Despicable Me 3 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Despicable Me 3

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017Action, Animation

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Gru faces an '80s-obsessed villain while meeting his twin brother—it's the Minions movie your kid wants, with diminishing returns for everyone else.

6.3/10

58%

53%

6.5

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Despicable Me 3

movie

PG, 2017, Action, Animation

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Gru faces an '80s-obsessed villain while meeting his twin brother—it's the Minions movie your kid wants, with diminishing returns for everyone else.

6.3

58%

6.5

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6.3/10

58%

6.5

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, if your kid is in their Minion phase, you're watching this whether I recommend it or not. The good news: it's harmless. The bad news: by movie three, even the filmmakers seem to be running on fumes.

The plot is serviceable—'80s villain with a keytar, long-lost twin brother, family learning to work together—but it all feels like a greatest hits album with no new singles. The Minions get their own subplot that's clearly designed to be spun off (spoiler: it was), and while young kids will laugh at the physical comedy, there's not much here for anyone over 10.

It's safe, it's colorful, it'll keep little ones entertained for 90 minutes. But unlike the first film which had genuine heart and originality, this is franchise maintenance. Think of it as a babysitter that speaks in banana language—effective, but you're not going to remember much about it a week later.

Age Fit

Best for ages 4-9, especially kids already invested in the franchise or obsessed with Minions. Older kids will likely find it repetitive and younger than 4 might find the action sequences too loud and chaotic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Third installment maintains franchise's family-first themes with Gru as devoted husband and father. Models cooperation between Gru and Lucy, shows redemption arcs, and emphasizes family bonds including twin brother storyline. Some cartoon slapstick violence and villain antics, but tone remains light. Pacing is frenetic at times with the Minions' chaos, which can feel overstimulating. The '80s nostalgia villain (Balthazar Bratt) adds humor but his motivation is essentially arrested development and revenge, which is less wholesome modeling than prior films.

Imaginative

By the third film, the formula feels recycled—another villain, another family crisis, more Minion antics. The '80s theme with Bratt's character (shoulder pads, keytars, dance fighting) is visually creative but mostly nostalgic pastiche rather than genuinely original. Doesn't invite much creative engagement beyond watching; it's more spectacle than spark. The twin brother subplot adds a new element but feels like a narrative necessity rather than imaginative exploration. Animation quality remains high but the world-building has plateaued.

Safe

Standard animated family fare with no serious content concerns. Cartoon violence (laser battles, explosions, slapstick) but nothing graphic or frightening. No inappropriate language, sexual content, or genuinely scary moments. The villain is campy and silly rather than menacing. Bratt's plan involves a giant robot and bubble gum, keeping threat level cartoonish. Some mild peril when characters are in danger but always resolved safely. No surprise trauma or dark turns. Appropriate for the PG rating typically assigned to this franchise.

Enriching

Minimal depth or lasting takeaways. Themes about family acceptance and finding your place are present but surface-level. The villain's backstory (washed-up child star seeking revenge) could spark conversation about fame and childhood but isn't explored meaningfully. Entertainment value is there for young kids who love Minions, but cognitive or ethical growth is limited. No real skill-building, problem-solving is mostly action-based rather than thoughtful. By third film, even the emotional beats feel formulaic. It's cotton candy—fun in the moment, gone immediately after.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your kid is deep in Minion mania, this delivers exactly what they want—yellow chaos, silly voices, and banana jokes
The '80s soundtrack and Bratt's dance-fighting villain provide nostalgia laughs for parents who remember shoulder pads
Family themes about acceptance and belonging are present, even if they're not breaking new ground
Safe, predictable entertainment for a family movie night when you need something that won't traumatize the 5-year-old
90 minutes means it won't overstay its welcome

⚠

What to Watch For

This is the third movie—if they haven't seen 1 and 2, the emotional stakes won't land (though kids may not care)
Frenetic pacing and constant Minion chaos can be overstimulating for sensitive kids or anyone with a headache
Very little substance beyond surface-level entertainment; don't expect deep conversations afterward
The villain's motivation (revenge for being a washed-up child star) might go over younger kids' heads entirely

Conversation Starters

"Bratt was famous as a kid and then everyone forgot about him. How do you think that would feel?"
"Gru just found out he has a twin brother he never knew about. What would you do if you suddenly had a secret sibling?"
"The Minions keep getting distracted and causing problems. When is it fun to be silly, and when do we need to focus?"
"What do you think makes a family a family—is it just being related, or something else?"

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