Moreover, Gru is a less interesting lead character compared to Overkill (and Henson’s underdeveloped Belle Bottom) both because we’ve seen him do his thing three previous times and because young, uncertain and not-yet-formed Gru isn’t as enjoyable as adult Gru. Since young Gru (still voiced by Steve Carell) is a co-lead, to the point where the Minions fade into the background, the film can’t help but tell a more conventional arc that’s expected for a kid-targeted animated film starring a child protagonist. Speaking of which, as the title implies, this is both a sequel to Minions and a sequel to Despicable Me, which is probably a big reason this sequel/prequel feels more formulaic compared to the first spin-off. Henson has fun as the leader, while Arkin gets a minor arc as an accidental mentor for a young Gru. Henson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo and Alan Arkin) playing broad stereotypes. Alas, this sequel’s “Vicious Six” ensemble does not stand out beyond cast-to-type vocal actors (Taraji P. There’s no one in The Rise of Gru to compete with Scarlett Overkill, who was essentially co-lead (and an added value element) in the London-set comedy. The first Minions prequel wasn’t exactly a contemporary classic, but it had a gonzo anarchic sensibility (including a handful of cartoonishly violent deaths) and an over-the-top animated turn by Sandra Bullock as the film’s prime villain. But as a story and character play, it rarely rises above “Oh, it’s a Minions flick.” That said, Minions: The Rise of Gru is a gorgeously animated comic adventure, one that played quite well on that huge TCL IMAX screen. That’s not entirely a criticism, as the film is yet another example of how Illumination grows and evolves as an animation powerhouse without coming off as showy or “for the sake of razzle-dazzle.” Perhaps because their films tend to be more grounded and less fantastical (even if the characters themselves are inherently fantastic), they don’t quite get the “Holy moly!” animation huzzahs of their (often more expensive) competitors. Following the $407 million finish for Sing 2 (on par with The Secret Life of Pets 2’s $430 million gross in 2019) and the $239 million gross for The Bad Guys and the $253 million gross for Encanto and the (likely) $225-$250 million finish for Pixar, a business-as-usual blockbuster result for Minions 2 could signal a genuine changing of the guard.Īnyway, that’s more of a commercial consideration ( Minions earned $1.1 billion in 2015 while Despicable Me 3 grossed $1 billion in 2017 and Despicable Me 2 earned $968 million in 2013) than an artistic one, but honestly, this latest franchise installment almost defies artistic consideration. No matter how it would have played in summer 2020 under non-Covid circumstances, it arrives in theaters during a moment whereby Disney’s biggest animated rivals (DreamWorks and Illumination, now both under the Comcast umbrella) have been mostly surpassing the Mouse House’s theatrical toons in terms of the global box office. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collectionįoy won an Emmy for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in seasons one and two of the acclaimed Netflix series, which focused on the monarch’s early years and her nascent marriage to Prince Philip (Matthew Smith).Illumination and Universal’s Minions: The Rise of Gru is the last film that was intended for release in 2020 that was left unreleased due to Covid, opening just over a month after Top Gun: Maverick and Bob’s Burgers: The Movie. Claire Foy on ‘The Crown’ Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II with Matt Smith as Prince Philip in the first season of “The Crown” in 2016. In honor of her 70-year reign, The Post takes a look back at the many incarnations - from the memorable to the cheeky and the semi-biopics to the downright fictional - and the famous actresses and actors who have portrayed Her Royal Highness, who died at 96. Her majesty has also been a frequent character cameo in comedies and parodies. The latest high-profile entry in the ranks is Imelda Staunton (whom you may remember as Dolores Umbridge from the “Harry Potter” movies), who’s playing the royal in seasons five and six of Netflix’s hit drama “ The Crown” (the fifth is set to premiere in November). John Oliver says Queen Elizabeth II is now ‘looking up at’ Princess DianaĪs prestige parts go, Queen Elizabeth II had been a juicy one for actors over several decades. Prince George warned pals: ‘My dad will be king so you better watch out,’ book says Queen Elizabeth II died of ‘old age’ - hours before announcement was made Royal family slammed for ‘eye-watering’ ticket prices to visit queen’s grave
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