Starring: Steve Carell, Pierre Coffin, Taraji P. Henson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Lucy Lawless, Alan Arkin, Michelle Yeoh, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story:
Animated comedy sequel directed by Kyle Balda, Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val. Set in the 1970s, Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) follows young Gru (Steve Carell), growing up in the suburbs. A fanboy of a supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6, Gru hatches a plan to become evil enough to join them with backup from his loyal followers, the Minions. When the Vicious 6 oust their leader, legendary fighter Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin), Gru interviews to become their newest member. It does not go well, and only gets worse after Gru steals from them and suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. On the run, Gru turns to an unlikely source for guidance, Wild Knuckles himself, and discover that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.
Our Favorite Quotes:
'You can't do anything alone. Find your tribe, and never, ever let them go.' - Gru (Minions: The Rise of Gru) Share on X
Best Quotes
Belle Bottom: Ooh, baby! The Anti-Villain League can’t catch this.
Belle Bottom: Party’s over, old man. The Vicious 6 has a new head honcho.
Nun-Chuck: You just got played for a sucker!
Wild Knuckles: Hold on. I started this group. We’re a team. Where’s your loyalty?
Belle Bottom: Oh, please. We’re villains. There’s no such thing.
Jean-Clawed: It’s time for the next generation.
Student: [referring to what he wants to be when he grows up] I want to be a fireman, who is also the president, and also drives race cars.
Gru’s Teacher: [referring to what he wants to be when he grows up] And what about you, Gru? Gru?
Gru: Me? I want to be a supervillain.
Kevin: [as the minions come to collect Gru from school] Gru. Kiss-a la mama!
Gru: Oh. My favorite tiny relatives.
Gru: [licking his ice cream outside a gym window] So creamy, so delicious. Worth every calorie.
Gru: Holy guacamole!
Belle Bottom: [for the Vicious 6 interview] Please go to 417 Main Street. The password is, “You’re no good.”
'Doubt exists only in the mind.' - Master Chow (Minions: The Rise of Gru) Share on X
Gru: Mom, who is this sweaty guy? He’s stinking up the house. I thought you were cooking cabbage.
Gru’s Mom: He’s my new guru.
Gru’s Mom: [referring to the minions] Tell your weird buddies they’d better start pulling their weight around here, or I’m kicking them out. They are killing my mellow vibes.
Gru: [to the Kevin, Stuart, and Bob] Gentlemen, to the basement, aka, our new evil lair!
Gru: My first evil lair. Goose bumps!
Gru: [as the minions break things in the basement] Well, you’ve got to break a few eggs to make an omelet. Am I right?
'When you guys tracked me down, and responded to my “help wanted” ad, I was like, “Who are these tiny tater tots? And where did they get so much denim?”' - Gru (Minions: The Rise of Gru) Share on X
Gru: [to the minions] Now, listen up. Buckle your overalls. Hold on to your goggles. The Vicious 6 wants to meet me.
Gru: Anyway, thanks for the hard work today, everyone. I got to go get some rest. Tomorrow is the biggest day of my life. Watch out, world. Here comes Gru!
Minions: Mini Boss! Mini Boss! Mini Boss!
Gru: I’m not… Ugh!
Bob: Good night.
Kevin: Good night.
Gru: Yes, yes, yes. Good night.
Stuart: Good night!
Gru: Oh, I just want to get some sleep.
Henchman: We just wanted to make sure we’d be getting paid this week.
Wild Knuckles: What a mouth on you. I’m paying you with knowledge.
Henchman: You are? Oh!
Wild Knuckles: Lesson one, always be prepared. Lesson two, the Belgian five-armed nose pick. And lesson three, the Lithuanian haircut. That’s worth all the money in the world.
Gru: When you guys tracked me down, and responded to my “help wanted” ad, I was like, “Who are these tiny tater tots? And where did they get so much denim?”
'Lesson one, always be prepared. Lesson two, the Belgian five-armed nose pick. And lesson three, the Lithuanian haircut. That's worth all the money in the world.' - Wild Knuckles (Minions: The Rise of Gru) Share on X
Gru: [to Kevin, Stuart, and Bob] Look, I think I just need to fly solo on this. See you later, alligators.
Gru: Excuse me. Sir? I was just wondering if you’re no good.
Gru: [as the man growls at him] You’re good. My mistake!
Nefario: [to Gru] I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just trying out this new invention of mine. I call it Sticky Fingers. Or Smart Goo. I haven’t quite landed on the name yet.
Nefario: [to Gru] Here, take this. If you ever get famous, remember who gave you your first gadget.
'Did you just trade my future for a Pet Rock?!' - Gru (Minions: The Rise of Gru) Share on X
Gru: [to the villains, waiting to be interviewed by the Vicious 6] Hello. Everybody is here for the interview? Me too. So, what do you guys got going on later? Are you up to no good? You going to get into some mischief?
Gru: [loudly as he walks up to the Vicious 6, who are sat up on a high desk] Distinguished villains, my name is Gru! I feel like I’m talking too loud, even though our proximity doesn’t require this kind of volume!
Gru: If you told me when I was ten that I would have the chance to fill the shoes of my favorite villain ever, Wild Knuckles, I would say, “You got rocks in your head.” But now that I’m eleven and three quarters, it makes a lot more sense.
Belle Bottom: [referring to Gru] Alright, who let the kid in?
Jean-Clawed: I thought he was a tiny man.
Belle Bottom: What’s wrong with you?
Belle Bottom: Do you seriously think a puny little child can be a villain?
Gru: Yes. I am pretty despicable. You don’t want to cross me.
Belle Bottom: Evil is for adults, who steal powerful ancient stones and wreak havoc. And not for tubby little punks, who should be at school learning, taking a recess, sucking his thumb! Come back when you’ve done something evil to impress me!
Belle Bottom: [as she’s chasing after Gru and the minions] I hope you enjoy the rest of your short life!
Gru: [to the minions] They all said the kid couldn’t be a real villain. Well, this kid just stole something from the worst villains in the world! When I bring it back to them, they are going to say, “We have made a terrible mistake. Please join us. Please, Gru.” And I will say, “Yes! I will be the newest member of the Vicious 6.”
'Even the smallest of us are capable of great things.' - Master Chow (Minions: The Rise of Gru) Share on X
Gru: [Otto then goes onto tell his story of what he did with the stone] Did you just trade my future for a Pet Rock?!
Otto: Uh, si?
Gru: [to the minions] I told you guys that you weren’t ready for the big leagues, and you have proven me correct. All you do is mess everything up.
Gru: My mom was right. You do not belong here. You’re fired! I’m going to find that stone. When I get home, you all better be gone.
Otto: Mini-Boss…
Gru: And, Otto, close your yapper!
Gru: Wild Knuckles! You’re alive? Wow. My favorite villain is also my kidnapper? This could be a great opportunity if you don’t kill me.
'I cannot wait to fake my own death to avoid the authorities.' - Gru 'Shoot for the moon, kid. Shoot for the moon.' - Wild Knuckles (Minions: The Rise of Gru) Share on X
Henchman: [referring to the stone] I know you’re hiding it somewhere.
Gru: I’m not! I’m not! I swear. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. Don’t actually do that though.
Wild Knuckles: Call home. It’s ransom time.
Gru: No, no, no. My mom will probably pay you to keep me!
Wild Knuckles: [after calling Gru’s house] Who is this?
Kevin: Kevin. Kevin le Minion.
Wild Knuckles: “Kevin le” what?
Kevin: Le Minion.
Wild Knuckles: [to Gru] You kidding me? You got henchmen?
Trailer: