--- title: "Despicable Me 3: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/despicable-me-3/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/despicable-me-3" critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 20 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 3 (2017): what the critics said Critics' score 55 from 20 reviews: 6 positive, 8 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews of Despicable Me 3 are mixed, with praise clustering around individual comic turns rather than the story. Balthazar Bratt’s retro antics, musical jokes and visual comedy earn approval even from several sceptical critics. Steve Carell’s performances as Gru and Dru also draw praise, while the more favourable notices find enough pace, warmth and silliness to carry the thinner material. There is less agreement about the Minions: some find them responsible for the biggest laughs, while others think they are sidelined. Reservations centre on overcrowded plotting, recycled ideas and family subplots that receive too little attention. The spread is wide, and the same ingredients provoke opposite reactions. HeyUGuys finds Bratt’s retro style and soundtrack a source of fresh warmth; the Los Angeles Times finds the reliance on 1980s nostalgia cheap and aggravating. The dividing line is whether the energetic jokes compensate for a formula many critics regard as worn. ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4/5. The four-star rating indicates a positive verdict. The review highlights the expanded family and the prospect of Gru returning to his wicked ways. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-626win/despicable-me-3/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jordan Mintzer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2017. Festival review. Mintzer finds the film entertainingly energetic, though largely content to repeat a proven formula rather than seek deeper meaning. He praises the lively pace and the performances of Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig, which anchor the chaos with emotional warmth. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-3-review-1013368/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2017. Festival review. Debruge finds the sequel amusing but overstuffed, while warning that its ironic tone risks weakening the series’ emotional sincerity. He praises the fast-moving humor and especially the retro dance-fights between Gru and Balthazar Bratt. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/despicable-me-3-review-1202465668/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2017. The available page identifies this as a review but does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst notes Gru’s discovery that he has a twin brother, but no specific praise or complaint is accessible. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/despicable-me-3-review/5119445.article) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 2.5/4. 28 June 2017. Watson calls it the series’ best entry yet, praising its anarchic comic voice despite lingering structural flaws. He singles out Steve Carell’s distinct, energetic performances as Gru and Dru. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/despicable-me-3/) ## Empire — Jonathan Pile Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2017. Pile finds the film messy and less successful than its predecessors, but energetic enough to keep the franchise going. He singles out Balthazar Bratt’s ’80s-themed antics and the bursts of energy from Dru and the Minions. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/despicable-3-review/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 3/5. 17 November 2017. O'Sullivan finds the threequel uneven, with many sequences conventional or charmless. She praises the core characters, especially Agnes’s memorable search for a real unicorn. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/despicable-me-3-review-the-minions-are-back-but-this-time-their-charm-has-faded-a3681641.html) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating C-. 27 June 2017. Erbland finds the sequel overstuffed, disjointed, and disappointing, with recycled material and dated jokes. She praises the creativity and humor of the climactic fight, but says it arrives too late. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/despicable-me-3-review-minions-sequel-1201847209/) ## The Guardian — Andrew Pulver Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2017. Pulver finds the film entertaining but increasingly tired, with less charm than its predecessors. He praises the inventive, funny sequences featuring villain Balthazar Bratt, while criticizing the underdeveloped twin rivalry and predictable pop-culture references. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jun/26/despicable-me-3-review-aspartame-rush-animation-steve-carell-kristen-wiig) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 2/5. 18 May 2015. Huddleston calls this third installment lacklustre and light on ideas. The review singles out its shortage of fresh ideas as a weakness. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/despicable-me-3-1) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. Scott’s headline frames the film as evidence that the franchise is running out of steam. The available page text provides no further detail about what the review singles out. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/movies/review-despicable-me-3-suggests-a-franchise-running-on-fumes.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. Chang pans the film as nearly unendurable, calling it sloppy, formulaic and irritating. He singles out its hectoring humor and cheap use of ’80s nostalgia as especially aggravating. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-despicable-me-3-review-20170629-story.html) ## HeyUGuys — Emily Breen Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). Breen finds the film an utter joy, saying its earnest spirit and brisk pacing carry it through thinner moments. She especially praises Trey Parker’s Balthazar Bratt, whose retro style and soundtrack bring fresh warmth to the franchise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/despicable-3-review/) ## Den of Geek — Caroline Preece Rating 3 out of 5. 30 June 2017. Preece finds the film silly, light entertainment that earns credit for making three solid films in a row, though the series’ original concept is wearing thin. She singles out the Minions as being on top form and responsible for many of the biggest laughs. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/despicable-me-3-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2017. Hammond finds the third installment an entertaining return for Gru and company, with the jokes landing consistently. He especially praises the Minions’ supporting role and their standout musical numbers. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2017/06/despicable-me-3-review-steve-carell-kristen-wiig-trey-parker-illumination-1202122997/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film scrappy and muddled but cheerful enough to remain enjoyable. Balthazar Bratt is singled out as a terrific idea who deserved more screen time. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/despicable-3-film-review-2095592) ## Consequence — Blake Goble Fi1m's normalised score 52/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2017. Goble finds the film a harmless, mildly entertaining return to form, though far from great. He praises its musical punchlines and comic timing, while faulting Bratt’s weak catchphrase-driven lines. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2017/06/film-review-despicable-me-3/) ## Paste — Oktay Ege Kozak Rating 5.0/10. 9 July 2017. The critic calls it a lazy, cynical but fairly inoffensive and colorful time-waster. He praises Balthazar Bratt as a fun villain and singles out the inventive Kaiju-inspired finale. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/despicable-me/despicable-me-3) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 3 out of 10. 30 June 2017. The critic finds the film boring, dumb, and overly familiar. He singles out Steve Carell’s goofy performance as the film’s one good part. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/551846/despicable-me-3-review/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. The critic finds the film overstuffed and less engaging than its predecessors. They praise Bratt and the visual comedy, but fault the sidelined Minions and subplots that go nowhere. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/despicable-me-3-review-steve-carell-trey-parker/) --- © 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-3.md