“Despicable Me 2”
Directed by Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Starring Steve Carrell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Moises Arias, Elsie Kate Fisher, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan
Animation, Comedy, Crime
98 Mins
PG

It’s hard to muster any more than a “meh” for Dreamwork’s latest animated pic as Despicable Me 2 has accomplished very little. Capitalizing on ripe affection for the first entry, this follow-up falls deep into the sophomore slump…even though it’s destined to earn one metric boatload of money. But rather than earning the sequel through must-be-told storytelling, this is a requisite afterthought – a blueprinted follow-through. Any semblance of inspired innovation is lacking and sidelined is the one element that gave the franchise launcher such unexpected heart – Gru’s relationship with the girls. Shifting to a romantic plot and a moral re-alignment for Gru leaves this animated flick bland and over-reliant on color-by-numbers plot points punctuated with mindless slapstick gags.

Now that Gru (Steve Carell) has officially adopted Margo, Agnes and Edith, he’s a man who plays by the rules. Instead of attempting to steal the moon and engaging in a spy vs. spy game with fellow super villains, Gru has set his sights on canning sub-par jellies…and jams. Sounds boring? Well it is. Gone are the nefarious world domination schemes. Gone are the kooky gadgetry. Gone are the moral quandaries. Most importantly, gone is the driving force of Gru’s unlikely father-figure role. In their place is a very safe, very average detective story and a very bland emerging romance.

When an unknown villain up and steals a research facility responsible for producing a serum capable of turning mild mannered organisms into jitter-bugging eating machines, the AVL (Anti-Villain-League) recruits Gru for his once villainous mind. Teamed up with AVL newcomer Lucy (Kristen Wiig), Gru inherits a cupcake shop in order to infiltrate the mall where the serum is suspected of being held. As Gru and Lucy work together to stop this evil plot, they become friends…and maybe more.

While the first film found heart in Gru’s improbable relationship with the three young girls, installation numero dos digs around in Gru’s heart trying to find a different kind of love. With a nose like a hook, legs like pins and a body like a barrel, Gru knows he isn’t a lady killer and has, for the most part, given up any sort of quest for romantic love.

Lucy though seems dazzled by Gru’s spotted past, offering blushing compliments on Gru’s greatest feats of villainy. To her, Gru’s attempt to steal the moon is as debonair as it is evil-genius. This back-and-forth yearning becomes the main foil, which is underscored by the unearthing of the villain, but both have been done so many times before, and in better ways, that neither plot bearing resonate nearly as well as they should.

With the major focal point focused on this budding relationship, Gru and his charming rapport with the girls gets little attention, adding up to a major detraction. There are minor moments when Gru plays the role of the watchful father but most of these are centered on Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) and her developing interest in Antonio (Moises Arias). Again, love takes the stage and usurps the simply adorable nature of Gru’s interaction with youngest girl, Agnes (Elsie Kate Fisher).

Even the irksome minions get more attention than the girls here. They seem to have become a much more significant part of the film this time around and their prepubescent act may be scene-stealing for the younger audience but it doesn’t work if you’re not a fan of humor aimed solely at children. All the fart jokes, butt jokes, and pratfall comedy just serve to indulge the kiddies and condescend the adults wanting their humor earned. There are little moments where their breed of comedy works for the 10-and-up crowd (particularly a very random but fairly amusing musical rendition of a Boys To Men song) but, most often, it is loud and obnoxious.

When all is said and done, I asked, “Is that it? Is that really all that they had up their sleeves?” The end result just feels like amateur hour. However well animated it is and however extensive the celebrity voice cast, this is a sequel story that just doesn’t feel like it needed to be told. It’s lazy screenwriting at its most unnecessary and while it’s not the worst example of animated movies aimed towards the youngest common denominator at the chagrin of the parents, it is an example of totally disposable cinema – another spiky spur of sequelitis.