Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Prequel is fun, with less peril than previous films.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Minions
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 107 parent reviews
What's the Story?
MINIONS is a prequel to the wildly popular Despicable Me movies, chronicling how the little yellow creatures have always been drawn to follow the biggest villains surrounding them, from a T-rex to a caveman to a tyrant. For a long time, the Minions -- distraught that their masters keep dying --stay hidden in an ice cave, with no one to follow and nothing to do. Then, bored and depressed, Kevin leads Bob and Stuart on a mission to find a new supervillain ruler and ends up in 1968 New York City. From there, the trio discovers that renowned international villain Scarlett Overkill (voiced by Sandra Bullock) is the one they want. They win her trust and accompany her to England, where they must prove their loyalty by stealing the queen's crown jewels with the help of Scarlett's weapons-specialist husband, Herb (Jon Hamm).
Is It Any Good?
This prequel is not as substantive as the original story. But Kevin, Stuart, and Bob -- whom Despicable Me fans will remember fondly from the previous films -- are definitely cute and clever, so kids will no doubt want to flock to see it. The Minions are an adorable bunch of sidekicks, so it's difficult not to root for them, even though they're destined to be acolytes to evil masters. With their vaguely familiar-sounding language and their penchant for causing mayhem, the Minions will continue to win viewers' hearts with their googly eyed shenanigans.
As for the new characters, Scarlett and Herb are a hilarious couple, and it's obvious that Bullock and Hamm had a good time channeling their inner wacky villains. And the soundtrack is full of greatest hits like "My Generation," "Happy Together," "You Really Got Me," and "Mellow Yellow" (of course). Still, despite the comedic gags and the familiar soundtrack, there's not a lot of depth to this story, and Scarlett isn't nearly as compelling as Gru. Go for the love of Minions, but don't expect this installment to dethrone the original as the best of the Despicable Me bunch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Minions centers on "sidekicks" rather than the typical heroes. How do the Minions emerge as heroes of their own story rather than just as supporting characters in others' tales?
How does the cartoon action in this movie compare to others you've seen? Does this kind of violence have more or less impact than what's in live-action movies? Why?
Many central characters in the Despicable Me movies are villains -- and yet they're still the ones we root for. Is it OK to have a sympathetic "bad guy"? How does that impact the characters' status as role models?
What makes the Minions such popular characters? Why do you think they're so beloved? Does the fact that their language is unintelligible make them more or less appealing?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 10, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: May 22, 2022
- Cast: Sandra Bullock , Pierre Coffin , Jon Hamm
- Directors: Pierre Coffin , Kyle Balda
- Inclusion Information: Asian directors, Female actors, Asian actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 91 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: action and rude humor
- Last updated: October 26, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
What to Watch Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate