- 'Minions and Monsters' offers laughs but lacks a cohesive story, critics say.
- The film features familiar Minion humor but struggles with focus and originality.
- Aimed at younger audiences, it highlights the challenge of supporting characters leading.
SALT LAKE CITY — There was a time when the Minions were the secret ingredient.
They'd pop into a "Despicable Me" movie, babble in their own language, accidentally blow something up and disappear before they overstayed their welcome. They weren't the meal. They were the seasoning.
Now, three "Minions" movies in, I think we've reached the point where the seasoning has become the entire entrée and it's over-salted.
"Minions and Monsters" isn't terrible. I laughed a few times, and younger kids will probably have a blast. But it's also a movie that feels stretched thin, bouncing from one idea to another without ever finding a story strong enough to keep the momentum going.
By the time the credits rolled, I wasn't disappointed. I was just kind of done before we got there.
Plot summary
The latest adventure follows a new batch of Minions as they once again search for the biggest, baddest villain worthy of their loyalty. Their journey eventually leads them into a version of Golden Age Hollywood, where a series of chaotic misadventures pulls them into a world filled with movie magic, larger-than-life creatures and eventually, some monsters.
The problem is that the movie doesn't always seem interested in the same story its title promises.
Funny? Yeah
The Minions are still funny, for the most part.
Their physical comedy remains charming, their nonsense language still works, and there are several visual gags that earned genuine laughs from my kids and me.
If you're 6 years old, there's a good chance you'll be giggling from beginning to end.
My 10-year-old had fun. My 13-year-old thought it was fine. My 15-year-old was pretty much over it before the movie was.
That probably tells you exactly who this movie is aimed at.
Too much of a good thing
This reminded me of Mater from the "Cars" movies.
Mater absolutely steals scenes in the original "Cars." He's hilarious because he shows up, says something ridiculous and lets Lightning McQueen remain the emotional center of the story.
Then came "Cars 2," where Mater became the main character.
Suddenly, the thing that made him special wasn't quite so special anymore.
The Minions have fallen into a similar trap.
They work wonderfully as supporting characters because they break up the story with bursts of ridiculous humor. When they're asked to carry an entire movie, there's only so much gibberish, slapstick and chaos that can sustain your attention.
Eventually, the jokes start feeling familiar.
A story that's all over the place
The movie also struggles with focus.
The opening feels remarkably similar to what we've already seen in previous "Minions" movies as the little yellow troublemakers search for their next evil boss.
Then the movie suddenly shifts gears into a lengthy Hollywood adventure that honestly has very little, almost nothing, to do with monsters.
Considering the title is "Minions and Monsters," it's surprising how long it takes before the monsters become much of a factor.
When they finally do arrive, the movie becomes something entirely different yet again.
None of the individual ideas is terrible. They just never come together into one cohesive adventure.
It feels like several movies are competing for the same running time.
Conclusion
If you have younger children, especially elementary-aged kids, the answer is probably yes. There's enough silly humor, colorful animation and energetic chaos to keep them entertained.
Adults will find a few laughs scattered throughout, but they may also find themselves checking their watches. I know I did.
"Minions and Monsters" isn't a disaster by any means. It's simply another reminder that not every great supporting character needs their own franchise. Sometimes less really is more.
