Minions 2: Rise of Gru

 I'm going to say it: Minions was, in hindsight, quite a big letdown from the cute yellow minions. But Minions 2: Rise of Gru is honestly a huge improvement - the story is a lot better, the minions are cuter, and the show is just livelier and more entertaining and more funny.

Minions 2 wastes no time introducing the central theme of the movie. Gru, still a kid, obsesses, idolises and fantasises the Vicious 6, which has, by design, a slot opening and is recruiting a new member. Unaware Gru is just a kid and thus has accepted his application and scheduled an interview, the Vicious 6 dismisses him as unfit for a partner but was momentarily distracted by a new member walking into his interview. Seizing the opportunity, Gru stole the prized stone the Vicious 6 holds and threatens the world, and thus spends the remaining of the movie running away from the Vicious 6 and attempting to counter them.

The minions here play quite a huge role in assisting Gru and has significant screentime, which is a much better treatment than what Despicable Me 3 bestowed upon them. The three minions are as cute and adorable as always. I like Kevin, Bob and Stuart, and also Otto, and all four of them did not disappoint as hardcore minion fans fear. 

Minions never disappoint. Well, except the first, but I blamed it on my own unrealistically high expectations following an awesome Despicable Me 2.

I watched this movie in the theatre, and I had an absolutely enjoyable time. My criticism would be that the movie is actually too short - barely one and a half hours. But the minions are cute and I forgive them.

Rating: 9/10.

P/s, watch the scene below at 0:04 to hear  Bob says '没有了 nasi goreng kicap manis' which means no more (the Chinese part) sweet soy sauce fried rice (nasi goreng kicap manis, the Malay/Indonesian part). Apparently Bob's nightmare is that his favourite fried rice is no longer available.