By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Minions have been on this planet far longer than we have. so the story goes. In the first official trailer, they are revealed to have gone by many names like Dave and Carl ever since they emerged from the sea. Just what they evolved from is probably not even going to be addressed. They are single-celled simple organisms after all. In what kind of world they are living in shows that they are as old as the first dinosaurs.
In a documentary style introduction by perhaps Geoffrey Rush himself, it’s revealed that they have one simple goal, and that’s to serve the most despicable master around. Just how much of that will persist in the film is unknown, but it just may very well work in the same style as March of the Penguins.
Who they will face is a rogue’s gallery of former tyrants like the mighty T. Rex, a ruthless Egyptian Pharaoh (Rameses?) and a cunning Dracula, to name a few, but with their lemming like mentality to follow the leader, all they end up doing is causing problems in the long run. The hilarity in this trailer shows that Illumination Studio’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy have the magic touch when it comes to offbeat humour. Directors Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda are in mighty fine company that has assisted them to craft a laugh out loud comedy that will no doubt put the smack down in what the Penguins of Madagascar movie can do if they were ever to be challenged to a standup comedy showdown. Brian Lynch wrote what may be a very good screenplay that might lead up to them meeting Gru in his heydays as a bad guy.
Before they do, there’s a huge adventure in store for them. That means meeting up with some humans, one of whom could be their next evil overlord, Scarlet Overkill (voiced by Sandra Bullock) and Herb (Jon Hamm). Just what Minions Kevin, Stuart and Bob have in mind by teaming up with them can be trouble for both the Overkills and the Minion mob.
This trailer can be watched time and time again and yet still feel refreshing. Sorry Penguins. Even though your movie is not out yet, this trailer’s off the wall humour shows that you’ve been defeated.
This film will be released July 10, 2015.