Cute Only Goes So Far

Minions are as cute as ever but quickly lose their charm in new movie

The best part of the Despicable Me series has arguably been the minions, the little yellow henchman of the villain Gru who desperately want to help but always seem to hinder instead. When their role was stepped up in Despicable Me 2, it seemed obvious that they were destined to get their own film, and so Minions has finally arrived.

So how do you get a whole movie out of a group of creatures with an extremely limited vocabulary? The honest answer is that you don’t, really, but that doesn’t stop the filmmakers from trying. A prologue shows the minions’ adventures from throughout history, from the time of the dinosaurs to their interacting with historical figures like Napoleon as they search for a proper villain to serve.

The bulk of the film is set in the late 1960s, as three of the minions — Kevin, Stuart, and Bob (all voiced by co-director Pierre Coffin) — stumble upon a villain convention at which Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock) is the headliner. When the trio accidentally proves its worth to her, she takes them under her wing so they can help her dastardly plan: stealing the crown jewels from the Queen of England.

There is, of course, a reason that sidekicks are called sidekicks. If you spend too much time with them, their endearing quirks can turn into annoying ones. When it comes to the minions, it’s not so much that their weird noises and oddly multilingual utterances are bothersome; it’s that they become repetitive and thus quickly lose their charm.

The plot of the film is fine, but there’s nothing utterly compelling about it. Other than the minions’ antics, there’s once again a real sense of fun missing from the film. The film’s biggest conflict, the one between the minion trio and Scarlett Overkill, lacks the requisite punch, and so it feels like the story is just going through the motions until the villain gets her comeuppance.

In order to make up for the film’s failings or to distract from them, the filmmakers have stacked the voice talent with big names. In addition to Bullock, they roped in Jon Hamm as her husband, Michael Keaton and Allison Janney as the heads of a villainous family, Steve Coogan for a couple of minor roles, and Geoffrey Rush as the narrator. As is usually the case, the presence of these stars makes no noticeable difference in the quality of the film one way or the other.

With the box office still being dominated by the stellar Inside Out, which appeals to both kids and adults, it’s difficult not to view Minions as anything more than a lightweight offering. That might be okay some other time, but it just doesn’t cut it now.

Scarlett Overkill, voiced by Sandra Bullock, is the main villain in Minions.

Scarlett Overkill in Minions

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment

Scarlett Overkill, voiced by Sandra Bullock, is the main villain in Minions.

Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Casa Mañana presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Photo by Nicki Behm

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After a somewhat quiet January - outside of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, of course - this will be a big weekend event-wise around Fort Worth. Choices include a big comedian, five separate local theater productions, screenings of a new documentary, a concert featuring symphony and dance, two country concerts, a chamber music concert, and the final days of an art exhibition.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, January 30

Jim Gaffigan: Everything is Wonderful
Comedian Jim Gaffigan is as relatable a celebrity as you'll ever find. His popularity has stemmed from bits involving his struggles as the father of five kids, marriage in general, and his love/hate relationship with Hot Pockets. His most recent special, The Skinny, debuted on Hulu in 2024, and he's also up for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album for his most recent release, The Prisoner. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Will Rogers Auditorium as part of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Auditorium Entertainment Series. For a complete list of FWSSR entertainment acts, head here.

Circle Theatre presents Destroying David
Destroying David‭ ‬is a thrilling‭, ‬emotionally charged journey where art and personal tragedy collide‭. ‬What begins as an intriguing exploration of‭ ‬Michelangelo’s masterpiece soon takes a dramatic turn as an enigmatic art restorer intertwines the statue’s fascinating history with their own deeply personal story‭.‬ The production runs through February 22 at Circle Theatre.

Stage West Theatre presents Primary Trust
Kenneth lives in a small town in Upstate New York. By day, he works at a local bookstore; by night, he sips mai tais at his favorite bar with his best friend, Bert. But when Kenneth is unexpectedly laid off, the quiet life he knows is thrown into a tailspin, as he sets out on a journey of self-discovery. Courage gives way to transformation in this story about old friends, new beginnings, and the good in being there for one another. The production runs through February 16 at Stage West Theatre.

Friday, January 31

Magnolia at the Modern: Every Little Thing
Written and directed by Sally Aitken, Every Little Thing is an intimate and moving documentary focused on author and rehabber Terry Masear, who wants to save every injured hummingbird in Los Angeles. Terry takes in the most fragile of patients through her volunteer hummingbird rescue, but the path to survival is fraught with uncertainty and drama. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Casa Mañana presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory follows Charlie Bucket and the other lucky golden ticket winners through Willy Wonka’s marvelous and mysterious chocolate factory. Audiences can journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination and find out who will become heir to the most famous chocolate empire in the world. The production runs through February 16 at Casa Mañana.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Musical Storytelling: Spano Conducts Scheherazade and The Rite of Spring"
In Scheherazade, Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov used the full might of the symphony orchestra to retell a few tales from 1,001 Arabian Nights. Balancing the program is another of music’s most famous tales, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, a ferocious story of sacrifice and rebirth where the orchestra and dancers from the troupe glo share the stage. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Amphibian Stage presents Rooted
Who knew a love for plants could grow … a cult following? Emery’s devotion to her plants takes an unexpected turn when a mass of unwanted fans gather outside her treehouse, convinced she’s their new savior. Now she’s dodging her sister Hazel’s big dreams of cashing in while her followers worship every leaf she drops. Rooted is a quirky, laugh-out-loud comedy about fame, family, and the roots we grow. The production runs through February 16 at Amphibian Stage.

Jubilee Theatre presents The Movement
Kathy D. Harrison's The Movement is an a cappella musical that transports audiences back to the pivotal year of 1963, as it chronicles the inspiring journey of the Children's Movement. Through stirring vocal performances and evocative storytelling, the play captures the essence of transformative era in American history. The production runs through March 2 at Jubilee Theatre.

Easton Corbin in concert
Country singer Easton Corbin was among the fastest rising artists in the genre in the early 2010s, releasing three albums in five years, including 2015's About to Get Real, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts. After a long dormant period, he finally released his first new album in eight years, Let's Do Country Right, in 2023. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, February 1

Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth presents "Journey Through Textural Colors"
The Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth will present a romantic tone for February with a little Ludwig van Beethoven. CMSFW begins the month of love with a sweet musical note from Beethoven as part of its Franco-Belgian Connection concert. The event will feature a pre-concert conversation with Gary Levinson, providing context to the composers' music. The concert takes place at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Wade Bowen in concert
Texas country/Red Dirt singer Wade Bowen has slowly but surely been making his way up in the industry, scoring three top 10 albums in recent years. He's recently collaborated with Randy Rogers on three separate albums, including 2020's Hold My Beer, Vol. 2. His most recent solo album was Somewhere Between the Secret and the Truthin 2022. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Sunday, February 2

$Casa Ma\u00f1ana presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory$

Photo by Nicki Behm

Casa Mañana presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, January 31-February 16.

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents "Diaries of Home" closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view "Diaries of Home" at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The exhibition presents images by 11 women and nonbinary artists that explore the multilayered concepts of family, community, and home. Over the last 60 years, these photographers have influenced the discourse surrounding the medium by challenging the discipline of photography itself and preconceptions about domestic, familial, and communal spaces, often referred to as feminine spheres.

comedy theater movies music concerts symphony galleries event-planner

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