Despicable Me 4 (2024)

Despicable Me 4 is the kind of animated sequel that knows exactly what it’s there to do: keep the energy high, the jokes flying, and the whole room laughing, from kids to the adults pretending they’re only watching for the little ones. It’s a bright, speedy burst of family-friendly mayhem, with Gru juggling domestic chaos, a delightfully aggravating new addition to the household, and a fresh set of villains that keep the vibe playful and kinetic rather than heavy. The Minions, of course, arrive like a comedic marching band—pure slapstick music—and the voice cast sells every goofy escalation with conviction. If you’re looking for a deep, intricate plot, this isn’t that movie, but if you want an easy, crowd-pleasing good time that rarely sits still, it delivers exactly what it promises.

Despicable Me 4 is clearly trying to keep the franchise’s sugar-rush energy alive by piling on a new baby dynamic, a fresh villain, and the “family on the run” setup, all tailored for younger kids who just want constant motion. The problem is it often feels loud and busy rather than genuinely funny, with an overstuffed, disjointed plot that jumps between ideas without a strong reason for existing beyond “more Minions, please.” If you’ve been feeling the series is running on fumes, this one likely won’t change your mind, because the humor and storytelling can come off monotonous and tired. That said, the animation is polished and the familiar characters still have a baseline charm, so it can work as a low-stakes, kid-pleasing watch if your expectations are set to “background fun,” not “fresh comedy.”