Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement. When the infamous supervillain group, the Vicious 6, ousts their leader, Gru attempts to join their ranks but soon finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to learn martial arts to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends. Packed with the franchise’s signature subversive humor, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU features more thrilling action than any Despicable Me film ever before!
For in-depth thoughts on Minions: The Rise Of Gru, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Minions: The Rise Of Gru comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a dazzling and vibrant 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision transfer. One of the most pleasing aspects of this franchise is the distinct character designs which render with perfect fluid motions throughout. As each year passes, the technology seems to evolve in new and exciting ways which makes modern animation stand out in a way that once never would have seemed possible. The level of detail the animation team puts into each background shines through here. Anyone well-versed in this particular franchise knows that the environmental details are plentiful and worth exploring with multiple viewings. Take a look at any random scene and you will be greeted with a world of unparalleled brilliance that you could pause and explore if you felt so inclined.
When it comes to the characters, all of the subtle facets that give them personality stand out in a brilliant way. The dazzling colors of this transfer are what the format was made for as they leap off the screen with the wide range of hues permeating every inch of the frame. Black levels are incredibly strong with no hint of compression artifacts or digital anomalies of the sort. The textures of the different character designs and environments are extremely impressive and give the film a real sense of depth. You should consider this to be pretty much perfect. Universal has delivered a top tier visual experience.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray utilizes a Dolby Atmos track that gives this energetic film a pretty immersive soundscape. Dialogue is crisp and clear (well, the actual minions babbling doesn’t count) without ever getting lost overwhelmed by the music or sound effects. The low end activity from the subwoofer gives many moments a surprising amount of strength for grand texture. Environmental sound effects are rendered precisely within the mix so that directionality is never an issue. This film has been gifted with a track that is not struggling for nuance. Much of the activity is focused on the front channels, but activity extends to the surrounds and rears to allow for a more immersive experience. Prepare for the implementation of the height channels that truly make you feel as if you are in the middle of the action. The film really makes an impression when it comes to the score, and this track renders it with an impeccable fidelity. Fans of the film should be very pleased with this presentation. There are optional English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Post Modern Minions: A new four-minute mini movie in which one of the minions takes the art world by storm in the ‘70s quite by chance. Of course, fame is fleeting, and the urge to recapture that magic can lead to some interesting places. A very amusing piece.
- Minions and Monsters: A new nearly five-minute mini movie in which a newcomer minion tries to hold his own alongside his more experienced comrades during a role playing game. The lesson here is to not count out the new guy.
- Extended Scene: A minute-and-a-half extended look at Gru trying to fit in with some mischief makers before a big interview.
- Outtakes: A three-minute collection of silly moments during the voice recording sessions. There are some good bits here.
- Character Profiles: A 16-minute collection of interviews focusing on characters old and new, the vocal performances that bring them to life, how they fit into this overall story, and much more.
- Gru (2:46)
- Wild Knuckles (2:35)
- Belle Bottom (2:11)
- Master Chow (2:35)
- The Vicious 6 (3:08)
- Biker (2:32)
- Gru-vy Animation: A six-and-a-half minute piece in which Steve Carell and the directors discuss the animation process, the concept art, the journey with the storyboards, how it translates to the final version and more.
- The ‘70s – Fashion, Food & Funk: A five-minute look at the groovy time period which this story takes place in including the fashion, the pop culture of the time, the music and more. There are some fun anecdotes from the cast relating to their feelings about the ‘70s.
- Minion Martial Arts: A four-minute look at how Bruce Lee and other popular entertainers brought this fighting style into the popular culture and how it impacted the creatives involved with this feature. There are fun discussions about how they translated this very specific process into the world of minions.
- How To Draw (& Animate) with Brad Ableson: Three videos totaling 11 minutes are provided here in which you are guided through how to create your own Minion, Young Gru and Kung Fu Stuart.
- Lair Flair – Make Your Own Minion Hideout: Three videos totaling 10 minutes are provided here which shows you how to create The Lair, Disco Bubbles and a JetPack.
- Super Style Shop: Two videos totaling 7 minutes are provided here which takes you through how to style yourself with Bell Bottoms and Bandana and Fringe Vest and Chunky Necklace.
Final Thoughts
Minions: The Rise Of Gru is a major improvement over the previous Minions outing as the little yellow balls of energy are complemented by an emotionally rich story that mixes hilarious scenarios with heartfelt moments. It is really satisfying to get the background details of a character which has been a part of our lives for over a decade. The new characters we pull into this world are a lot of fun, and the returning faces are just as enjoyable as ever. This may be the perfect movie for kids, but adults will be drawn into the manic, irresistible energy just as easily. Universal has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that is stunning on all accounts from the lovely A/V presentation to the engaging special features. If you are a fan of the franchise, there is no way you will be disappointed here. Recommended
Minions: The Rise Of Gru is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.