DESPICABLE ME 3
A funny, heartfelt family adventure with nonstop energy.
Should You Watch It?
Despicable Me 3 packs several storylines into one high-octane, high-energy comedy. Gru and Lucy lose their jobs after failing to stop Balthazar Bratt from stealing the world’s largest diamond. The Minions leave because Gru refuses to return to villainy. Then Gru meets his long-lost twin brother, Dru, who wants to become a criminal.
That crowded structure can feel disconnected. Still, the jokes keep coming, and the movie carries you toward a very good, heartfelt ending. The film is especially strong when it turns toward prayer, family, loyalty, reconciliation, and overcoming evil.
The off-color jokes and scatological humor are milder than in Despicable Me 2. If you are choosing for older children or adults, this is a lively family movie with genuine heart. WORTH THE TRIP for families comfortable with its cartoon violence and lightweight humor.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESGru and Lucy work for the Anti-Villain League, but their attempt to stop Balthazar Bratt from stealing the world’s biggest diamond ends with both of them fired. The Minions also walk out on Gru, tired of being good guys.
Then a butler arrives with astonishing news: Gru has a long-lost twin brother named Dru. Gru, Lucy, the girls, and two loyal Minions travel to Freedonia, where Dru hopes his brother will help him enter the criminal business.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an especially entertaining family movie. The film moves at high speed, bringing together fast jokes, pratfalls, Minion antics, and several seemingly distinct storylines. Although the multiple plots can make it difficult to know where you are, the fun never stops.
The movie’s greatest strength is its heart. The girls are adorable, Agnes’ prayers are moving, Lucy’s acceptance by the children is wonderful, and Gru’s relationship with Dru builds toward a heartrending reconciliation. The filmmakers understand that faith and family make this series delightful.
The Worldview
The movie presents an ultimately moral, redemptive, pro-family, pro-friendship, and pro-faith worldview. Agnes prays, Gru resists temptation and ultimately does the right thing, brothers reconcile, relationships are restored, and the Minions realize they would rather be with Gru than be criminals. The three children also accept Lucy as their mother.
The film celebrates loyalty, family belonging, prayer, reconciliation, and overcoming evil. It also includes subtle mocking of politically correct lifestyles, along with a villain whose bratty behavior and lies drive the conflict. Those elements are present, but the movie’s central emphasis remains on restored relationships and doing what is right.
The film’s longing for family and reconciliation connects with Scripture’s call to forgive and restore one another: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Ultimately moral, redemptive, pro-family, pro-friendship, pro-faith worldview includes little Agnes prays a couple times, brothers reconcile, Gru resists temptation and ultimately does the right thing, relationships are restored, the Minions realize they’d rather be with Gru than be criminals, and the three children accept Lucy as their mother, but with lots of cartoon jokes, snide remarks, and possible innuendoes that are pretty lightweight for the series, plus some subtle mocking of politically correct lifestyles; no foul language, but some jokes about passing gas, the line “Did you pee in your pants” and other borderline exclamations; lots of cartoon violence includes butler is blown up and comes back for more abuse, animals and people are run over, tossed around, shot in the air, covered by rubble, and lots of pratfall jokes involving people, animals and Minions; no sex but married couple shares some chaste kisses; no nudity; drinking in a bar; no smoking or drugs; and, the villain is a brat and does bratty things and lies.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Agnes prays when she wants to find a unicorn. What do her prayers show about bringing our hopes and desires to God?
Philippians 4:6–7 · Psalm 37:4Gru and Dru must learn what it means to be brothers. How can forgiveness restore a relationship?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13Gru resists returning to villainy and ultimately does the right thing. What helps you choose what is right when doing wrong seems easier?
Romans 12:21 · Galatians 6:9The children accept Lucy as their mother. What makes a family strong and welcoming?
Romans 12:10 · 1 Peter 4:8–9The Final Word
This energetic comedy has plenty of jokes, but its best moments are about prayer, family, loyalty, and reconciliation. The multiple storylines sometimes feel disconnected, yet the fun continues and the ending lands with real heart. For older children and adults, WORTH THE TRIP.
