AWFJ Movie of the Week, July 6-12: MINIONS
Opening July 10, the AWFJ Movie of the Week is Minions, the inevitable spin-off from hit animations Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. It puts the eponymous, scene-stealing yellow critters firmly in the spotlight, telling the story of their evolution and their inability to keep hold of any of their evil masters. When Kevin, Stuart and Bob (all voiced by co-director Pierre Coffin) embark on a mission to find a new master, they come across supervillain Scarlett Overkill (a brilliant Sandra Bullock) who is attempting to take over the world along with her husband Herb (John Hamm). Read on…
Having already won over audiences of all ages in the first two films, the Minions really don’t have to do much in order to be hugely entertaining. With their anarchic personalities and expert comic timing – all created, of course, by the team of expert animators – they are irresistible to kids and endearing to adults. It’s helped by a smart screenplay from Brian Lynch (Hop, Puss in Boots) and an excellent voice cast which, along with Bullock and Hamm, includes the esteemed likes of Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, Geoffrey Rush and Steve Carrell (as the young Gru). It’s sure to be the animated hit of the summer.
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panelists Comments:
Sheila Lynn Roberts: My recommendation is Minions which takes audiences back to where it all began. It’s smartly written and directed, beautifully animated, and features a terrific voice cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney and Steve Coogan. The prequel is hilarious as we see the Minions evolve through the ages perpetually unsuccessful at keeping each new evil boss, that is until Kevin, Stuart and Bob embark on a thrilling adventure to find their next despicable master.
Pam Grady: The scene-stealing, anarchic yellow creatures from the Despicable Me franchise take the spotlight in Minions, but is the world ready for so much of those helium voices and their weird obsession with bananas?
Nell Minow: Minions looks wildly funny with a smashing performance by Sandra Bullock as a super-villain.
Film Details:
Title: Minions
Director: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda
Release Date: July 10, 2015
Running Time: 91 minutes
Language: English
Shooting Location(s):
Principal Cast:Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Allison Janney, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm
Screenwriter: Brian Lynch
Production Company: Illumination Entertainment
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Official Website
Trailer
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Nikki Baughan, Anne Brodie, Pam Grady, Leba Hertz, MaryAnn Johanson, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Katherine McLaughlin, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Perri Nemiroff, Kristy Puchko, , Sheila Roberts, Liz Whittemore, Jeanne Wolf.
Other Movies Opening the Week of July 6-10, 2015:
July 10
Self/less
Minions
Boulevard
The Gallows
Tangerine
Do I Sound Gay?
What We Did on Our Holiday
Tap World
The Suicide Theory
Edited by Sandra Kraisirideja, AWFJ.org Associate Editor
