Despicable Me 4

Despicable Me 4 starts off strong with an opening scene that had me hooked, especially with Pharrell Williams' catchy song setting the tone. The Minions, as always, are a delight, and their interactions continue to be one of the film's highlights.

The new villain, Maxime Le Mal, feels more formidable than previous adversaries, raising the stakes for Gru and his family. Gru's lines seemed odd at first - stupid and foolish - but they actually serve a purpose in the story, which I found interesting. The Karate Sensei character, however, came across as overly foolish and didn't add much to the film.

While the film introduces some original ideas, the execution falls flat. Despite this, the writing effectively explores themes like manipulation, teamwork, and the blurred lines between superheroes and supervillains, which I appreciated.

The film maintains its wholesome moments, and I loved the introduction of the mega Minions. The chase scene with Lucy was a fun watch, keeping the energy high. The OST remains true to the series, staying consistent with its predecessors. There are a few pop culture references sprinkled throughout, though I felt the film could have done with a couple fewer of these.

The ending of the film is satisfying, and I believe it wraps up the story well. If this is the conclusion of the series, it's a fitting end. Strong 7/10.