Despicable Me 2

Popped along to the cinema with Carys and some younger members of her extended Kiwi family this week, and what a great reason to go!

I have to admit that I'm already a fan of the original 2010 Despicable Me movie, and so was always going to see it's sequel.  Also, I've found animated sequels these days to have a near 100% record of being as good, if not better than their predecessors (not counting Shrek the Third & every sequel to a Disney "Classic" EVER MADE), so hope for a good time was high... and quite frankly YAY!!!.

Plot in a nutshell: After an experimental serum is stolen Gru (Steve Carell) is hired by the Anti-Villian League to find the culprit and save the world, while having to deal with eldest daughter Margot's teen crush, neighbour Lillian's attempts to marry him off, and his crazy new partner Lucy Wilde (Kirsten Wiig).  

The reintroduction and relationships between the returning characters is just spot on as Gru and his girls' story has clearly progressed off camera as a stable loving family, devoted to each other and working brilliantly together; both for our comic and emotional enjoyment, and as a team against the story's antagonist.  All four are just brilliant and again the heart of the film with Agnes once again stealing every scene she's in.  

New characters; both central to the plot and otherwise all fit in nicely and have some awesome moments themselves, particularly suspicious restaurant owner Eduardo (Benjamin Bratt) and the previously mentioned Lillian (Nasim Pedrad).  Dr Nefario is greatly reduced in role this time, which is a shame for the character yet necessary for the plot, and quite frankly the less work Russell Brand gets in this world, the better.. Personal opinion.  
Lucy Wilde was less enjoyable and a lit'l bit nuts, but this is a family movie so not all characters are meant to appeal to miserable ol' buggers like me...  That said, as the story progressed and she was reined in I liked her more and can't deny I wanted her obvious plot ending to be happy as it was always going to be.

As for those Minions; Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud always know they have a winner there; the marketing campaign makes it clear. The lit'l guys are even better than before and get a load more screen time, but thankfully it's brilliantly judged and not at the cost of the main characters & story.  Also, jokes came thick and fast in this film; literally every waking moment; be it a punchline, character joke from the first film, slapstick physical gag or a visual reference from practically anywhere.

Final point: this animation looks AMAZING.  We didn't see it in 3-D (not a fan personally), but who cares about that!  I was really impressed with the first film, and they have just surpassed it here.  The sheer quality of appearance in textures including metals, liquids, and especially clothing and furs is astounding.  The design is fun and interesting, and the "Camera" work rivals any spectacle or summer blockbuster... Ah the freedom of animation!

Good film with warm feeling, tons of laughs.  Happy face!!!

Screw you Snyder.. you can have a happy Superman!!!