‘Minions & Monsters’ is a Love Letter to Golden Age Cinema
Illumination is out to dominate the animated film landscape, with some of the biggest franchises in the genre. They’ve made themselves the home of the animated worlds of Super Mario Bros., The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing, but none has yet matched the unstoppable power of their Despicable Me series. With seven films and over five billion dollars in global box office sales, it is currently the highest-grossing animated film franchise of all time and has cemented itself as a staple of the cinematic world. So will this franchise ever slow down, or will the most recent entry, Minions & Monsters, continue with the box-office domination?
Pierre Coffin returns to the director’s chair after co-directing the first four installments of the Despicable Me series, with an original story from Brian Lynch (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets). A story that asks a very important question: just how far exactly are the minions willing to go to find an evil mastermind to serve? Mix in a bit of monster magic and that glow of Golden Age cinema, and you have the makings for a fun film for families of all ages. While Minions & Monsters isn’t my favorite animated film of the year, this outing from Illumination is perfect for those looking to turn off their minds for just about 90 minutes and enjoy some senseless fun to escape the summer heat!
[Warning: spoilers from Illumination’s Minions & Monsters are below!]
Minions shape Hollywood
While we’ve come to know the Minions as Gru’s faithful servants, there are so many other Minions out in the world, such as Henry and James. Traveling the world with a group of other Minions, James and Henry (both voiced by Pierre Coffin) dream of something bigger. Their imaginations are vivid and run wild, with dreams and thoughts far bigger than themselves. However, these dreams cause these two Minions to be shunned by the rest, who take their mission to find someone to serve way too seriously.
James and Henry are destined for more, for something greater, so when their journey with the other Minions brings them into the heart of Hollywood, something clicks. In the age of silent films, the Minions become actors, starring in all the films to much fanfare. However, when films began pairing audio with their visuals, everything blew up. No one can understand what the Minions are saying, which gets them canceled rather quickly.
So what are washed-up Minion movie stars supposed to do? Create their own film, of course! James and Henry have the brilliant idea of making a monster movie unlike anything anyone has ever seen, though their methods are perhaps a bit unconventional. Using a spellbook they took from an earlier master, they attempt to summon the scariest monster in all of existence! However, instead, they end up releasing the cutest little psychopath, Goomi (Trey Parker).
Can the minions save the world from the evil Goomi? But more importantly, will they be able to create the greatest monster movie ever?
Minions & Monsters push boundaries
When it comes to this most recent Illumination film, I’m entirely divided. There’s a part of me that liked what the movie did and what it represented, but another side that struggled to see how Minions & Monsters made it to theaters. What I loved was that this film truly honored the early years of Hollywood and the art that went into producing a film. Minions & Monsters brought history to life on screen in an easily digestible way for young audiences, while also highlighting the beauty and importance of this art. Is it 100 percent accurate? Of course not, but it does make classic filmmaking approachable for viewers of all ages while also delivering a hilarious story.
I loved all the callbacks Illumination made to some of the most iconic films ever, such as the first live-action film ever to feature a moving train. There’s a richness in the history they are displaying, which only builds if you’ve immersed yourself in pop culture as so many of us have. There are pieces of filmmaking that you can share with your children, sparking conversation about how far the industry has come. Do you need to know all the information and history to appreciate the film? Absolutely not, as not knowing doesn’t detract from what you’re watching; however, it does help enrich the experience for older audience members who may be looking for a bit more from the animated film.
However, that’s where my love for this film ultimately ends. Minions & Monsters is an enjoyable little romp through the world of Despicable Me, but I’d argue that it doesn’t need to be in theaters. This film reminds me of those Halloween TV specials we used to get every single year. There was a point where every beloved animated franchise received its own episode on one of the cable channels, which was basically a self-contained story in that world that was never addressed again. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, but it was just a fun way to visit fan-favorite characters without major repercussions for the larger franchise or significant investment.
Minions & Monsters should have been a Halloween special, as the story itself felt better situated for a 30- to 45-minute show than a full 90-minute movie. The ideas in this film felt stretched to the breaking point, with plenty of segments that felt disconnected from the rest of the story. There were plenty of times I was left puzzled about why certain parts of this film were included and why it needed to be more than it was.
Final thoughts on this Illumination film
The core story of Minions & Monsters is good. Hell, it’s great. I would argue that the pieces involving James, Henry, and Goomi were some of the best comedy I’ve seen in an animated film this year. However, when you look at the whole project, it seems like Illumination stretched itself way too thin just to push another film into theaters. For those looking for a family film that brings plenty of laughs, Minions & Monsters will deliver. However, those who are looking for the same quality as some other recent Illumination films might just walk away disappointed.
Minions & Monsters is currently in theaters! Have you seen this film yet? Did you enjoy it? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
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