In Despicable Me 4, the latest installment of Illumination Studio’s popular franchise, Gru (a winning Steve Carell) confronts the subtle villainy of suburban life. There’s something about the charmed aesthetics of Mayflower that doesn’t sit right. Maybe it’s the near-identical cottage-style homes, all painted the same shade of eggshell white and retrofitted with pristine pools; or perhaps it’s the residents, a wealthy and entitled bunch bent on excluding the unfamiliar. Whatever the reason, the vibes are certainly off.

Directed by Chris Renaud from a screenplay by The White Lotus creator Mike White and franchise stalwart Ken Daurio, Despicable Me 4 is a reliable follow-up for this financially dependable series. A new setting, new villain and new characters, including Gru and Lucy’s newborn Gru Jr., serve up enough fun and antics that will satisfy existing fans. The plot can sometimes feel like a chaotic melange stretched too thin,...