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Despicable Me 4

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Despicable Me 4
A Minion is in between the teeth of a rock-skinned Mega Minion.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChris Renaud
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Edited byTiffany Hillkurtz
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures[1]
Release dates
Running time
94 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100 million[3]
Box office$229.6 million[4][5]

Despicable Me 4 is a 2024 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal. It serves as the sequel to Despicable Me 3 (2017), the fourth main installment, and the sixth overall installment in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Patrick Delage (in his feature directorial debut), produced by Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman, and written by Mike White and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Sofía Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, and Will Ferrell. In the film, Gru (Carell) and his family are forced to relocate to a safe house to hide from Maxime Le Mal (Ferrell), an old rival of Gru who seeks revenge with his girlfriend Valentina (Vergara). At the same time, one of the new neighbors, Poppy Prescott (King) is intent on returning Gru to villainy.

Development on a fourth main Despicable Me film began in September 2017. It was officially confirmed in February 2022, with Renaud, Delage, and White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively. Production was underway by June 2022. Most of the main voice cast was announced in January 2024, with Hoffman and Daurio revealed as co-producer and co-writer, respectively. Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams returned from previous installments to compose the score and write original songs and themes, respectively.

Despicable Me 4 premiered at the Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on June 9, 2024. It was theatrically released in Australia on June 20 and in the United States on July 3. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $229.6 million worldwide.

Plot

Undercover Anti-Villain League (AVL) agent Felonious Gru attends a class reunion at his former high school Lycée Pas Bon where he reunites with Maxime Le Mal, a former classmate of his who has a feud with Gru for stealing his talent show act. During the ceremony, Maxime reveals he has enhanced himself with cockroach body parts to make himself overpowered and so he can conquer the world, but Gru has him arrested with the help of the AVL. Sometime later, helped by his girlfriend Valentina, Maxime escapes prison and reveals his new invention, a gun that transforms people into cockroach hybrids, which he plans to use specifically on Gru's infant son Gru Jr., who despises his father.

Days later, Silas Ramsbottom visits the Gru household to inform them of Maxime's escape, and the AVL will have to relocate the Gru family to a safe house in another town under new identities. Meanwhile, most of the Minions are taken in by the AVL, where Silas selects five of them to be augmented with super-powers under a new initiative called the Megaminions, but the initiative is called off after the group causes great damage in a nearby city.

In their new well-off residential town, Gru and his family meet their new neighbors, the Prescotts, and their teenage daughter Poppy. Poppy, an aspiring villain, recognizes Gru from his former career as a villain and threatens to blow his cover unless he helps her pull a heist to steal Lycée Pas Bon's honey badger mascot, Lenny. The pair successfully steal Lenny from the school, unaware that Lenny's collar contains a tracker. The school's elderly principal Übelschlecht identifies Gru via security camera footage and contacts Maxime to inform him about Gru's whereabouts using Lenny's collar.

The next day, while Gru and Lucy are away at tennis practice with the Prescotts, Principal Übelschlecht visits the safe house to interrogate the girls about Gru's whereabouts. Gru and Lucy rush back home after being called by Margo and they fight Übelschlecht. Lucy also contacts the AVL who in turn calls the Megaminions out of retirement to stop Maxime. In the havoc, however, Gru Jr. leaves the house and is spotted by Maxime and Valentina who proceed to kidnap him.

With the help of Poppy, Gru meets up with Maxime at a nearby building where he reveals he has transformed Gru Jr. into a human-cockroach hybrid and fights him off with a mind-controlled Gru Jr., however, Gru's words to his son manage to break Gru Jr. free from his brainwashing state and attack Maxime instead. Maxime falls to the ground where he is further squashed by the Megaminions and the aid of many animals and insects, who arrive in turn to arrest him.

Gru and his family return to their original home, where Dr. Nefario reverses Gru Jr.'s transformation. Gru later visits Maxime in prison to talk and settle their differences. The pair then performs "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" at an AVL prison for the prisoners - including all of Gru's previous adversaries -while Poppy is shown to have enrolled in Lycée Pas Bon.

Voice cast

  • Steve Carell as Felonious Gru, a former supervillain turned Anti-Villain League agent; who is Margo, Edith, and Agnes' adoptive father, the biological father of Gru Jr., and Lucy's husband, who poses as "Chet Cunningham"
  • Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde, an Anti-Villain League agent, Gru's wife and adoptive mother to Margo, Edith, and Agnes, and Gru Jr.'s biological mother, who poses as "Blanche Cunningham"
  • Will Ferrell as Maxime Le Mal, a French-accented supervillain who seeks revenge on Gru and his family
  • Joey King as Poppy Prescott,[6][7] an aspiring supervillain who has admired Gru for a long time, and Gru's new neighbor in Mayflower
  • Sofía Vergara as Valentina, Maxime's femme fatale girlfriend
  • Stephen Colbert as Perry Prescott, Poppy's father, Patsy's husband, and Gru's new neighbor in Mayflower[7]
  • Chloe Fineman as Patsy Prescott, Poppy's mother, Perry's wife, and Gru's new neighbor in Mayflower[7]
  • Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, Gru and Lucy's oldest adopted daughter, who poses as "Bree Cunningham"
  • Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom, the previously-retired director of the Anti-Villain League
  • Pierre Coffin as the Minions, the yellow henchmen of Gru, most of whom later get jobs at the Anti-Villain League as agents
  • Dana Gaier as Edith, Gru and Lucy's middle adopted daughter, who poses as "Blair Cunningham"
  • Madison Polan as Agnes, Gru and Lucy's youngest adopted daughter, who poses as "Britney Cunningham". Polan replaces Nev Scharrel from the third film
  • Chris Renaud as Principal Übelschlecht, the principal of Lycée Pas Bon

Additionally, Laraine Newman voices Melora, a salon customer who was accidentally burned by Lucy. John DiMaggio, who had previously voiced one of the former henchmen of Wild Knuckles in Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), voices Karl, a bus driver who works for the AVL transporting the remaining Minions to their new destination, and Romesh Ranganathan voices Dr. Nefario, Gru's gadgeteer who provides inventions for him and his Minions around at the film's climax. Ranganathan replaces Nefario's long-time actor, Russell Brand.

Non-speaking cameos at the end of the film include Gru's neighbor, Fred McDade, his mother Marlena, and his twin brother Dru, as well as several villains from previous installments: Vector, his father Mr. Perkins, El Macho, Scarlet Overkill, her husband Herb Overkill, Balthazar Bratt, and the Vicious 6 members Belle Bottom, Jean-Clawed, Svengeance, Stronghold, and Nun-Chuck.

Production

Development of Despicable Me 4 began in September 2017, with longtime Despicable Me and Illumination writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio writing early drafts of the script.[8] The film was officially confirmed in February 2022, with veteran Despicable Me director Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage, and Mike White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively, and a July 3, 2024, release date announced.[9][10] Production was underway by June 2022, with Steve Carell starting his voice recording after a "couple of sessions".[11] Most of the production was done during the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

In January 2024, it was announced that Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Pierre Coffin, and Steve Coogan would return to reprise their respective roles as Gru, Lucy Wilde, Margo, Edith, the Minions, and Silas Ramsbottom, while Will Ferrell, Joey King, Sofía Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman, and Madison Polan (replacing Nev Scharrel) would join the voice cast, respectively voicing Maxime Le Mal, Poppy Prescott, Valentina, Perry Prescott, Patsy Prescott, and Agnes.[13][6] That same month, it was announced that The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) executive producer Brett Hoffman and Daurio had been added as co-producer and co-writer, respectively.[14]

Animation

According to film director Chris Renaud, some of the characters who appeared in previous films had their character rigs and surfaces updated for this sequel. Fred McDade, who had not appeared since the first film was recreated from scratch as his character model was too old. The sequence where Poppy plays with an arcade machine originally started out as an animation test for the character but the filmmakers liked the sequence it was added to the final cut of the film. [12]

Music

In March 2024, Heitor Pereira was announced to be composing the film's score, returning from the previous installments.[15] Pharrell Williams was also confirmed to be returning to co-compose the score with Pereira as well as to write new songs.[16]

On May 8, Williams previewed a 30-second snippet of his original song "Double Life" for the film on his YouTube channel.[17] On June 14, 2024, Williams released the song as the first single from the Despicable Me 4 soundtrack.[18] The song has been interpreted as a diss track aimed at Canadian rapper Drake.[19][20] Writing for Uproxx, Derrick Rossignol observed that "the tune isn’t as general and movie-agnostic as something like "Happy," but it has a great groove, and that Gru refrain is actually catchy as hell. This probably won’t be a world-changing single like "Happy," but it’s in the upper tier of kids movie soundtrack fare."[21] The original soundtrack was released on June 27, 2024, by Back Lot Music.[22]

Marketing

The first trailer for the film was released on January 28, 2024, during the 2023–24 NFL playoff championship games.[23] The trailer features the songs "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses and "Maneater" by Hall & Oates, as well as in television showings, "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce. CBR reported that the trailer showcased "the struggles of welcoming in a new member of the Gru family" and included the debut of Will Ferrell's Maxime Le Mal.[13] Screen Rant's Brennan Klein observed that Gru's tumultuous relationship with his son, Gru Jr., contrasted with the good relationship with his adopted daughters.[24] An additional trailer was revealed on February 11 during Super Bowl LVIII, being narrated by Jon Hamm, who previously voiced Herb Overkill in the 2015 spin-off film Minions, and featuring cameos by Ferrell and Steve Carell. Ryan Gajewski of The Hollywood Reporter said the trailer appeared to "tout the benefits of modern technology but feature strange images supposedly generated by AI," enjoying the Renaissance-era-inspired poses of Ferrell and Carell in the trailer.[25] On April 10, at CinemaCon, Universal displayed a clip of Gru and Poppy trying to steal a honey badger.[26] Brennan Kline of Screen Rant appreciated that the clip solidified the "important element" of Gru's domestic family man status in the sequel.[27]

The second trailer was released on May 7, 2024.[28] Writing for TheWrap, Drew Taylor called the trailer "Minions-heavy" and pointed out one of Pharrell Williams' new original songs featured in the trailer.[29] Collider noted the "devastating consequences" of enlisting a small group of Minion volunteers for an experiment that gave them superpowers. Journalist Diego Peralta pointed out a sequence in which one of the super-powered minions destroys a part of their base with laser vision and said that villains Maxime and Valentina "are more dangerous than any threat Gru has faced before."[30]

On June 8, 2024, Illumination released a parody teaser for the film in which Steve Carell announces the Megaverse, a parody of shared universes such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe, by claiming that Illumination would release 100 years' worth of films, television series, and stage productions starring the Mega Minions.[31] Illumination also published a website for the Megaverse.[32] Some of the fake productions noted on the website include Mega Minions: The Tax Write-Off and an untitled Mega Minions spin-off series with a "story to be determined based on rigorous market testing and ad hoc decision-making."[32] The stunt was praised for its lampooning of current Hollywood affairs such as the cancellation of Warner Bros. films like Batgirl, Scoob! Holiday Haunt and Coyote vs. Acme and the 2022 DCEU film Black Adam, as well as the mixed reception to Disney's live-action remakes of their classic animated films and many of Marvel's recent productions, such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Secret Invasion.[31]

Release

Theatrical

Despicable Me 4 premiered at the Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on June 9, 2024,[33] and made its French premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 13.[34] The film was theatrically released in Australia on June 20,[35] and in the United States on July 3.[9]

Home media

As part of Universal's long-term deal with Netflix, the film will stream on Peacock for the first four months of the pay-TV window, before moving to Netflix for the next ten and returning to Peacock for the remaining four.[36][37]

Reception

Box office

As of July 7, 2024, Despicable Me 4 has grossed $122.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $106.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $229.5 million.[4][5]

In the United States and Canada, Despicable Me 4 is projected to gross $100–125 million from 4,030 theaters in its five-day opening weekend.[38][39] The film made $27 million on its first day and $26.8 million on its second.[40][41] It went on to debut to $75 million over the traditional three-day weekend, along with a total five-day gross of $122.6 million, topping the box office.[42]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 54% of 110 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Fast paced and teeming with slapstick gags, Despicable Me 4 is as overstuffed as a piñata but full of enough candy to give audiences an enjoyable sugar rush."[43] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 50 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[44] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale (same as the first two films), while those surveyed by PostTrak gave the film an 82% positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.[41]

Variety admitted the film is entertaining but found the plot overcrowded with useless characters: "One thing is absolutely certain: We haven't seen the last of these characters, even if we might prefer that a few of them sit out the next sequel—like the Mega Minions, who aren't nearly as cute as they sound."[45] A similar appraisal can be found in Screen Rant[46] or in The Hollywood Reporter, noting, for example, the underdeveloped role of the villain in the midst of the various plot lines: "Running a brisk 95 minutes, Despicable Me 4 doesn't leave enough time for Maxime to enact his plans in a way that packs an emotional punch."[47] ABC News commented: "Should a review of a 'Despicable Me' movie be a thoughtful analysis or just a list of the funny stuff the Minions do in it? As much as I might believe in the value of film criticism, I kind of suspect that even the finest points of assessment would be dismantled about as fast as a Minion can say 'Bello!'"[48]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gyarkye, Lovia (June 28, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Review: Gru's Family Grows in Illumination Animation That Serves Up Familiar Antics". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "Despicable Me 4 (U)". BBFC. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Despicable Me 4 Budget Revealed: It's Reportedly 100 Million". The Hollywood Monday. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Despicable Me 4 — Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Despicable Me 4". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Joey King [@joeyking] (January 28, 2024). "Say hello to Poppy. You do not wanna get on her bad side…she can be pretty…Despicable. #DM4 coming to theaters July 3rd. Trailer out now" – via Instagram.
  7. ^ a b c "DESPICABLE ME 4 PRODUCTION NOTES". Getty Images. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Sakoui, Anousha; Palmeri, Christopher (September 12, 2017). "In Dismal Summer, Despicable Me 3 Producer Delivers $1 Billion". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (February 18, 2022). "Illumination & Universal Set Dates For Animated Films Migration & Despicable Me 4". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  10. ^ Moreau, Jordan (February 18, 2022). "Despicable Me 4 Set for Summer 2024 by Illumination, Universal". Variety. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Seddon, Dan; Sandwell, Ian (June 27, 2022). "Steve Carell gives exciting Despicable Me 4 update as he teases plot". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Sarto, Dan; Hofferman, Jon (July 3, 2024). "Wacky Mayhem is Back in 'Despicable Me 4'". Animation World Network. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Dick, Jeremy (January 28, 2024). "Gru Faces a New Nemesis in First Despicable Me 4 Trailer". CBR. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "Despicable Me 4". Universal Pictures. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "Heitor Pereira Scoring Illumination Entertainment's 'Despicable Me 4' | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  16. ^ Jirax, Jamie (April 11, 2024). "Despicable Me 4 Confirms Pharrell Williams Returning as Songwriter and Performer". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Williams, Pharrell (May 8, 2024). "Double Life (From "Despicable Me 4") (Preview)". YouTube. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  18. ^ Saponara, Michael (June 14, 2024). "Pharrell Williams Brings the Groove for 'Despicable Me 4' With New Song 'Double Life': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Castro, Danilo (June 14, 2024). "Pharrell Seemingly Disses Drake On New Single "Double Life"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  20. ^ Davis, Ahmad (June 15, 2024). "Fans Believe Pharrell Snubbed Drake On "Double Life"". Rap-Up. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (June 14, 2024). "Pharrell Spices Up The 'Despicable Me 4' Soundtrack With The Groovy New Song 'Double Life'". Uproxx. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  22. ^ "'Despicable Me 4' Soundtrack Album Details | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Lovett, Jamie (January 28, 2024). "Despicable Me 4 Trailer Released". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  24. ^ Klein, Brennan (January 28, 2024). "Despicable Me 4 Trailer: Gru & His Son Team Up Against Revenge-Seeking Villain". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  25. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (February 11, 2024). "Jon Hamm Narrates 'Despicable Me 4' Super Bowl Trailer Mocking AI Glitches". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  26. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony D'Alessandro; Tartaglione, Nancy (April 10, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Kicks Off Universal's 2024 CinemaCon With Gru's Honey Badger Heist". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  27. ^ Klein, Brennan (April 10, 2024). "Gru & His Son Rob An Old Lady In First Despicable Me 4 Footage Shown At CinemaCon". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  28. ^ Adams, Timothy (May 7, 2024). "New Despicable Me 4 Trailer Released". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  29. ^ Taylor, Drew (May 7, 2024). "New 'Despicable Me 4' Trailer Introduces the Mega-Minions and Will Ferrell's Evil Frenchman". TheWrap. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  30. ^ Peralta, Diego (May 7, 2024). "The Minions Develop Super-Powers in New 'Despicable Me 4' Trailer". Collider. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Despicable Me 4: Steve Carell Roasts Marvel, DC in Hilarious New Video". Comicbook.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  32. ^ a b Powster. "Illumination's The Megaverse". Despicable Me 4 (2024) | Only in Theaters July 3. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  33. ^ Hogan, Kate; Rice, Nicholas (June 9, 2024). "See All the Stars Arriving at the Premiere of 'Despicable Me 4'". People. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  34. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (June 13, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Enjoys Homecoming Welcome As It Makes French Premiere In Annecy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  35. ^ "Film review: 'Despicable Me 4' by Nick Gardener from 'Built For Speed' – 88.3 Southern FM". Southern FM. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  36. ^ Hayes, Dade (December 9, 2021). "NBCUniversal's New Theatrical Window Scheme To Bring Films To Peacock After As Few As 45 Days Of Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  37. ^ Moon, Mariella (July 14, 2021). "Netflix extends exclusive rights to Universal's animated films in the US". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  38. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 13, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4': Minions To Rule July 4th Frame Again With $100M+ In 5-Day Opening – Box Office Early Look". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  39. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (July 1, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Looking to Ignite Fourth of July Box Office With $100 Million-Plus Debut". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  40. ^ Lang, Brent (July 5, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Tops July 4th Box Office With $20.4 Million, 'Inside Out 2' Crosses $500 Million Domestically". Variety. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  41. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 4, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Lights $27M Wednesday, 'A' CinemaScore; $120M 5-Day Opening Still In Reach; 'Inside Out 2' Crossing Half Billion U.S. Today – Box Office Update". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  42. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 7, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Leaves 'Em Laughing With $122M+ 5-Day Over July 4th Frame – Box Office Update". Deadline. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  43. ^ "Despicable Me 4". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 6, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  44. ^ "Despicable Me 4". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  45. ^ Debruge, Peter (June 14, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Review: Illumination Adds a Baby and Five Mega Minions to Gru's Already Overcrowded Family". Variety. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  46. ^ Labonte, Rachel (June 28, 2024). "Despicable Me 4 Review: I Can't Shake The Feeling That Something's Missing From Gru's Latest Adventure". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  47. ^ Gyarkye, Lovia (June 28, 2024). "'Despicable Me 4' Review: Gru's Family Grows in Illumination Animation That Serves Up Familiar Antics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  48. ^ "Review: More Minion mayhem in 'Despicable Me 4'". ABC News. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
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