Yellow Chaos in Hollywood! Our META Review of Minions & Monsters

Everyone knows them: Whether as the loyal sidekicks of the supervillain Gru in "Despicable Me" or as the chaotic protagonists of their own movies – the Minions have long since become icons of animated cinema. With "Minions & Monsters," they're now returning to the big screen – and embarking on their most unusual adventure yet. But can these yellow fan favorites still captivate audiences after all these years? Here's what we and other critics think in KinoCheck's META Movie Review!

Here's what it's about

The world of the Minions is expanding: In the third film in the series, we once again travel back in time. "Minions & Monsters" is set in 1920s Hollywood. This time, however, we're not following the familiar characters Kevin, Stuart, and Bob. Instead, the film centers on an entirely new group of Minions. So "Minions & Monsters" isn't a sequel or "Minions 3" – it's actually a spin-off or prequel.

But of course, the new Minions are also on the hunt for the next villain they can serve. Through a series of unlikely events, they find themselves on the set of a movie directed by Max (Christoph Waltz), where they throw the entire production into chaos. The studio executives quickly recognize the Minions' star potential, and before long, the little yellow creatures take Hollywood by storm and become celebrated movie stars.

Our protagonists, James, Henry, and Ed, have one dream above all else: they want to make their own monster movie! And what do you need for that? Of course: real monsters! They set out to find them, summon terrifying creatures, and, unsurprisingly, unleash plenty of chaos along the way.

What do you need to know before going to the movies?

One thing becomes clear very quickly: You don't need to have seen any of the previous "Minions" movies. Not only does the film feature an entirely new cast of characters, but it also reintroduces the basic premise of the Minions right from the beginning. The yellow fan favorites have been searching for the "Big Boss" since the dawn of time. They always seek out the most despicable villain to follow – this time in 1920s Hollywood.

A Fresh Approach

Many critics highlight the approach of "Minions & Monsters" as a major plus. The new "Minions" movie stands out with a refreshing setting that offers plenty of potential for gags. The way the Minions evolve into movie stars during Hollywood's silent film era is thoroughly entertaining and original. Film critic Max Borg from the Next Best Picture website calls "Minions & Monsters" the "most refreshing entry in the franchise." Variety critic Guy Lodge shares this opinion:

"[The movie] is a clear peak for the series: a Minions movie with an actual idea at its core beyond general cheerful chaos, and proof that the pill-shaped devils are served better as stars than as sidekicks."

The Minions in Hollywood

Thanks to its premise, "Minions & Monsters" is packed with movie references. Right from the start, the film presents the early days of cinema – reimagined by the Minions, resulting in plenty of laughs. Many critics highlight this approach, including Drew Taylor from TheWrap:

"It's a charming, brightly animated love letter to Hollywood's heyday and a celebration of the moviegoing experience."

In particular, the silent film classics of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin are referenced. In this way, director Pierre Coffin pays homage to these Hollywood legends. Director Pierre Coffin has said that the Minions' comedy has always been heavily inspired by the great silent film stars. After all, just like with Keaton or Chaplin, the yellow heroes' slapstick works even without dialogue.

The many references are, of course, particularly entertaining for movie fans. Anyone who enjoys Easter eggs and classic cinema will have plenty to discover throughout "Minions & Monsters".

Minions Humor: Same Old, Same Old?

While the setting is new, the film's tone remains the same. Slapstick, silliness, and nonstop chaos once again take center stage. Many critics agree on this, including John Nugent from the entertainment magazine Empire:

"The overall tone remains as juvenile as ever. It is goofy and giggly and resolutely wedded to stupidity."

So when it comes to Minions humor, it's business as usual. It all comes down to whether this kind of humor appeals to you. Because aside from the comedic interludes and numerous movie references, the film doesn't have much else to offer, as Nugent and other critics point out.

"There's little attempt to add much depth to the story, in the way that Pixar might try to – it is essentially, once again, just a series of contrived opportunities for the little guys to get up to chaotic mischief."

The trailers already convey the film's tone pretty well – if they don't appeal to you, you'll probably have a hard time with "Minions & Monsters" as well.

Our take: The humor mostly works well when it comes to the movie references, especially when the Minions recreate iconic scenes from film history. Outside of those moments, however, the nonstop slapstick starts to wear thin over the course of the runtime. It's just too often more of the same. Especially in the second half, it gets a bit much, and toward the end, it's less original than it was at the beginning.

Conclusion

Overall, the critical reception for Minions & Monsters has been solid to positive. Our verdict: Thanks to its original setting, the film has some standout moments. At the same time, the familiar Minions humor can become repetitive over the course of the movie.

But it's best to see for yourself: "Minions & Monsters" opens in theaters on July 1.