Minions: The Rise of Gru - Movie News & Review

Bobby Moynihan has been the voice of some pretty iconic characters over the years, but his latest gig is a bit more of a throwback - and he’s totally here for it. The comedian, known for his wild energy on Saturday Night Live and his role on DuckTales, recently opened up about lending his pipes to the animated world of Minions: The Rise of Gru, and he’s framing the whole experience in a way that’s surprisingly sweet.

Moynihan plays a new character in the 2022 blockbuster, though the film itself is a prequel to the beloved Despicable Me franchise. Set in the groovy 1970s, the plot follows a 12-year-old Gru (re-voiced by Steve Carell) as he dreams of joining the Vicious 6, a crew of supervillains who are basically the rock stars of crime. The catch? He’s got a horde of yellow, gibberish-speaking Minions (Pierre Coffin) as his loyal sidekicks, and together they stumble into chaos, kung fu lessons with Michelle Yeoh’s Master Chow, and a showdown with the legendary Wild Knuckles, voiced by the late Alan Arkin in one of his final roles.

Moynihan’s character, for those who’ve seen it, is a deliciously clueless henchman named Bratt - wait, no, that’s the villain from Despicable Me 3. Actually, let’s be real: with a cast this stacked, it’s easy to mix up names. The movie boasts a lineup that includes Taraji P. Henson as the fabulously dangerous Belle Bottom, Russell Brand as a young Dr. Nefario, and even Jean-Claude Van Damme as the lobster-clawed Jean Clawed. Julie Andrews returns as Gru’s ever-unimpressed mom, adding a touch of class to the lunacy.

But back to Moynihan’s take. In a recent chat, the actor said he felt a sense of "Hollywood romanticism" about the whole experience. That’s a fun phrase, right? It’s not just about showing up, reading lines, and cashing a paycheck. For Moynihan, stepping into this franchise felt like being part of something bigger - a legacy piece of animated pop culture that kids who grew up on it will pass down to their own kids. He compared it to classic Hollywood blocks where actors felt genuinely honored to be part of a massive machine, even if they’re just the comic relief.

That sentiment makes sense when you consider the scale of the thing. Minions: The Rise of Gru isn’t just a movie; it’s an event. Released on June 29, 2022, it clocked in at a breezy 87 minutes, but it packs in more visual gags than most films twice its length. The TMDb audience score sits at a solid 7.259/10, which tells you that while critics may quibble about plot logic - because, let’s face it, a movie about yellow creatures who worship a future supervillain isn’t exactly aiming for Oscar-bait realism - fans just show up and have a blast.

Moynihan’s role, specifically, is one of the more ridiculous additions to the lore. He’s part of the Vicious 6’s orbit, and his character gets to play off the Minions in ways that are pure slapstick gold. He’s not the main villain, nor is he the hero - he’s that guy in the background who makes you laugh because he’s trying way too hard to seem intimidating. It’s a classic archetype, but Moynihan brings his trademark improvisational spark to it, making even the smallest moments feel alive.

Director Kyle Balda, who helmed the film, is no stranger to this world - he’s been animating these characters since the first Despicable Me - and he clearly knows how to get the best out of his voice cast. The chemistry between Carell’s young Gru, all ambitious and awkward, and the Minions is the movie’s engine. But having someone like Moynihan in the mix adds a layer of goofy charm that feels distinctly modern, even as the setting is all bell-bottoms and disco.

What’s interesting is how Moynihan frames his involvement. He didn’t grow up with these characters - the first Despicable Me came out in 2010, when he was already an adult comedian - but he gets the cultural weight. He described the feeling as being part of something that makes people feel good, which is exactly what the Minions are designed to do. They’re pure joy machines, and getting to be a tiny slice of that joy is, in his words, a romantic notion.

That’s a refreshing take in an industry where voice actors sometimes get treated like afterthoughts. Sure, the animation is stunning and the jokes are tight, but without performers like Moynihan committing fully to the absurdity, the whole thing would deflate. He doesn’t just read lines; he performs them, infusing each beat with a sense of play that’s infectious.

For fans of the franchise, Minions: The Rise of Gru is a nostalgic trip back to the start. It answers questions you never knew you had - like how Gru got that iconic scar and why he’s so obsessed with villains - while delivering exactly the kind of loud, colorful, nonsense-filled entertainment you’d expect from Illumination. And for Moynihan, it’s a career highlight that he’ll probably be asked about at conventions for years.

So, if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s worth a watch - especially if you’re in the mood for something light and silly. And next time you hear a Minion squeak, just know there’s a guy like Bobby Moynihan behind the scenes, feeling a little Hollywood magic of his own.

Source: upi.com