--- title: "Despicable Me 2: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/despicable-me-2/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/despicable-me-2" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 25 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Despicable Me 2 (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 25 reviews: 10 positive, 12 mixed, 3 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified approval: Despicable Me 2 is generally judged entertaining and amiable, if less inventive than its predecessor. Praise centres on the Minions, whose slapstick and gibberish supply dependable laughs even for several detractors. The animation’s visual invention and the voice performances also draw approval, while Gru’s family life and romantic prospects give some critics a welcome source of warmth. Mixed responses outnumber outright endorsements, but most critics find something to enjoy in the cartoon disorder. Reservations cluster around a crowded, unevenly paced story and the loss of Gru’s sharper comic edge. Critics disagree over the Minions’ prominence: some find them a distraction from character development, while others want more. The spread is wide. The New Yorker regards the sequel as an improvement, praising its visual gags and one-liners; IndieWire dismisses it as derivative franchise-building, objecting to its borrowings and predictability. ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The critic calls the sequel a buoyant improvement on the original. They praise its Looney Tunes-style visual gags and snappy one-liners. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/despicable-me-2) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4/5. The review gives the animated sequel a positive verdict. It highlights the Minions’ increased prominence as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-b7jrhs/despicable-me-2/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2013. Sharkey finds the sequel refreshingly willing to focus on adult family and dating concerns, though it occasionally gets too mushy. She especially praises its visually inventive animation and the chaotic sequences when the transformative substance is unleashed. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-despicable-me-2-20130703-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2013. Bradshaw calls it a likable, sweet-natured family sequel, though it does not rival Pixar’s golden age. He praises its resilient daftness and reliable silliness. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/27/despicable-me-2-review) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2013. Debruge finds the sequel endearing and nearly as charming as the original, though somewhat less inspired. He praises its playful, old-fashioned cartoon sensibility and steady comic energy, while faulting the story for feeling overcomplicated and lacking a proper ending. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-despicable-me-2-1200497163/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2013. Ebiri finds the sequel less inventive than the original but ultimately charming. He praises Steve Carell’s distinctive voice performance and the film’s playful gadgetry and slapstick. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/07/movie-review-despicable-me-2.html) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 19 March 2013. O'Hara finds the film uneven but ultimately entertaining, with Gru retaining his charm. She singles out the Minions as the source of its biggest laughs, while noting that the story sags in the middle. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/despicable-2-review/) ## Evening Standard — The Standard Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2013. The review finds the sequel’s adventures underwhelming and badly paced, but says it ultimately comes together. It praises the manic Minions, whose finale brings the film to life. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/despicable-me-2-film-review-8677902.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2013. The critic finds the sequel entertaining, though less inspired than its predecessor. They praise its zippy visuals and pitch-perfect voice cast. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-2-film-review-569433/) ## Screen Daily — Mark Adams Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2013. The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is inaccessible behind a paywall. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the available content. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/despicable-me-2/5057402.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/movies/despicable-me-2-stars-steve-carell-and-kristen-wiig.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Christy Lemire Rating 2.5/4. 2 July 2013. Lemire finds the sequel entertaining but overstuffed. She singles out the Minions as its most amusing element. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/despicable-me-2-2013) ## Time Out — Guy Lodge Rating 3/5. 24 June 2013. The three-star rating suggests a mixed-to-positive verdict. The standfirst singles out Hollywood animation’s growing reliance on repetition and sequels. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/despicable-me-2) ## Total Film — Joshua Winning Rating 3/5. 25 June 2013. Winning finds the sequel a pale imitation of its predecessor, with a scattershot plot and Gru’s softened humor weakening it. He praises the minions as reliable sources of laughs who help buoy the flat scenes. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/despicable-me-2-1-review/) ## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd Rating C. 2 July 2013. Dowd finds the sequel too nice and lacking the original’s edge. He singles out the minions’ brief transformation into monsters as its one inspired idea. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/despicable-me-2-1798177259) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Rating 1.5/4. 28 June 2013. Cabin finds the film unsatisfying, criticizing its scattered subplots and pandering attempt to please everyone. He praises the anarchic minion antics and occasional flashes of imaginative comic bedlam. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/despicable-me-2/) ## IndieWire — Charles Solomon Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2013. Solomon finds the sequel a cynical, derivative exercise in franchise-building rather than an inventive film. He especially objects to its borrowing from earlier films and its predictable story, while criticizing scenes he says risk offending viewers. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-despicable-me-2-122809/) ## Eye for Film — Max Crawford Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2013. Crawford finds the film a lively, highly entertaining success for children and adults. He particularly praises its animation, convincing physical world and well-targeted slapstick humor. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/despicable-me-2-2013-film-review-by-stuart-crawford) ## Paste — Michael Burgin Rating 7.6. 10 July 2013. Burgin finds the sequel more fun than its predecessor and says it builds effectively on Gru’s established character. He praises its warm message that everyone deserves to be loved. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/despicable-me-2) ## HeyUGuys — Emily Breen Rating 4/5. 17 June 2013. Breen finds it delightful, heartfelt family entertainment, with Gru’s romantic growth providing an especially moving thread. She praises the animation, comic performances, and Minions, though she objects to a couple of lazy fart gags and the closing use of “YMCA.” [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/despicable-me-2-review/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2013. Brew finds it a fun, solid sequel with enough energy and humor, though its story feels familiar. He praises the Minions’ comedy and the fast-paced gags, while noting they paper over narrative weaknesses. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/despicable-me-2-review/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2013. The critic finds the sequel entertaining but less fresh and emotionally substantial than its predecessor. He praises its visual set pieces and cast, while noting that the Minions risk wearing out their welcome and Gru’s character development feels weaker. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a491818/despicable-me-2-review-steve-carells-gru-overshadowed-by-minions/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The URL identifies this as a review of Despicable Me 2, but the page content is blocked. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-despicable-me-2-starring-steve-carell-kristen-wiig-20130702/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating C+. 2 July 2013. Goldberg finds the sequel unfocused, with Gru and his daughters sidelined to make room for the minions. He praises the minions’ comic appeal and expressive gibberish, while criticizing the reduced character development and world-building. [Read the review](https://collider.com/despicable-me-2-review/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2013. The critic finds the sequel blander and less funny than the original. The minions remain scene-stealing, but the review complains that they do not get enough screen time. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-me-2-review-less-despicable-less-funny-100971/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/despicable-me-2.md