Despicable Me 4 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Despicable Me 4

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2024

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Gru's back for round four with a baby who hates him and another villain—because apparently three movies weren't enough.

6.2/10

55%

7.0

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Despicable Me 4

movie

PG, 2024

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Gru's back for round four with a baby who hates him and another villain—because apparently three movies weren't enough.

6.2

55%

7.0

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6.2/10

55%

7.0

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, nobody asked for a fourth Despicable Me movie, but here we are. It's the cinematic equivalent of ordering the same thing at a restaurant because you know it won't disappoint—but you're also not excited about it.

The good news: it's completely safe, reasonably wholesome, and will keep your kids entertained for an hour and a half. The Minions still do their gibberish thing, there's colorful animation, and the family-on-the-run plot will hold attention.

The less-good news: this is franchise maintenance, not inspiration. The creativity well is dry. Your kids will watch it, enjoy it in the moment, and forget about it by dinner. It's not teaching them anything meaningful or sparking their imagination—it's just... fine.

Perfect for a rainy afternoon when you need peace, or a long car ride. Just don't expect it to become anyone's favorite movie or offer much beyond basic entertainment value.

Age Fit

Best for ages 4-10, the core Despicable Me demographic. Younger kids enjoy the visual slapstick; older elementary kids are probably aging out unless they're die-hard fans.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Fourth installment focuses on family dynamics with the addition of Gru Jr., modeling themes of fatherhood and family adaptation. The series generally promotes kindness and cooperation through Gru's reformed-villain arc, though the humor can skew toward slapstick chaos. The premise of a baby 'tormenting' his dad suggests some physical comedy that may be more chaotic than calming, but the franchise has established wholesome family values at its core.

Imaginative

By the fourth film, the Despicable Me franchise is running on fumes creatively. While the Minions and gadgets offer visual whimsy, the 'new nemesis forces family on the run' plot is formulaic and retreads familiar ground. The addition of Gru Jr. is a predictable sequel move rather than genuinely imaginative storytelling. The science fiction and adventure elements are present but feel more like franchise maintenance than creative exploration.

Safe

Despicable Me films are reliably safe family fare with no surprise inappropriate content. Expect cartoon villain antics, slapstick violence with no real consequences, and zero mature themes. The TMDB rating of 7.014 suggests general audience approval. The 'villain' characters are comedic rather than genuinely threatening. No concerns about unexpected scary content, though very young or sensitive kids might find villain confrontations mildly tense.

Enriching

Fourth entries in animated franchises rarely offer meaningful enrichment, and this appears no exception. While themes of family adaptation and new sibling dynamics could spark conversations, the execution is likely surface-level. The film prioritizes entertaining kids with Minion antics over delivering substantive messages. It's cotton candy cinema—fun in the moment but offering little lasting nutritional value. Kids will be entertained for 94 minutes, but won't walk away with new perspectives or skills.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Reliably safe entertainment that won't surprise you with inappropriate content—you know exactly what you're getting
Minions provide physical comedy that keeps younger kids giggling without dialogue dependency
New baby storyline offers relatable sibling/family adjustment themes, even if handled superficially
Bright, colorful animation holds attention spans for the full 94 minutes

⚠

What to Watch For

This is peak sequel fatigue—if your kids didn't love the first three, this won't convert them
Cartoon villain antics and slapstick violence throughout (though nothing genuinely scary)
Very young kids (under 4) might find villain confrontations slightly intense
The humor is chaotic and loud rather than calm—not a wind-down-before-bed choice

Conversation Starters

"Gru Jr. doesn't seem to like his dad at first—have you ever felt grumpy about a new change in our family?"
"What do you think makes someone a good parent, even when things are hard?"
"The family has to go on the run—what would you pack if we had to leave home quickly?"
"Gru used to be a villain but now he's a dad—do you think people can really change?"

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