Minions & Monsters
Written by Anthony “Ant” Johnson

There have been countless stories told on film against the backdrop of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. A place where fantasies are put to rest and dreams are brought to life. How shortsighted of me to assume the little yellow pill-like creatures — aka Minions — would not conjure up their own aspirations of stardom.

Minions & Monsters is an animated origin story of sorts, exploring the contribution the Minions have made to Hollywood. On a trek that takes them all over the world, the Minions stumble into 1920s Hollywood and are introduced to a whole new world.

Directed by Pierre Coffin, the film impressively manages to pull together smiles, laughs, and fun across a 90-minute adventure. Surprisingly fresh for me, even after multiple Despicable Me installments and Minion spin-offs — though perhaps because I haven’t seen them all. I feel no guilt about the ones I missed and have no plans of completing any Minion makeup assignments. This installment requires no homework.

Minions & Monsters rides high for a couple of reasons, chief among them the animation, which is arguably the best I’ve seen this year as we punch through the halfway mark and roll into July. Illumination knows what they’re doing and it shows. Scenes are never rushed — they’re handled with care, thoughtful, creative, and maximized for entertainment with no details spared. Minions are made for humor, pliable as Play-Doh, naturally built to make the most mundane tasks hilarious. If you look up the definition of slapstick comedy, there should be a picture of a Minion next to it. Just as one could look at Michael Jackson’s dance moves and see all the greats — James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Fred Astaire — watching the Minions I couldn’t help but see the comedic antics of The Three Stooges, Charlie Chaplin, and the entire Looney Tunes family, to name a few.

My Verdict: Overall, Minions & Monsters is a fun ride. The dreaded lull between the second and third act is present, as it is in probably 80% of the films I watch. Will this film change your life? No. But instead it reminds us that life can be just as silly as it is serious, and everything isn’t life or death. Will it provide an entertaining PG-friendly escape from the brutal heat outdoors? Absolutely. Minions & Monsters is theater worthy and a solid 7/10. That is my honest recommendation. I stand by it.

Ant’s Score: 7/10