Minions & Monsters Review
The loveable pill-shaped Yellow creatures take on Hollywood...
Minions & Monsters marks the third standalone Minions film, taking the little yellow guys back to 1920s Hollywood as they search for terrifying creatures to star in the movies. Brought to us by Illumination and directed by Pierre Coffin, the filmmaker who launched the Despicable Me franchise back in 2010, the film feels like a love letter to both the Minions and the magic of cinema itself.
I was six years old when Despicable Me came out. The Minions have always existed in my life. They were everywhere growing up, and while I haven’t kept up with every sequel as I’ve moved into my twenties, there’s something strangely comforting about returning to them. Their appeal hasn’t really changed.
That’s because the Minions have always had a Charlie Chaplin quality. They barely need dialogue that makes sense to make you laugh. Their expressions, slapstick and physical comedy do all the work, and Minions & Monsters understands that perfectly. Setting the story during Hollywood’s transition from silent films to talkies is a genuinely clever idea, allowing the Minions to rise to fame in an era that feels tailor-made for their comedic style.
For its opening act, I couldn’t stop thinking about Babylon. Not because the films are remotely similar in execution or quality, but because both are fascinated by a changing Hollywood and the chaos that comes with it. It’s an unexpectedly fun backdrop, filled with little references and easter eggs that film lovers will appreciate, including a hilarious cameo from George Lucas.
The film does lose some momentum in its second act. The monster storyline never feels quite as engaging as the Minions themselves or the film’s fascination with early Hollywood, and the focus drifts away from what makes the opening act so charming. Maybe that’s just my bias towards films about filmmaking, but it never quite recaptures the magic and hilarity of those early scenes. The final act picks things up with a fun action set piece and a heartfelt ending, but it never fully recovers from the convoluted second act.
One line in particular stuck with me: “Seeing the film in a room full of people is what made it special.” It’s a simple line, but it captures exactly why the film works. Beneath the slapstick and chaos is a genuine appreciation for cinema and the shared experience of watching it together.
The Minions remain endlessly entertaining. The monsters, less so. But I genuinely admired how a film aimed primarily at children takes the time to celebrate the art of filmmaking. Many of its references will inevitably go over younger audiences’ heads, but that’s what makes them so special. They reward the adults and film lovers in the room while quietly introducing a new generation to the magic of cinema.
Minions & Monsters never fully commits to its best ideas, but there’s enough warmth, skillfully crafted comedy and a fresh storyline to make it an enjoyable return to these characters. Maybe it’s a stretch, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this may be Babylon for kids.
★★★
In cinemas July 1st / Pierre Coffin, Zoey Deutch, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, George Lucas, Bobby Moynihan, Trey Parker / Dir: Pierre Coffin / U
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