This movie is packed with academy award winners, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun. Carrell, Wiig and company take us on a joyful, slapstick-charged ride through a story that celebrates family as much as we do. Our favorite villain-turned-anti-villain-agent Gru and his very capable wife Lucy show us their unique brand of parenting and their delightful love for adventure. The story introduces us to Gru’s twin brother, a particular challenge to Gru’s newly turned-over crime-free life. We still get a nice dose of the minions and their minion-italianish, and one of the most delightful segments in the story is their domination in prison—to the music of Pharrell’s Freedom. Perfection.
In a lighthearted way, the story lets us in on internal struggles Gru must face, and we can celebrate his triumph over temptation in favor of his deep love and family loyalty. He chooses the right path, and we are the beneficiaries. Lucy is a fun, strong and tenderhearted wife and mom; this unconventional family is powerful, and the three little girls are the anchor to all of life’s meaning. Naturally, there is mild potty humor and lots of cartoon battles, including self-inflating bubblegum and a giant action figure attacking Hollywood. But D-Me-3 is delightfully family-first, and we give it a definite Family-Approved Seal!
