TORONTO — The 3D animated sequel Despicable Me 2 earned more than double this week’s other new release, The Lone Ranger, on Tuesday night — $4.7 million versus $2 million — and is expected to gross at least $100 million by Sunday.
But is the sequel to the 2010 hit, featuring the voices of Steve Carell as Gru and Kristen Wiig as Lucy, worth the price of admission? Here’s a look at what the critics are saying.
Peter Howell, reviewer for The Toronto Star, said Despicable Me 2 “feels slightly less fresh and more formulaic than its predecessor” and noted the higher profile of the yellow Minions.
“Some despicable bean counter must have determined that the Minions were more popular than Gru, because they threaten to overwhelm Despicable Me 2,” wrote Howell.
“But the Minions are pretty funny, not to mention hammy.”
Alonso Duralde of The Wrap praised the Minions as “wacky scene-stealers” but found the movie more tame than the original and “neutered.”
“Despicable Me 2 … manages to strip nearly all of the characters of whatever sharp edges they once possessed,” he wrote. “Gru and his daughters have been blanded down to bad-sitcom level.”
Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman agreed.
“Adults will just regret the way that Despicable Me 2 betrays the original film’s devotion to bad-guy gaiety.”
In the Los Angeles Times, Betsy Sharkey described the flick as “light on its feet, visually inventive and very fast with the repartee” but too sentimental.
“The story gets too squishy when it goes too mushy,” Sharkey said. “The movie is on far more solid ground when the goop is unleashed. Despicable Me 2 suffers slightly from not being as despicable as it could — or probably should — be.”
Variety reviewer Peter Debruge opined: “While not quite as charming or unique as the original, Despicable Me 2 comes awfully close.”
But, he added, “certain story threads remain unresolved amid the toon’s rush to entertain.”
Stephen Holden of The New York Times believed Despicable Me 2 might be trying too hard to be loved.
Chris Knight of Postmedia said the movie walks the fine line between a fresh story and a money grab.
“Despicable Me 2 does have the whiff of focus-group research about it – more minions! – but the story, by the same duo that wrote the original (and the same directors, too), also feels like a natural extension of the first film,” said Knight.
“Will Despicable Me ever wear out its welcome and live down to its name? Signs point to yes.”
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