The Minions characters attracted so much attention in the first two Despicable Me films that giving them a dedicated movie seemed like a no-brainer. Following them from the Stone Age to the modern era, in their quest to find and serve the best villain, three Minions (Stuart, Bob and Kevin) embark on a journey through 60’s America, from New York to Orlando.

Perpetuating their slapstick humor while mixing almost random words, the minions maintain their initial charm and manage to keep our attention thanks to their silliness and unpredictability. This is not, however, the case with the characters gravitating around them. We meet Scarlett Overkill, supposedly the world’s greatest and most respected criminal, but in the end she turns out to be little more than an aimless banality. Motivated only by the desire to steal the Queen of England’s crown, she holds little interest for us. Accompanying her in her schemes is Herb, a one-dimensional companion with blank dialogue who proves unbearable from the moment he arrives on screen.  From the moment they are introduced, the pair becomes the generic, infinitely forgettable villains available to the narrative.

With each film, Illumination seem to open up different plots and subplots that lead nowhere, or are abandoned along the way. At the start of their journey, our three yellow fellows are led to Orlando by a family who turn out to be bank robbers. Despite a brief reappearance during the film, their characters are quickly sidelined to focus on Scarlett. Yet they would have made a far more interesting dynamic than the one chosen by Illumination. In less than 10 minutes, the family finds itself more engaging and entertaining than Scarlett and her stooge during the entire film.

Likewise, it’s a shame to see the rest of the Minions, who remain in Antarctica, only a few times during the film after the 3 adventurers have left. It seems like an opportunity that could have been better integrated into the film’s narrative. Even so, the studio’s animation is admirable, and if it doesn’t make us jump out of our seats, it’s always a pleasure to watch. 

If you’re looking for a relaxing evening out, Minions is just right for a few laughs and a chance to bond with its three intrepid characters. But the more you look back on the film the next day, the more disjointed, pointless and unoriginal things seem.