Directed by Kyle Balda (first feature director; layout supervisor on Despicable Me; animator on Monsters, Inc.; directing animator on Toy Story 2; animator on A Bug's Life) and Pierre Coffin (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, plus various shorts) and featuring the voices of Sandra Bullock (Scarlett Overkill), Jon Hamm (Herb Overkill), Michael Keaton (Walter Nelson), Allison Janney (Madge Nelson), Jennifer Saunders (The Queen), Steve Coogan (Professor Flux), Geoffrey Rush (narrator), ...

Animated adventure; 104 mins; children admitted

Conceived as a prequel to Despicable Me, the story of the Minions begins with them beings described as henchmen to evil characters, always looking to please. While far from evil themselves, the Minions were shown throughout the ages in the opening scenes as serving different masters, until they found themselves without anyone to serve and falling into a deep state of depression.

One of their number, Kevin, concocts a plan whereby he is joined by fellow Minions Stuart and Bob to venture into the wide world and seek a new evil master to serve. Their ensuing adventure follows the trio on a thrilling adventure from Antarctica to New York in the 1960s where they come across Scarlet Overkill, described as a supervillainess, and on to modern London, where their challenge just begins...

This latest animated film from Universal Pictures is like Marmite - one either loves the Minions or hates them. But what is not unsure is the on-screen animation and antics and also, above all, the superlative sound-track full of top hits; the jokes were very funny - many aimed at adults - as were some of the situations in which they found themselves.