Movie review | You can’t help but love ‘Minions’ - as box office shows

Minions ***

While it’s easy to decry what “Minions” is missing (namely Steve Carell as Gru), why not just enjoy it for its 91-minute running time filled with Minion-based hilarity?

The 3D animated comedy, starring everyone’s favorite little yellow creatures, is filled with some really funny moments, outstanding animation and fun 3D effects.

Sandra Bullock voices Scarlet Overkill, the ultimate supervillain who becomes the Minions’ new boss at Villain-Con, an employment convention for supervillains and hopeful sidekicks.

In this new Minions’ release, the third in the franchise from Illumination Entertainment, Overkill has her heart set on the Royal Jewels and Queen Elizabeth’s throne. The last half of the movie is an action-packed romp through a cleverly animated London, England.

Technically a prequel, one set in time before Gru appears on the scene, the movie begins by going all the way back to the creatures’ origins to gain a clearer picture on just who the Minions are, what motivates them and from where they came, namely the primordial ooze.

Geoffrey Rush as the narrator, John Hamm as Herb Overkill and Michael Keaton as the American Walter Nelson add some needed comical counterpoint and dialog as the Minions speak almost no discernable language, yet talk and sing incessantly.

Against a $74 million budget, “Minions” is proving to be the hit most were betting on. As of deadline the box office is already at $400 million and growing, just like our love for the innocently malevolent Minions.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 11:14 AM with the headline "Movie review | You can’t help but love ‘Minions’ - as box office shows."