Despicable Me 4
Fourth entry relies on familiar formula with Gru now dealing with baby drama
The brief
The fourth Despicable Me feels like contractual obligation animated into existence, with Steve Carell's Gru going through familiar parenting mishaps while Will Ferrell phones in villain duty as the forgettable Maxime Le Mal. The energy drags more than usual despite the 94-minute runtime, leaning heavily on Minion slapstick that's starting to feel stale even by franchise standards. Gru Jr.'s antagonistic relationship with his dad generates a few decent laughs, but the whole thing plays like comfort food that's gone slightly cold. Perfect if your kids demand yellow chaos and you need to zone out for 90 minutes, but anyone hoping this series might surprise them again should probably revisit the original instead.
The verdict
If you have young kids who love Minion antics and you're okay with familiar franchise comfort food, this delivers exactly what's expected with a few solid laughs. If you're hoping for the creative spark of the original films or want something that doesn't feel like animated obligation, you're better off rewatching the first Despicable Me instead.
Watch with
- 🧒 Perfect for keeping kids entertained
- 👨👩👧👦 Parents can zone out during familiar formula
- ⚠️ Skip if you want fresh animated storytelling
Heads up
- Mild cartoon violence and chase sequences (brief)
- Baby in peril during action scenes (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Chris Renaud
- Cast
- Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Madison Polan
Official synopsis
Gru and Lucy and their girls—Margo, Edith and Agnes—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Both feature family bonds and colorful animated adventures with heart.
Total runtime: 1h 34m + 1h 40m = 3h 14m
