Film Review: "Despicable Me 3" (2017).

"Oh Brother." It's Despicable Me 3. This 3D computer-animated comedy film directed by Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon, written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio and produced by Illumination Entertainment. It is the third installment in the Despicable Me film series, and the sequel to Despicable Me 2 (2013). Gru meets his long-lost charming, cheerful, and more successful twin brother Dru who wants to team up with him for one last criminal heist.

Steve Burke, the NBCUniversal CEO, confirmed in September 2013 that a third instalment in the Despicable Me series was in development. Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, the writers of the first two films, announced that they would return to write the screenplay for the film. By April 2016, the original cast were confirmed to return, alongside with the additional casting of Trey Parker, co-creator of South Park, as the main antagonist for the film, Balthazar Bratt. The antagonist's name is a tribute to actor Benjamin Bratt, who had previously voiced the villain, El Macho, from the previous film. Steve Carell said that Despicable Me 3 may be his last film as the voice of Gru. However, Carell stated that if he was asked to do a cameo in any future Minion sequels, he happily would. Agnes's voice actress Elsie Fisher from the first and second movies was replaced by Nev Scharrel due to Fisher getting too old for the role.

It stars the voice talents of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Julie Andrews, Jenny Slate and Trey Parker. The previous cast gave terrific performances that has the same qualities as their previous performance. As for Mr. Parker, he gave an incredible performance of a character who has surpassed the previous antagonists in terms of comic villainy and memorability. Parker was an absolute show-stealer.

Despicable Me 3, unlike its previous instalment, boasts the requisite dramatic richness that adds to the animated fun for the whole family. The film offers a fun-filled, action-packed conclusion to Illumination's endearing animated series. With a plethora of less-than-ambitious animated options, or a lack there of, out there, the film is a good addition to the summer slate. Being a good addition justifies the money (and time) required for a viewing. At times, it's a dramatically rich movie, filled with likable characters, as well as digestible gags, that should keep kids smiling and giggling. In spite of its abundant action – and for all the mashups, this is as much an action-adventure animated movie as it is a funny animated movie – is a pretty relaxing experience, even for the adult viewer. The film's story is complete enough to reward steady viewers and just simple enough for parent escorts to enjoy without much prior knowledge. While the storyline, in which Carell's villain-turned Anti-Villain League agent is reunited with his long lost twin brother, doesn’t quite fulfill its promises, visually speaking, dramatically speaking it’s quite impressive — one of those very rare animated features that completely justifies its viewing. In the end, while generally entertaining, this third instalment of the Illumination Entertainment franchise is a comedown from the first entry.

Simon says Despicable Me 3 receives:

Also, see my review for Despicable Me 2 and Minions.