journal features

movie review - Minions: The Rise of Gru

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Kokubunji, 2024.04.14

This is an animated prequel to the movie Despicable Me from ... 14 years ago! It features the sequence of events by which the "super-villain" of the original movie became who is is. As with all prequels, it is unnecessary and also quite stilted as events have to have a certain outcome so that the original movie can happen.

And so, what unfolds is a nonsensical plot involving some magical stones or something. There are betrayals, absurd violence for an eleven year old to be exposed to. Lots of idiotic one-dimensional characters and the wrong lessons being learned. Come to think of it, the main character seems to grow up in the US, so it's not clear where his characteristic accent comes from. That feels like a missed opportunity. Perhaps if this had been set in the Balkans we could have had something more.

Not recommended. But you know what, if the kids want to see it, what does it matter.

rand()m quote

One day you will take a fork in the road, and you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go. If you go one way, you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and get good assignments. Or you can go the other way and you can do something [...] for yourself. If you decide to do something, you may not get promoted and get good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won't have to compromise yourself. To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That's when you have to make a decision. To be or to do.

—John Boyd, US Air Force