Pierre Coffin is writer, director, and the voice of all Minions’ gibberish, including this film, Minions & Monsters.
Not quite a one-man show, but close.
Coffin is obviously a film buff and has made this for those in the know of all things movies.
Film has been a major influence in this reviewer’s life since age 15.
Not only has this writer enjoyed watching movies, he’s made movies, taught movie appreciation, and students in Year 12 VCE Media under tutelage often earned an “A” with final projects.
My rating, therefore, is qualified.
As the movie is set in 1920s Hollywood, the silent era, references to stars of the old silver screen, animated sequences of their famous scenes and stunts, even Easter Eggs of movies of the 1940s and ’50s, either you’re familiar with them… or you’re not.
School holidays: the cinema was packed with children and young parents.
They were quiet at the stuff making this film buff laugh loud, but alone.
They laughed at the usual slapstick found in animated comedies.
This made for a vibrant audience which, one way or the other, enjoyed what Pierre Coffin had put onto the screen.
If enjoying the slapstick, but not “getting it” with mentions of the silent movie era, then rating’s ***½.
After all, there’s little else that’s new.
In fact, the opening of this latest Minions adventure smacked of Minions, Geoffrey Rush narrated prologue, released in 2015 as a prequel to the 2010 Despicable Me franchise.
In that movie and here the Minions menagerie searched for the most evil person or creature to serve.
The multitude of yellow Minions find themselves pursuing a thief on a horse to work on his behalf in a parody of western films, notably referenced as 1914’s serial Perils of Pauline.
Introduce Mack Sennett’s Keystone Kops, slapstick ensues, everyone in the audience laughs!
From horse thief to confrontation with Vikings, we learn how Minions’ success started in a 100-year-old history of Hollywood.
Max, the European-style megaphone movie director (Christoph Waltz) has his cinema classic hijacked by Minions.
Studio heads, Frank and Elwood (Jeff Bridges) are powerful twins and studio heads holding Max’s fate in their hands.
Dort (Jessie Eisenberg) is an extra-terrestrial Minions encounter in their hijinks.
Debbie (Zoey Deutch) is a wannabe actress in big ol’ Hollywood.
George Lucas of Star Wars fame is himself in animated tomfoolery, sure to raise a smile if not the full laugh.
James and Henry (Pierre Coffin) partner with Goomi (Trey Parker), a small green creature with tentacles who tricks them into thinking he’s helping them make a monster movie, only to use it as a cover to unleash giant monsters Phillips and Howard (Bobby Moynihan and Phil LaMarr) on the world.
Unvoiced, comes an unmistakable harkening to The Blob (1958).
Just about all Minions look similar, save the yellow, body shape, and eyes: some are crafted like sausages, others more ball-like – goggles protect one or two eyes.
But to backtrack – the original Minions were Kevin (two eyes), Stuart (one eye), and Bob (one brown eye and one green eye).
The latest foray has one-eyed James who wants to direct movies), Henry (James’ two-eyed co-partner), Ed (loyal and one-eyed), and Dick (one-eyed, neatly-combed hair, and head of the Minions).
In a Hollywood Museum tourists have never heard of Minions James and Henry, honoured with a statue.
Olivia the Guide (Allison Janney) is surprised at their not knowing of the rise and fall of these famous silent screen stars/filmmakers.
We learn how Minions adapted to their denim bib overalls layered over a yellow shirt.
We’re launched into an enjoyable time machine of Hollywood’s past glory, a massive step ahead of 2015’s Minions as they attempt to make a monster movie of their own.
Should you find Minions appealing, laughable, and entertaining, their newest excursion is plenty of fun, even better when you know something of Hollywood’s pre-talkie era.
Movie: Minions and Monsters
Duration: 90 min.
Director: Pierre Coffin
Starring: Voice talents of Pierre Coffin, Jesse Eisenberg, Christoph Waltz, Zoey Deutch, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Jeff Bridges, George Lucas, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr
Rating: *****
Reviewed by Lawrenty
