much on its plate that it has forgotten some of the things that make the franchise so appealing.

Despicable Me 4 offers more of what the franchise is known for

Silly, entertaining villains and exciting action ensure fun

Before dismissing the film as a disappointment, however, it should be noted that Despicable Me 4 has several positive aspects. Its ability to remain light-hearted helps to maintain the tension, making for an entertaining viewing experience. Newcomers to the franchise, especially Ferrell and Sofía Vergara as Maxime’s accomplice Valentina, fit in perfectly. Although Vergara’s character is underused, her diabolical laugh alone makes her role worthwhile.

Ferrell’s exaggerated French accent matches Carell’s indefinable Gru-speak, which somehow helps make Maxime seem like a true arch-enemy of Gru. Maxime’s big plan is incredibly silly – he wants to turn people into cockroaches – but the final act raises the stakes by becoming personal. The action is fast-paced and enhanced by energetic animations that match the style of the franchise. The subplot involving the Minions is perhaps the most minor within Despicable Me 4but I imagine it will amuse enough viewers to get Illumination to think about a spin-off.

I have no doubt that should the film be a financial success, we will see more of Gru, his family and the Minions. The introduction of new villains means there is enough to sustain this franchise in the future and the ending of the film makes a case for a crossover like Avengers: Infinity War. If things continue like this, I just have to hope that it doesn’t forget where it came fromand what makes it so special. Action-packed storylines with two-dimensional villains are everywhere; what we don’t get are those characters and the relationships they share with each other.

Despicable Me 4will be in theaters on Wednesday, July 3. The film is 95 minutes long and is rated PG because of its action and crude humor.

The infamous (and kind-hearted) non-supervillain Gru returns in Despicable Me 4, the fourth installment in Illumination Entertainment’s long-running film series. The fourth film also sees the return of Gru’s wife Lucy, once again played by Kristin Wiig, and the introduction of their son.

Per

• Despicable Me 4 offers energetic animations and fast-paced action
• Will Ferrell’s villain is great and gives the film a nice touch

Disadvantages

• There are too many storylines and Gru’s daughters don’t get enough screen time
• The Minions subplot is unnecessary