Welcome to Monthly Movie Review with Corey Hostetler. Every month, I will be watching and reviewing family friendly movies, rated from G to PG-13. Â If you have any suggestions, leave a comment for an upcoming or recently released movie, and I will try to accommodate as many as I can.
If you have been on the fence about seeing Despicable Me 2, directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, let me put your doubts to rest. Â A continuation of the first movie, Despicable Me 2 follows the former super villain, Gru, turned father. Â When a secret laboratory is stolen from the Arctic, the Anti-Villain League recruits Gru to work with Agent Lucy Wilde to find the perpetrator. Â Action, adventure, and romance ensue, with comedy throughout.
Despicable Me 2 is a rarity in that it matches or even improves upon its predecessor.  The movie is just as funny as the first one, yet you know the characters, so the actions and jokes that are told are all the more funny when you think of their history in the first movie.  Much of the humor alludes to the first movie, so while still funny, doesn’t put through the full effect if you haven’t seen the first one.
The movie is no longer out in 3-D, so it is now fairly cheap.  I paid six dollars for a 2:30 showing on Sunday.  I only noticed one instance where 3-D would have been good to have, but the rest was fine.  The animation is brilliant, and the designers did a very good job of conveying emotion through facial expressions and body language.  Of course the star, Steve Carell, was brilliant and funny.  Other notable actors include Kristen Wiig and Benjamin Bratt.  All the returning characters are voiced by the same actors, so you don’t have to get used to something new from an old character.
Overall, a funny, solid movie that has everything the previous one had while expanding on the different themes. Â If you have any doubts, cast them aside now. Â This is well worth the money and time. Â If you want the full effect, though, take the time to watch or perhaps rewatch the first movie. Â I have nothing but praise for Despicable Me 2, giving it a 9/10, and recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good evening with the kids.
-Corey Hostetler