Characterized by their stubby stature and banana-yellow color, the minions from the Despicable Me franchise stole the hearts of many with their playful antics. First introduced in 2010, the series soon accumulated over 5 million dollars and earned its title as the highest-grossing animated franchise. Though once a childhood staple, the fourth installment was a minion without a banana—just not quite right.  

In the film, former villain Gru encounters his archnemesis Maxime Le Mal at a reunion and arrests the felon. Hungry for revenge, Maxime escapes prison and sets off to find Gru and his family, including baby Gru Jr., who adopt pseudo-identities and flee to a new neighborhood. Each family member struggles to adjust as they juggle their new identities alongside the looming threat of Maxime. Meanwhile, the minions get shipped to the Anti-Villain League where they gain superpowers.

Noticeably, this movie lacks a central theme. Unlike previous iterations, it forcefully mashes cliché concepts such as change and relationships together to create a messy, incoherent plot. The audience is left confused and unsatisfied, unable to piece the storyline together.

The characters also lost their luster: namely, Gru’s mini sidekicks. In a futile attempt to spice up their routine roles, Despicable Me 4 introduces the “Mega Minions”. The rookie heroes, though heavily advertised, barely accrue any screen time. Not only are the Mega Minions underutilized, they also have minimal roles. 

Instead, the film introduces a plethora of novel yet dull characters, ranging from a preppy teenage villain to a grandma principal in a rocket-powered wheelchair. These new characters only dilute the focus from the original lineup: to the viewers’ dismay, fan-favorite Dr. Nefario has just one line in the 95-minute-long movie.

Many details about the characters also feel forced. For example, Maxime Lemall’s image is centered around a cockroach to symbolize his annoyingly persistent nature. Despite the director’s efforts to create a memorable character, Lemall ultimately misses the mark, as his motivations and personality remain superficial. This lack of development undermines his cockroach theme, leaving it feeling more like a gimmick than a meaningful aspect of his character.

Compared to the high expectations set by previous films, the fourth installment proves to be a significant disappointment. This slapdash attempt at a movie left many fans unsatisfied, as it falls far short of the Despicable Me franchise’s legacy—a total banana flop.