Minions and Monsters finally gives those little yellow, pill-shaped critters from Despicable Me a proper calling, and it is about bloody time. The home-video release looks superb on Blu-ray, although its basic selection of bonus features makes this less of a must-buy package than the film deserves. Ever since Sergio Pablos pitched the idea to Illumination, I have regarded them as natural heirs to cinema’s early comedians, like Buster Keaton. And to pay tribute to that fact, I’m glad what directors Brian Lynch and Pierre Coffin massaged into shape acknowledges all that and more!
And for those people who missed seeing this film on the big screen, the home video release gives viewers a chance to watch this film multiple times to pick out the scenes where this tribute shines the most. It is a marvellous send-up of the Silent Era and Hollywood’s Golden Age, with a specific Minion, James, taking centre stage. And I have to assume the narrative imagines how a new film industry might develop without D.W. Griffith defining its early days.
The lavish sets establish a dreamy world where one might be discovered while sipping a soda on the Sunset Strip. But once the spotlight fades, the Minions face the worst possible fate: being kicked out and blackballed. Stardom is not easy when none of them can speak the human language. And breaking character would ruin the illusion, and they would no longer be the lovable little hucksters audiences expect.
When James refuses to give up, he, Henry and the mute Ed soon have nearly everyone up in arms. As for Kevin, Stuart and Bob, who knows? We are not meant to know what every Minion is doing. After establishing that multiple tribes are searching for a boss to serve, the franchise has opened itself up to more possibilities. Learning that not every Minion is devoted to evil-doing says plenty.
They simply need the right circumstances to keep moving forward. The slapstick remains strong throughout. Some jokes are wonderfully silly, while others are a little salacious. For anyone not keen on the franchise’s usual potty humour, it is finally dialled back in favour of recreating Mack Sennett-style chaos. Yes, that means a proper Keystone Cops tribute.
Written by Lynch and Coffin, who also co-directed, the film never says this outright, but those visual moments are easy for someone like me to recognize. They are the true highlights, rather than the storyline in which Ed accidentally summons Goomie, voiced by Trey Parker. For those in the know, this little green critter is a chibi Cthulhu in disguise. Rather than going all-out H.P. Lovecraft, the film keeps its references very sanitized, leaving only the names for those in the know to recognize. With the Minions’ help, Goomie frees Howard, a tentacled beast, and Phillips, a blue piranha-like monster, from their frozen tomb.
Sometimes, less is more. For the serious science-fiction buff, Dort (Jesse Eisenberg) from The Day the Earth Stood Still has a side story of his own.
Naturally, the Minions have to find a way to stop Goomie. The little green octopus is hardly subtle about his plan, and without this thread, the rest of the film might fall apart. It leads to a series of Scooby-Doo-style chases and silliness, and with no Fred around to build traps, victory will not come easily. And I have to say it: Irene is Yog-Sothoth. Although this version is not as terrifying, I enjoyed this additional tribute more than the nods to films of yore.
Overall, this is a better entry than the second Minions film, and the home-video presentation looks terrific. Textures and fine detail come through well, even on Blu-ray. I have no intention of upgrading my earlier collection to 4K, so this review copy nicely rounds it out. I cannot see many more films being made under the Minions banner, but the main Despicable Me series can continue as long as its characters are allowed to grow up.
As for the home-video release, what is offered is fairly basic. The bonus material does not measure up to the Despicable Me releases, which include shorts, but it does include the following:
MINIONS TAKE ON HOLLYWOOD
Go behind the scenes of Minions & Monsters as Illumination’s filmmakers and artists discuss the early Hollywood setting, from story and casting to period research and animation. It also introduces a new generation of Minions.
CASTING MINIONS & MONSTERS
Meet the voices behind the film’s wide range of characters as the filmmakers discuss what each performer brought to their role and what they hope franchise fans take away from the movie.
HOLLYWOOD SOUND
Composer John Powell discusses creating a score inspired by the sweeping sound and timeless style of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN IRENE BLOB MONSTER SLIME
Slime influencer Snoopslimes offers a step-by-step guide to making Irene-inspired blob monster slime with simple household ingredients.
MOVIE-MAKING MINIONS STYLE
A simple how-to feature that lets viewers make a Minions-inspired monster movie with hand-drawn art and flipbook animation, one of cinema’s earliest filmmaking forms.
HOW TO DRAW
Head of Story Nima Azarba teaches viewers how to draw nine characters from the film.
Overall, I would not buy this package for the extras. If this instalment is indeed the last, I can see a trilogy pack arriving with a bonus toy or some other product. I would gladly buy that package, as my Minions collection needs expanding. The standalone toy releases can be fun, but distribution is hit and miss. As a completionist, I like seeing the Minions evolve, especially now that the franchise has shown not all of them are bad.
4 Stars out of 5
Minions and Monsters Trailer
