Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 8, 2016

Movie- and character-wise, there's little that's bigger out than Despicable Me. Maybe Frozen still reigns, but minions are everywhere, perhaps even more dominant in the marketplace than the Ninja Turtles. With that popularity comes a demand for product, and with nothing really new to show, minion parent studio Universal has seen fit to release three minion-centric mini-movies to Blu-ray. But here's the catch: all three of these movies were included with the original Despicable Me Blu-ray release, so even with a few new extras and the included digital versions, there's not much of a reason for families that already own that release to double dip on this standalone disc.

The three mini-movies featured in Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness aren't quite as entertaining as those found in the companion Despicable Me 2 Mini Collection. While nevertheless fun, these movies show less storytelling and technical chops, neither a detriment to the experience but the lack of both is evident in comparison. Home Makeover is the least entertaining and funny of the three. It's a straightforward story with precious little legitimate humor, earning a few chuckles as the minions slap the house into order but it's otherwise more a tense waiting game than it is a laugh riot comedy. Orientation Day is the best and most balanced of the three, though the target audience won't be old enough to get, or appreciate, the artistry and humor with which the 60s-style employee introduction video has been put together. The final film, Banana, is the most high energy and comedic of the three. It's a zany struggle for the title fruit that eventually comes to involve many minions and maybe even a few dangerous munitions, too.

The following shorts are included:

• Home Makeover (4:22): The local orphanage calls and asks for Gru, but he is not home. Agnes takes the call, impersonating her father. She learns that a social worker is coming to inspect the house to make sure it's fit for children, so its up to her, some friends, and the minions to get it in tip-top shape. Of course, that doesn't mean just shoving toys under the bed and doing the dishes. No, it's putting their own spin on making a house a home.
• Orientation Day (4:00): The minions settle in to watch an antiquated training film for new employees at Gru Industries. It shows them the benefits of working at the company (riffing on the story of William Tell and Mission: Impossible) and the fun that can be had while working towards nefarious ends. Finally, the film gets to the job of "Bomb Transporter," which is what these minions in attendance are tasked with doing. When the film is over, they get to work but immediately find trouble, including a bomb on the precipice of blowing them all up.
• Banana (3:45): A couple of minions are hard at work, but one cannot help himself: there's a banana in his lunch box, and he needs to eat it, now. Turns out his co-worker has designs on the delicious fruit, too. And another. Soon it turns into a brawl -- in a bomb factory. Can the minions learn to share, or will their craving for the yellow precious be their undoing?

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness looks fine, but it's a clear step down from the other mini-movie 3-set presentation. These films lack the dynamic color punch of the other, those absolutely brilliant yellows and blue overalls. Environments are kind of bland, too, particularly in Orientation and Banana, while some splashes of pink and a few other colors pop against the warmer details inside the house in Home Makeover. Detail is fair. The smooth minion textures aren't quite as well defined as in the other mini movies, and neither are their denim overalls. Clarity is fine, however, even if raw detailing, from the source, isn't as high. Aliasing is a little more prominent here, too, but most of it will likely go unnoticed. Overall, this is a good animated image, but it's definitely not as terrific as the movies in the other set.

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness lacks the dynamism and punch that was featured in the other minion mini movie collection. This set's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is fine on its own merits; just don't expect as much polish and whiz-bang sonic excitement. General music and dialogue are fine, the former dominating up front and the latter clear, articulate, ineligible, and well prioritized with natural center placement. There are some good rotational effects and prominent bass in the second half of Orientation, while a herd of minions wash through the stage in Banana to excellent, room-filling effect that places the listener in the middle. A few good highlights here, but nothing that truly stands apart as there was in the other collection.

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness contains all of its special features under one click called "Super Silly Fun Land" in which users will find a trio of mini-games that are controlled with the Blu-ray remote. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Feed the Creatures!: This is a variation on Skee-Ball. Using the enter button, players place a ball in a creature's mouth as it moves back and forth over several different scores. The object of the game is to put the ball in the creature's mouth when the highest score is illuminated.
• Tin Can Alley!: The classic carnival game that challenges players to knock over a stack of cans. Digital prizes are available at the end.
• Freeze the Minions!: This game is a combination of a shooting gallery and whack-a-mole. Players must maneuver a freeze ray at the bottom of the screen and shoot minions with the enter button as they pop out of one of seven holes.

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness repeats thee of the core supplements from the original Despicable Me Blu-ray release. It's hardly worth a re-buy save for ardent collectors or those who, for whatever reason, want these mini-movies but don't want the original Despicable Me movie. Universal's release features good video and audio with a trio of briefly amusing, but rather clunky, interactive games. It's a good package for a decent price for those who feel the need to buy it.