DESPICABLE ME 2
Hilarious, heartfelt fun where family and goodness win.
Should You Watch It?
You should. DESPICABLE ME 2 is laugh-out-loud funny, deeply cute, and full of heart. Its former villain, Gru, is now devoted to his three adopted daughters and trying to live a good life. When a new villain threatens the minions, Gru joins the Anti-Villain League and must face the trouble he once might have caused.
The film affirms family, loyalty, protecting children, doing what is right, and the triumph of good over evil. The minions’ songs and slapstick bring constant comedy, while Gru’s love for his daughters gives the movie its emotional center.
There are mild concerns: cartoon upper-body nudity, a fart gun, comic action violence, and scary moments that may trouble little children. For most families, however, the good values and warm heart outweigh those gags. WORTH THE TRIP for families with children ages five and up.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESGru has left villainy behind and is attempting to make a living with homemade jellies and jams while raising his three adopted daughters. Then a new villain steals a formula that turns sweet little animals into monsters.
An international organization called the Anti-Villain League recruits Gru to stop the threat. Working with a secret agent named Lucy, Gru investigates possible suspects at a shopping mall while trying to protect his family and his little yellow minions.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptionally enjoyable family comedy. DESPICABLE ME 2 is one of the funniest, best-conceived, and best-plotted movies in the source review’s judgment. Gru and his companions make silly mistakes that produce brilliant comedy, while the minions’ songs and unintelligible antics keep the energy high.
The movie also has real heart. Gru’s three daughters are delightful, and his love for them gives the story soul. The film’s comedy, cuteness, warmth, and clear moral direction make it a particularly satisfying outing.
The Worldview
DESPICABLE ME 2 strongly affirms doing the right thing, caring for others, protecting family, standing for the truth, and being loyal. Gru’s reformation gives the story a redemptive shape: a former villain chooses love and responsibility, while villainy is repeatedly refuted. Good triumphs, bad behavior is rebuked, and the film includes Christian, redemptive elements such as self-sacrifice.
The movie especially celebrates family. Gru’s devotion to Margo, Edith, and Agnes is central, and protecting children is treated as a serious responsibility. The story also presents mistakes and comic foolishness without approving evil. Its fantasy formula, monsters, and secret-agent adventure are cartoonish rather than realistic, though some scenes may be scary for young children.
The film’s central longing is for people to be changed by love and to choose the good. Scripture says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview about doing the right thing, caring for others, protecting your family, being loyal, standing for the truth, protecting your children, and some Christian, redemptive elements like self-sacrifice and the little minions sing uplifting songs in their strange minion language; no foul language, but there is a passing gas gun; comical action violence with a lot of pratfalls and some scary scenes for children, one kick to the private parts, and cartoon scary situations; no implied or depicted sexual content or immorality, but some comical innuendoes such as fairy princess actress fails to show up at birthday party so the father has to pretend to be the fairy princess and adorable Agnes says, “I know you’re Gru, but I’m pretending so everybody will have fun,” asexual minions wear many different costumes, including coconut shell brassieres, grass skirts, maid outfits, one minion falls head over heels for the female super-agent teaming up with Gru named Lucy, and Gru imagines himself on a desert island with Lucy kissing her; cartoon upper male nudity on villain who is the most macho villain of all time; no alcohol; no smoking or illegal drugs but the plot problem is a formula transforms you into a monster and its antidote is a jelly formula; and, minions make mistakes, including Three Stooges type slapstick, wanting to be bad, one character wants to be bad, but everything ends well and bad behavior is rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Gru is trying to leave villainy behind and become a good father. What choices help someone change, and how can we encourage that change?
Ephesians 4:22–24 · 2 Corinthians 5:17Gru repeatedly protects his daughters and minions. What does Scripture teach about caring for the people God has placed in our lives?
1 Timothy 5:8 · Galatians 6:10The film shows that doing the right thing matters even when it is difficult. When have you had to choose what was right over what was easy?
Micah 6:8 · James 4:17The story includes self-sacrifice and love for others. How is Christian love different from simply getting what we want?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4The Final Word
DESPICABLE ME 2 offers your family rare gifts in one package: big laughs, adorable characters, a moving picture of family love, and a clear celebration of goodness. Little children may find parts of it scary, but children ages five and up will likely find it delightful. WORTH THE TRIP.
