Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Despicable Me 4 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker October 11, 2024

The latest installment of Illumination's 'Despicable Me' franchise, 'Despicable Me 4' arrives on 4K UHD disc courtesy of Universal. The most recent chapter of this unstoppable and unabashedly silly and mischievous franchise sees the return of all critical members of the voice cast such as Steve Carell (Gru) and Kristen Wiig (Lucy) as well as the addition of new soon-to-be favorites like Joey King (Poppy Prescott). Solid technical merits and numerous special features round out the release and are highlighted by two new Minions mini-movies. An embossed slipcover, a Blu-ray disc, and a Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere are also included.

It's somewhat difficult to process that it has been 14 years since Gru and his Minions were in pursuit of the title of "World's Greatest Villain" by pulling off the Herculean and B-movie/sci-fi serial-inspired plot to steal the moon. Loaded with questionable science, a villain who wasn't really as evil as he seemed, and some instantly entertaining, adorable, and mayhem-inducing henchmen, the film also possessed a great deal of heart which was brought into focus by the addition of three little girls. Coupled with impressive animation and a top-notch voice cast, this clever mix of elements separated the film from a somewhat crowded field of animated features back in 2010. It should come as no surprise that the same formula is still being employed in 2024.

Since that first film in 2010, Gru has largely reformed from his evil ways of villainy, though he's not exactly living a nondescript, normal life with his wife Lucy, and daughters Edith, Margo, and Agnes. Gru is part of the Anti-Villain League, and he's out on another mission. As the film opens, Gru and three of his trusty Minions arrive at the Lycee Pas Bon School of Villainy which is hosting its annual Alumni Awards event. Lest any viewer is overly trepidatious about what may be going on in the sinister and remote school for ne'er do wells, in keeping with the tone and tenor of the franchise, it's worth pointing out that Lycee Pas Bon roughly translates to "high school is not good", cueing the audience as to exactly what to expect. Keeping the gag going, the principal's name is later revealed to be Principal Übelschlecht, which from German approximates to "bad bad" or "sick bad". Their target tonight is one Maxine La Mal (translating roughly as "Maxime the bad" and outrageously voiced by Will Ferrell) who is not only one of the AVL's most wanted, but is also up for the coveted Golden Alumni Award. He has an unhealthy fixation on cockroaches, it seems, and in a scheme borrowed from 50's B-movie science fiction by way of Franz Kafka, he has successfully transformed himself into a human/cockroach hybrid. As AVL agents storm the building, and Maxime is captured, he shouts an ominous threat at our follically challenged hero.

Back home, Gru seamlessly shifts gears into domestic dad mode, returning from the store with a dizzying assortment of different kinds of milk for his family, which now includes the newest member, Gru Jr., an infant with a tuft of ginger hair who seems to pose a greater challenge to Gru than any villain. But those scenes of (comparative) domestic tranquility are short-lived as it is quickly revealed that Maxime has escaped from prison and is bent on taking revenge on Gru. To keep his expanding family safe, the AVL relocates them to a safe house a few hours away, with each given a new identity, including new occupations for the adults and a new school and activities for the girls.

From here things go poorly with Gru and the rest who are ill-prepared to adjust to a normal life. It's in these moments that the film reveals the first of several issues - predictability. There are few if any surprises in these numerous scenes of everyday mayhem. That Gru struggles to connect with the Prescott's, their country club-set neighbors should come as a shock to no one. Carell is in familiar territory here as he makes his attempt to ingratiate himself to them and appear normal as awkward and uncomfortable as possible. Further, the clearly largely absent father quickly reaches his wits end with his tiny son, with a brief car ride proving too much for him to handle. The girls encounter difficulties at their new school, and Lucy, although she tackles her new profession with great gusto and enthusiasm, clearly lacks the requisite skill and knowledge to competently perform her work. Other "fish-out-of-water" sequences follow with similarly foreseeable results. As the better part of comedy requires a certain amount of surprise and a willingness to take situations and characters in unexpected directions, these moments don't do that and feel mostly rote, and while colorful and chaotic, they do not produce the volume of laughs they are so obviously attempting to generate.

A second issue has to do with the fan-favorite, stars in their own right, irresistible Minions. As these previously very secondary characters became evermore popular, spawning a pair of movies and numerous shorts of their own, an increasing amount of screen time in this film is devoted to these diminutive agents of mayhem. And, finally bringing a a long-germinating idea to fruition, a group of super-powered Mega Minions is created. As expected, this group of enhanced Minions is the most well-meaning but underperforming collection of heroes since DC's The Legion of Substitute Heroes, for whom any actual success is purely accidental. While it is entertaining to see some popular superhero tropes lampooned, the scenes do rob the film of its focus and momentum.

The film's uncontested brightest spot is the addition of the teenaged neighbor Poppy Prescott character voiced by Joey King who was utterly captivating in her transformative and powerful portrayal of Gypsy Rose Blanchard in 2019's The Act. Poppy is much more than she seems and is able to pull from Gru's character the most satisfying, funny, and enjoyable moments of the film. As Gru spends time with her he is able to demonstrate a level of skill, cunning, and derring-do that is quite refreshing. But Poppy's character is a double-edged sword. As revealed in the supplemental material, so taken were the creators with King's performance as Poppy, her role continued to develop and grow - and justifiably so. Based on her work and the richness and possibilities of her character, Gru's time with her could well have been the primary focus of the film. The interplay and energy between Gru and Poppy actually makes the largest moment with the two feel like a more satisfying climax for the film, rendering the inevitable and intended climax - the showdown between Maxime and Gru - feeling like an afterthought.

Those issues aside, Despicable Me 4 does exactly what it sets out to do: it crafts safe family entertainment with established and beloved characters. It's not pushing the boundaries of cinema nor does it have the heart or emotional core present in some of animation's best offerings. Not a deep film, rather it throws gag after gag and spectacle after spectacle at the viewer, with healthy dollops of Minions added in at routine intervals in its quest to distract and amuse. In this it succeeds. Carell and Wiig are as reliable as ever and Ferrell chews the digital scenery as only he can every time Maxime is on screen.

Despicable Me 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The 4K UHD 2160p Dolby Vision presentation is truly stellar. Primaries pop, such as the reds during the award presentation, the blues around Gru's suburban world, and the vibrant yellow of the ever-present Minions. Colors across the spectrum are wonderfully rich and saturated in bright and low light environments alike making this film eye-candy of the highest order. Depth and dimensionality are consistently impressive, with on-screen images appearing lifelike and realistic. Fine detail is likewise exceptional with an example of such easily locatable in every scene. Wooden set and prop elements reveal grain and subtle imperfections in the smooth surfaces. Fabric trim elements like lace and fur present with surprising amounts of detail and tactile authenticity. Similarly, the knitted structure of Gru's trademark scarf reveals every stitch and an appropriate fuzziness. Blacks are deep and inky and never crush. The transfer is free from any defect or flaw.

Please note: all screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Despicable Me 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The first thing viewers will note after dropping in Despicable Me 4 4K is the immediately excellent and robust surround involvement with the Pharrell Williams song "Double Life" that accompanies the opening scene of the film as Gru motors his way to the Lycee Pas Bon School of Villainy. Bass is deep and booming, but not overpowering. Directionality is demonstrated to be strong and accurate. The viewer is placed neatly in the middle of the scene. Inside the event at the school, Cameo's "Word Up" fills the set and to a lesser degree, the sound field, offering atmospheric effects as well. This is the case throughout the duration of the film. The surrounds are leveraged to great effect during certain bombastic moments of music (the classic Van Halen-scored interludes of the Minion baby pit crew are particular sonic highlights) or calamity and destruction but then reigned in, allowing for quieter and more subdued moments as well. Regardless of how ambitiously the capabilities of the Dolby Atmos track are pressed into service, the track handles dialogue well, keeping it front and center and properly prioritized at all times. Only the Minions are a challenge to understand from time to time, but that is by design. Sound effects are consistently realistic and aided by the previously mentioned substantive bass presence. It's a very solid track that carefully chooses its moments to encompass, awe, and impress.

Despicable Me 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Despicable Me 4 4K comes fully equipped with a host of on-disc supplemental material. While voluminous, much of the content is fairly light and is best suited for younger viewers.

• Game Over and Over (4.19) - In this Minions mini-movie, a gaming session takes an unexpected twist when the Minions find one of Gru's game controllers which features some enhanced functionality.

• Benny's Birthday (4.01) - The second mini-movie is set to Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine". In it, Benny finds himself in a chaotic birthday time loop with the rest of his Minion brethren.

• Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes - Please note that not all scenes feature finished animation.
  • Class of '85 (2.11)
  • Minions at the Reunion (1.41)
  • Minions at Home (1.02)
  • Big Day Out (2.30)
  • Karate Round 2 (0.16)
  • Gru vs. Treehouse (0.51)
  • Defibrillator (0.28)
  • Mega Minions Mega Mix (3.15)
  • Mega Minions in Lockdown (2.09)

• Despisable Dialogue (3.37) - Take a peek inside the recording booth as the voice talent gets to work on the dialogue for their characters.

• Meet The Cast (22.16) - Chris Meledandri, P.G.A. (Producer/Founder of Illumination) and other members of the crew join the voice cast to discuss their characters, both new and established. Some behind-the-scenes information and stories are also shared.
  • Steve Carell: Gru
  • Kristen Wiig: Lucy
  • Joey King: Poppy Prescott
  • Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, and Madison Polan: Gru's Girls
  • Stephen Colbert and Chloe Fineman: The Prescotts
  • Sofia Vergara: Valentina
  • Will Ferrell: Maxime

• Making Of (10.57) - Chris Meledandri, P.G.A. (Producer/Founder of Illumination), Steve Carell, and numerous others discuss the film, the characters, and the animation process for the fourth installment in the franchise.

• Mega Minion Mayhem (4.22) - Ken Daurio (Co-writer), Chris Renaud and others discuss this new superpowered cast of characters in the world of Despicable Me, the idea for which has been germinating for some time.

• Rogues Gallery (3.38) - Thanks to the AVL's facial recognition software, identify and learn about the numerous villains from previous films that are seen during the course of the fourth installment.

• How to Draw (12.11) - Habib Louati (Head of Story) demonstrates how to draw the Mega Minions. Available in the original French or English.
  • Mega Dave
  • Mega Mel
  • Mega Jerry
  • Mega Gus
  • Mega Tim

Despicable Me 4 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Gru and Despicable Me's ever-expanding cast of characters clearly aren't going anywhere any time soon, with Despicable Me 4 being the latest full-length film in the 14-year-old franchise. As funny and entertaining as the film is, one can't help but wonder how much more it could have been had it been able to exercise a bit of restraint and increase its focus. Still, Joey King's Poppy and the time she spends with Carell's Gru make the film completely worth watching, with any other laughs along the way simply being icing on the cake. Graced with an excellent 2160p transfer, a very sold Dolby Atmos audio track, and a healthy amount of lighter supplemental features, fans of the film and the franchise shouldn't hesitate to add Despicable Me 4 4K to their collections. Recommended.