Despicable Me 2 brings back Steve Carell's Gru, now retired from villainy to raise his adopted children. There's a simple and predictable plot that revolves around his effort to catch another villain, but story isn't the main draw here. As with the first film, there's a fun emphasis on character that carries the movie.
Carell remains the main draw; his quirky character is fun and quotable. Joining the mix this time is Kristen Wiig as a skilled but highly strung partner who becomes a love interest. The interplay between the two is humorous, a strong new addition for this movie. Benjamin Bratt also camps it up as a Mexican restaurant owner who may or may not be the legendary villain El Macho. This role was apparently voiced originally by Al Pacino, but Bratt was brought in when Pacino left the film over "creative differences." Pacino's departure came very late in the production, but Bratt's replacement is seamless enough (and effective enough) that you'd never know anything was amiss.
But the first film also had solid heart to it, and this sequel isn't nearly as strong in that department. Gru's relationship with his three adopted daughters takes a back seat to the spy-like antics, and a subplot about a young romance involving the oldest girl falls fairly flat. There isn't anything wrong here as such, but the sentiment of the first film simply isn't there.
That said, if you're looking for more physical comedy with Gru's minions, this movie delivers in spades. After being the surprise hit characters of the first film, the minions are moved front and center here -- and they don't disappoint. They're inevitably part of the movie's best jokes, and again figure in an entertaining end credits sequence worth staying for.
In all, Despicable Me 2 isn't quite the winner the first film was, but it's still worth seeing. I give it a B-.
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