Minions (July 10th, 2015)
At long last, everyone’s favourite little helpers are getting their very own big-screen story, with this spin-off from the smash hit Despicable Me franchise. This is essentially an origin tale for Gru’s beloved support team, who must face great challenges and overcome intimidating obstacles throughout history in order to find their perfect boss. Before there was Gru, there was, apparently, Scarlet Overkill – voiced by Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock. This villainous criminal mastermind has a cunning plan that will take the dedicated Minions all the way to England, and to the presence of Queen Elizabeth II.
While the Minions have always been a fan favourite – generating their own range of short films online – there was initially concern that this project might fall foul of the age-old spin-off problem, in which we find supporting characters are unable to sustain their own stories. Preview footage quickly allayed those fears, however, promising a rich, well-thought out plot for these perennially optimistic, helpful little assistants. The film also features the voices of Pierre Coffin, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney and Steve Coogan.