Minions & Monsters

Minions & Monsters
Starring Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz
Directed by Pierre Coffin

For sixteen years and seven movies, the yellow pill-shaped Minions have invaded the cinema to the tune of over $6 billion dollars worldwide and counting. What is it about these little creatures that's endeared them to the hearts of children young and old alike, especially considering they don't even speak a language we can understand? Simply, it's the fact that they're so lovable despite having their only goal being to serve the most horrible villains in the world, and their antics that oftentimes resort to blowing raspberries at each other and hitting each other with all kinds of blunt objects that hearken back to classic Hollywood slapstick comedy. To that end, their third solo outing "Minions & Monsters" leans entirely on that - focusing on a new group of Minions that existed during the golden age of cinema and how their shenanigans led to movies being what they are today - at least in their world.

While providing a tour at the film history museum, the tour guide (Allison Janney) regales her group with the story of James and Henry, two Minions who shaped cinema during the classic age of Hollywood. While they've traversed the world seeking to serve the most diabolical villains (and inadvertently causing their untimely demises), the Minions (Pierre Coffin) find themselves in a Hollywood movie under the direction of Max (Christoph Waltz), who at first is angry that they ruined his picture - but after getting the go-ahead from the execs, he makes the Minions into stars during the age of silent cinema, making them household names. James especially is enamored by the Hollywood lifestyle, as is his best friend Henry, who are both ostracized by the other Minions, especially their leader Dick. The two thrive in the world of Hollywood, but when talkies begin, the Minions popularity diminishes because no one can understand what they're saying. As Dick takes most of the other Minions to find the next villain to serve, James, Henry, and their Deaf friend Ed decide to make a monster movie that'll put them back in the spotlight. Using a magical book they summon Goomi (Trey Parker), a Cthulhu-type monster who secretly wants to take over the world, but uses James' idea to make a monster movie to thaw other monsters in order to accomplish it.

Generally the third movie in a trilogy is the weakest, but "Minions & Monsters" is easily the strongest of the spinoff franchise, utilizing what makes the Minions such darlings to its full extent by staging them in the golden age of cinema. While this film doesn't feature the antics of Stuart, Bob and Kevin, thanks to how the Minions act, we don't really realize it. James, Henry and Ed are great additions to the franchise and have their own surprisingly emotional story under-layered by their enjoyable tomfoolery. 

During the silent and classic era of movies, stars like Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers and Peter Sellers dazzled audiences with their slapstick movies like "The General," "Duck Soup," "The Great Dictator" and "The Party." Pierre Coffin, who invented the Minions, clearly used these movies as inspiration for them, and he's given full license to incorporate their antics in a movie like this. Seeing the Minions attack others and themselves with large mallets, chainsaws and...well...a potted plant is hilarious for adults, and children love the lively animation of it all. I found myself laughing out loud in numerous sequences, most notably a Minion's attempt to both flee and attack two monsters that worked on every level and could've only been heightened with the use of the "Yakety Sax" song. 

While the shenanigans are the highlight of the movie (and they were indeed numerous, for a 90-minute movie there's never a lull in the laughter), there's a deeper connection between James and Henry that's surprisingly endearing. The two are the outcasts in the Minions group, and having no one else to rely on but each other made them fast and loyal friends. Their comradere is equal parts touching and hilarious, and even though there was a moment where the movie could've gone down the typical "best friends lose their friendship over a misunderstanding" arc, Coffin doesn't allow it to happen. Instead, they come together even stronger to take on the villainous Goomi and provides some truly cathartic moments - and a particularly crazed Minion who pulls a chainsaw from somewhere we have no idea where.

This film boasts a surprisingly stellar vocal cast, including three Oscar winners in Allison Janney, Jeff Bridges and Christoph Waltz, as well as Jesse Eisenberg who plays the amazing Dort, a knock on the classic "Day the Earth Stood Still" robot Gort. Coffin voices all the Minions, and Zoey Deutch plays Debbie, Dort's love interest. Yet it's Trey Parker's ability to transform his voice into anything that steals the show as little Goomi, who serves as the antagonist of the movie. His repeated use of the word "movies" made me laugh every time (you have to hear it to appreciate it), and the entire vocal cast - including a surprise cameo - pulls off the comedy.

While paying homage to classic cinema, introducing a new emotional center in the friendship between James and Henry, and providing slapstick humor from start to finish, "Minions & Monsters" is the best of the franchise spinoff and provides both young and young at heart ninety minutes of nonstop laughter and hi-jinks.

The Score: A