Despicable Me 2 - One in a Minion!

Three years ago, Gru (Steve Carrell) and his lovable minions burst onto our screens and a new hero was born; or should that be anti-hero? Changed for the better after the events of the first film, Gru is living the suburban life, playing dad to the girls who changed him from arch villain to hero. However, despite his new suburban lifestyle, Gru longs for the adventure that being a villain brought him. Even his boffin science assistant Dr. Nerfario (Russell Brand) can no longer stand a life without crime and starts to long for crime pastures new. All Gru's yearning for adventure though is about to be rewarded when Lucy (Kristen Wiig), and agent from the Anti-Villain League turns up and tells Gru they need his help and expertise to capture a powerful new villain that has stolen a powerful biological serum that can change whomever is injected into crazed, ravenous monsters.

What follows is a rioutous adventure as Gru, Lucy, and of course the Minions attempt to track down the criminal whom they know to be hiding out in a large shopping mall. Setting themselves up as the proprietors of a cupcake shop Gru and Lucy make the perfect partnership. Could there even be the possibility of romance for our hero?

The film boasts an impressive supporting cast, Russell Brand making his return as Dr. Nefario. Steve Coogan is also flying the British flag as head of the Anti-Villain League, Silas Ramsbottom. Kristen Wiig provided a voice in the first film but here gets a substantially bigger role as the yang to Gru's ying. Benjamin Bratt also provides great vocal talent as the mysterious Eduardo/El Macho. Has Gru finally met his match?

As well as being a worthy sequel to the first film, in terms of animation, this new incarnation goes to even greater heights providing some new feats of technical brilliance, especially with the Minions. Which brings me on to the stars of the film; the Minions themselves. Not present throughout the entirety of the first film nobody suspected that they would emerge as the characters everyone would remember. Which is why they are out in force in this film. Their popularity has been such that it has been announced they are to receive their very own spin-off movie. All hail whoever made that decision! Forget hamsters - we all want a pet minion.

If you liked the first film then you will love the second. Not just for the kids - the film appeals to all ages. I must confess I think the adults laughed harder than the kids in the screening I went to. With a Despicable Me 3 certainly almost guaranteed, check this one out and start to get excited for what will be the true great of this franchise - The Minion Movie!