There comes a point in every adult’s life where they simply have to make peace with the fact that the Minions will never even mildly entertain them. These insufferable, pill-shaped monstrosities, speaking a bizarre mix of gibberish and Esperanto, are perfectly suited for toddlers. The unhinged mayhem they cause can sometimes feel like a zany, off-the-wall roller coaster where the insanity is the point. But they’re obnoxious, and no amount of spectacle can make me overlook that.
In Minions and Monsters, these little yellow creatures inadvertently become silent film stars in turn-of-the-century Hollywood, with a director (Christoph Waltz) happening upon their tomfoolery during filming. Eventually, one of them summons a few monsters to help make their own movie something truly special. Naturally, the monsters couldn’t care less about artistic integrity and instead attack the humans, leaving the Minions to save the day.
It’s a bare-bones plot, which is exactly what you’d expect. Still, the occasional nods to the stunt work of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton did make me smile. Briefly.
If that’s reason enough to endure ninety minutes with these headache-inducing, insufferable little creations, then suit yourself. Personally, I think they only work as comic relief for an actually interesting villain, like Gru.
Rating: D+
