Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) – The Birth of a Supervillain

Introduction

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) serves as a prequel to the Despicable Me franchise, diving into the origins of the beloved supervillain Gru. Directed by Kyle Balda, with co-direction from Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val, this animated adventure brings audiences back to the 1970s, exploring Gru’s early ambitions and his first encounters with the Minions.

This film, packed with humor, action, and nostalgia, offers a fun-filled experience for both children and longtime fans of the franchise. In this review, we’ll explore the plot, animation quality, voice performances, humor, soundtrack, and overall impact of the film.

Plot Summary

Set in the 1970s, Minions: The Rise of Gru follows a young Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) as he dreams of becoming the world’s greatest supervillain. Inspired by his idols, the villainous group known as the Vicious 6, Gru aspires to join their ranks. However, when he finally gets the opportunity, things don’t go as planned, leading Gru to steal a precious artifact from the Vicious 6, making him their target.

Meanwhile, the loyal Minions, including fan-favorites Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, embark on a chaotic mission to rescue their “mini boss.” Along the way, they encounter Master Chow, a kung fu master who teaches them new skills to take on the villains.

With Gru forming an unlikely alliance with Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin), the former leader of the Vicious 6, the film explores how Gru’s journey shapes him into the cunning and charismatic villain fans know and love.

Animation and Visuals

Illumination Studios once again delivers high-quality animation, bringing vibrant colors and smooth character designs to life. The film’s 1970s aesthetic is beautifully captured through detailed environments, funky fashion, and psychedelic visuals. The attention to detail in character expressions and action sequences enhances the comedic impact, making it visually engaging for all audiences.

Voice Performances

Steve Carell as Young Gru

Steve Carell effortlessly reprises his role as Gru, this time with a higher-pitched, youthful twist. His voice acting captures Gru’s ambitions, frustrations, and mischievous charm, making him both relatable and entertaining.

Alan Arkin as Wild Knuckles

Alan Arkin brings a gruff yet endearing quality to Wild Knuckles, the aging villain who reluctantly takes Gru under his wing. His interactions with Gru add emotional depth to the film, highlighting themes of mentorship and belonging.

The Vicious 6

The Vicious 6, voiced by an all-star cast including Taraji P. Henson (Belle Bottom), Jean-Claude Van Damme (Jean Clawed), Dolph Lundgren (Svengeance), Lucy Lawless (Nunchuck), and Danny Trejo (Stronghold), provide a fun mix of villainous personalities. Taraji P. Henson’s Belle Bottom stands out as the fierce leader, adding flair and energy to the antagonist group.

The Minions

As always, the Minions, voiced by Pierre Coffin, steal the show with their gibberish-filled antics. Their kung fu training, failed rescue attempts, and slapstick humor bring endless laughter to the film.

Humor and Entertainment Value

Minions: The Rise of Gru excels in its humor, delivering a mix of visual gags, witty one-liners, and pop culture references. The Minions’ misadventures, from piloting a plane to learning martial arts, create non-stop comedic moments. The balance between Gru’s coming-of-age story and the Minions’ silliness ensures there’s something for every viewer to enjoy.

Soundtrack and 1970s Vibes

One of the film’s standout elements is its soundtrack, featuring classic 1970s hits that perfectly complement the film’s setting. Songs from artists like the Rolling Stones and Linda Ronstadt add a nostalgic touch, enhancing key scenes with funky, energetic vibes.

Strengths of the Film

• Hilarious Minion antics: The Minions’ comedy remains a major highlight.
• Strong animation: Colorful, high-quality visuals make for an engaging experience.
• Entertaining villain ensemble: The Vicious 6 adds variety and fun to the storyline.
• Great soundtrack: 1970s music enhances the retro feel.
• Emotional depth: Gru’s mentorship with Wild Knuckles adds heart to the story.

Weaknesses of the Film

• Simple plot: While fun, the story is predictable and lacks major surprises.
• Limited development for side characters: The Vicious 6 could have been explored more.
• Mostly aimed at younger audiences: Adult fans may find some jokes repeтιтive or too simplistic.

Impact on the Despicable Me Franchise

Minions: The Rise of Gru successfully expands the Despicable Me universe, providing more context to Gru’s backstory while maintaining the comedic charm that makes the franchise beloved. The film reinforces Gru’s transformation into the supervillain-turned-hero audiences root for and sets the stage for future Despicable Me sequels.

Conclusion

With its vibrant animation, hilarious antics, and nostalgic soundtrack, Minions: The Rise of Gru is an entertaining prequel that delivers plenty of laughs and heart. While it may not break new storytelling ground, its charm and humor make it a delightful watch for families and Minions fans alike. Whether you’re a longtime follower of the Despicable Me franchise or just looking for a lighthearted adventure, this film is a fun ride that showcases the beginning of Gru’s iconic journey.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

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November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.