--- title: "Minions: The Rise of Gru: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/minions-the-rise-of-gru/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/minions-the-rise-of-gru" critics_score: 57 critics_reviews: 19 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." --- # Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 57 from 19 reviews: 8 positive, 6 mixed, 5 negative. The consensus is mixed, with a slight lean towards finding Minions: The Rise of Gru entertaining despite its familiarity. Praise centres on the Minions’ physical comedy, inventive sight gags and lively character animation, with Pierre Coffin’s voice work also drawing appreciation. The 1970s setting supplies another source of pleasure through its music, visual details and action references. Even several less enthusiastic reviews find the kung-fu sequences and incidental jokes more rewarding than the main story. Reservations cluster around thin plotting, fragmented subplots and an overstuffed climax, though critics differ sharply on how much these matter. For the more receptive, the silliness compensates for the lack of surprises; for others, familiar jokes and prolonged action become tiresome. The Guardian finds the barrage exhausting but extremely funny, while the Los Angeles Times regards the chaos as largely nonsensical, with only limited relief from the period references and music. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 4/5. 13 July 2022. O'Sullivan finds the film frequently glorious and a strong improvement over the second and third installments. She praises its visceral animation and especially Alan Arkin's vocal performance, while faulting Julie Andrews's accent and a familiar wide-eyed gag. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/minions-the-rise-of-gru-review-steve-carell-julie-andrews-b1009353.html) ## The AV Club — Todd Gilchrist Rating B. 27 June 2022. The critic finds the film considerably more enjoyable than expected, though it makes little impact on the Minions’ larger story. The Minions’ physical comedy and Pierre Coffin’s voice work are singled out as its chief strengths. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/minions-rise-gru-review-steve-carell-rza-taraji-henson-1849108874) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2022. Ide finds the film exhausting but extremely funny, praising its irrepressible goofball energy. She singles out the barrage of sight gags, puns and cartoon violence as a source of laughs. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jul/02/minions-the-rise-of-gru-review-another-serving-of-funny-goofball-nonsense-steve-carell) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2022. Richards finds it a reliably entertaining, undemanding instalment that delivers what fans expect. He praises the silly incidental jokes and the playful use of the 1970s setting. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/minions-the-rise-of-gru/) ## Screen Daily — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2022. Festival review. The review presents the film as an appropriately silly origin story. It singles out Gru’s slapstick Minion companions as part of the appeal. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/minions-the-rise-of-gru-annecy-review/5171663.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2022. Scheck finds the film familiar but entertaining, with plenty of clever gags. He praises its ’70s-inspired humor and soundtrack, though the extended final-act fights and chases grow wearisome. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/minions-the-rise-of-gru-1235173629/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2022. Festival review. Debruge finds the sequel a delightfully silly, feel-good comedy, though its plot takes shortcuts and the climax feels overstuffed. He praises the inventive slapstick and character animation, especially the cleverly staged kung fu training gags. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/minions-the-rise-of-gru-review-1235293045/) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Rating 3/5. The reviewer gives the film a three-star verdict, suggesting a mixed response. The available review text describes the 1970s setting and the Minions’ kung-fu training but does not reveal what the critic singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-8myk4a/minions-2-the-rise-of-gru) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 3/5. 30 June 2022. The critic finds the film silly and fun, but fleeting. They single out its shortage of plot as a drawback. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/minions-the-rise-of-gru-2022) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating C. 30 June 2022. Erbland finds the sequel messy and overstuffed, but likely to delight its young target audience. She praises the Minions’ goofy charm while faulting the film’s weak, fragmented subplots and lack of freshness. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/minions-2-review-1234737352/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/2/1. 29 June 2022. Jenkins finds the film a chronic bore, arguing that Gru’s story leaves the Minions with too little to do. He singles out the Kung Fu sequence as one of the few moments that raises a smirk. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/minions-the-rise-of-gru) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2022. Ebiri finds the film passable but not inventive enough to make its deliberately silly comedy work. He praises its visual style and frantic animation, while criticizing the jokes as middling and overfamiliar. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-minions-the-rise-of-gru-needs-to-be-dumber.html) ## The i Paper — Geoffrey Macnab Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 July 2022. Macnab finds the film occasionally funny but ultimately disjointed and overlong. He praises Pierre Coffin’s Minion voice work and visual ingenuity, while faulting the incoherent story. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/minions-the-rise-of-gru-review-film-steve-carell-michelle-yeoh-1717777?ico=in-line_link) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2022. Walsh finds the film bewilderingly bad, a chaotic and nonsensical entry in the franchise. She gives limited credit to its 1970s references and needle drops, but says they cannot redeem the experience. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-06-29/minions-rise-of-gru-prequel-1970s) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds it a huge amount of fun, while noting that its plot is thin. They praise the well-judged comic set pieces and colourful characters, especially the Minions and the Vicious Six. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/minions-the-rise-of-gru-review/) ## Paste — Aurora Amidon Rating 6.9/10. 1 July 2022. Amidon finds the film hectic and overstuffed, but ultimately sweet and surprisingly enjoyable. She praises its vivid, detailed visuals and the Minions’ physical comedy and loyalty. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/minions/minions-the-rise-of-gru-review) ## Deadline — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2022. McCarthy finds the film reasonably amusing but says it overstays its welcome and feels driven by franchise economics rather than inspiration. He praises its sharp, imaginative visuals and its cheeky counterculture humor. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2022/06/minions-the-rise-of-gru-movie-review-1235054493/) ## /Film — Rafael Motamayor Rating 6/10. 14 June 2022. Festival review. The critic finds the familiar Minions formula entertaining, though it offers few surprises. The film’s strongest feature is its playful blend of Blaxploitation and Bruce Lee-inspired action, especially the kung-fu sequences and larger-than-life characters. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/894379/minions-the-rise-of-gru-review-just-what-youd-expect-from-a-blaxploitation-movie-starring-minions-annecy/) ## The Wrap — Carlos Aguilar Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2022. The critic finds the film tedious, formulaic and creatively hollow. They single out its 1970s production design and some setting-based humor as bright spots. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/minions-the-rise-of-gru-film-review-illumination-animated-steve-carell/) --- © 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/minions-the-rise-of-gru.md