Minions: The Rise of Gru is exactly what it says on the tin—a breezy, silly, visually energetic animated comedy that delivers laughs for the under-10 crowd and doesn't require much brainpower from exhausted parents.

The 'aspiring villain' angle is played entirely for laughs rather than genuine moral complexity, and by the end, Gru learns that his found family matters more than supervillain street cred. It's safe, it's colorful, and it won't traumatize anyone.

That said, this is the fifth film in the franchise, and the formula is wearing thin. The enrichment value is minimal—kids aren't learning much beyond 'friendship is important' wrapped in a lot of banana jokes. It's cotton candy cinema: fun in the moment, gone from memory by bedtime.

If you need 87 minutes of peace and your kid loves Minions, this will do the job. If you're hoping for something with more substance or originality, keep scrolling.