Has Gru and the Minions overstayed their welcome? 

Are you tire​d of the Minions? Or can you watch films about Gru and his yellow friends for the next 100 years? I am personally tired of this franchise. However, I have a son who loves them. But just because I don’t particularly like these films doesn’t mean they are bad for children to see. In this Despicable Me 4 Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

Despicable Me 4 Movie Review

Studio Synopsis:

In the first Despicable Me movie in seven years, Gru, the world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League agent, returns for an exciting, bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illumination’s Despicable Me 4. 

Gru (Oscar nominee Steve Carrell) {Yes I know this is misspelled. It appears this way on the official website} and Lucy (Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig) and their girls — Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Santa Gaier), and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

Grus faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

My Synopsis:

Gru is now living the anti-villain life and working for the Anti-Villain League (AVL) with his adopted daughters, wife, and Gru’s baby son. When a high school nemesis seeks revenge, Gru and his family go into hiding with new identities (Witness Protection). To protect his children, he agrees to help with a heist with a “new villain.” Can Gru protect his family and outsmart escaped criminal Maxime Le Mal?

Christian Review What Parents Want to Know – Despicable Me 4

Language:

There is very little foul language, but there is crude language and toilet humor such as idiot and loser that is spoken. In one scene, it sounds like someone says, “wrath of hell,” but your child may not hear it. Additionally, there are phrases that are meant to sound like swearing such as “oh strudel,” and a “what the…” that is cut off.

In another scene, a girl tells her pet to sit. It poops and then she says, “I said sit.” 

In addition, a comment is made about “dad bod.” Furthermore, a woman is called “femme fatale,” which literally translates to “deadly woman or lethal woman.” The definition is an attractive and seductive woman who will likely cause disaster to a man who becomes involved with her.

There is also a “boomer” comment.

Violence:

There is continual animated violence. Things blow up, Minions are electrocuted, a person sprays bug spray in another person’s face, explosions happen, and some Minions are “experimented on” and become “super Minions” with superpowers. One of the Mega Minions has laser eye abilities and cuts or burns everything. 

Additionally, there is constant Minion shenanigans. Additionally, there is an attack dog and an attack honey badger. Gru is accidentally injected with a tranquilizer shot. And the scalp of a character is burned with chemicals in a salon.

A man turns into an indestructible cockroach. Finally, a baby is kidnapped and is turned into a partial cockroach. 

Spiritual Content:

A person calls a baby, “demon baby.” 

Other Content:

One of my biggest complaints about most children’s films outside of the Disney/Pixar franchise is the lack of dialogue and, in its place, the endless screaming. Indeed, this film has a lot of screaming. You might not notice it unless you have a child that runs around repeating movie lines. It really is annoying to me to hear the screaming constantly in a movie. However, most people seem to not even notice.

Furthermore, a baby’s bottom is shown as the baby is getting his diaper changed. In another scene, the baby is shown peeing on a console with his clothes on.

There are songs that are played that parents may not appreciate such as “I’m Too Sexy,” and if your child watches music videos from songs they hear, this is one you may want to avoid. 

The Boy George song, Karma Chameleon, is a song by Gru and another villain, and they are both dressed as Boy George.

Deception:

Early in the film, Gru’s family is supposed to pack up their belongings, assume new identities, and go into hiding. One of his daughters doesn’t want to lie about her name. Gru says, “Why can’t you be more like your sister Edith? She lies all the time.”

The neighbor girl, Poppy, knows who Gru is and blackmails him into helping her pull off a heist. He goes along with it because he doesn’t want to put his family in jeopardy. 

Positive Content:

Pro-family content includes Gru and Lucy going to extreme lengths to protect their family, including going into hiding. Additionally, one of the children has a hard time lying.

Despicable Me 4 Christian Movie Review – My Viewing Recommendations

Despicable Me 4 has all the components you expect – slapstick humor, Minions, villains, and Gru. Additionally, it is sure to entertain children, but I personally will not watch this film again. Furthermore, I turned to my husband about 20 minutes in and said, “If I never see another Despicable Me or Minion movie, I will be happy.” 

However, parents have learned that Illuminations offers fairly safe options for children, and so they will milk this franchise for every penny they can. There are more films in the making that will include the new Mega Minions.

My overall viewing recommendation is it is suitable for ages 6-7 and up. 

For the last movie review in this franchise –  Rise of Gru – Visit HERE! Furthermore, you might want to check out Steve Carrell in this funny video about the future of this franchise.

About the Movie – Despicable Me 4

Rating: PG for action and rude humor

Release Date: July 3, 2024

Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes 

Genre: Comedy/Family

Style: Animation

Studio: Illumination

Directed by: Chris Renaud

Written by: Mike White Ken Daurio 

Produced by: Chris Meledandri, Brett Hoffman

Edited by: Tiffany Hillkurtz

Music by: Hector Pereira (score), Pharrell Williams (songs and themes)

Distributed by: Universal Studios

The Cast of Despicable Me 4

Steve Carell voices Felonious Gru and his alter identity Chet Cunningham

Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde and while in hiding she plays “Blanche Cunningham”

Will Ferrell as Maxime Le Mal – French Super-Villain

Joey King as Poppy Prescott

Sofia Vergara as Valentina

Stephen Colbert as Perry Prescott

Chloe Fineman as Patsy Prescott

Miranda Cogrove as Margo (Bree Cunningham)

Dana Gaier as Edith (Blair Cunningham)

Madison Polan as Agnes (Britney Cunningham)

Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom

Pierre Coffin as the Minions

Chris Renaud as Ubelschlecht

Laraine Newman as Melora

Jason Segel as Vector

Will Arnett as Mr. Perkins

Trey Parker as Balthazar Bratt

Tara Strong as Baby Gru Jr.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I watch Despicable Me 4?

Currently, Despicable Me 4 can be seen in movie theaters. It was released on July 3, 2024. It will eventually be released on Peacock, followed by Netflix.

Is there an end-credit scene for Despicable Me 4?

There is a very short clip with the Minions at the end of the credits.

Will Despicable Me 4 stream on Disney+?

No. Despicable Me 4 will not stream on Disney+. Since it is an Illuminations film and distributed by Universal. It will eventually stream on Peacock.

How much did it cost to produce Despicable Me 4?

The production budget before marketing is estimated to be $100 million. However, Universal/Illuminations spends a lot of money on marketing this franchise.