Despicable Me 4 brings Illumination’s wildly successful franchise back with more Minion chaos, family-centered humor, and a surprisingly classic “villain vs. villain” setup. While it doesn’t radically reinvent the series, it leans hard into what fans love: fast jokes, colorful action, and Gru being both a dangerous ex-villain and a tired dad at the same time.
Detailed Summary
Gru’s New Life and a New Baby
The film opens with Gru fully committed to family life, now living under the protection of the Anti-Villain League. The biggest change? Gru Jr., his newborn son, who absolutely does not like his father. This running gag becomes one of the film’s emotional backbones.
Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, Agnes, and the Minions are relocated to a quiet suburban town under new identities. Gru struggles with being both a protector and a present father, while Gru Jr. seems far more impressed by danger than parenting.
The Return of Maxime Le Mal
The main antagonist, Maxime Le Mal, is introduced as a flamboyant, obsessive villain with a deep personal grudge against Gru. Their rivalry goes back to villain school, where Maxime always lived in Gru’s shadow.
Maxime escapes from prison with the help of his equally dangerous partner Valentina, setting his sights on revenge. His plan isn’t just to defeat Gru, but to humiliate him completely and take away the life he built.
The Mega Minions Experiment
The Anti-Villain League launches a risky experiment, transforming several Minions into Mega Minions with superpowers. While this adds a superhero parody angle, the powers are unstable and short-lived.
The Mega Minions create some of the film’s biggest action scenes but also reinforce a theme the movie repeats often: raw power without control always backfires.
Gru on the Run
Maxime tracks Gru to his suburban hideout, forcing the family to flee. This section of the movie leans into suspense and slapstick, as Gru realizes he can’t outrun his past forever.
Gru Jr. begins bonding with his father here, reacting positively whenever danger appears. Ironically, Gru being forced back into villain-mode helps him connect with his son.
Final Confrontation
The climax takes place during Maxime’s over-the-top revenge plan, which involves exposing Gru publicly and destroying the AVL’s credibility.
Gru confronts Maxime not as a villain, but as a father who refuses to let his past define his future.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Gru directly faces Maxime Le Mal, who attempts to weaponize Gru’s criminal history and endanger his family. Maxime’s plan unravels due to a combination of Minion chaos, Lucy’s tactical skills, and Gru finally embracing both sides of himself.
The Mega Minions temporarily regain their powers and help neutralize Maxime’s tech, but it’s Gru’s strategic mind—not brute force—that wins the day. Maxime is defeated and sent back to prison, this time under far stricter containment, while Valentina is arrested separately.
The emotional resolution centers on Gru Jr. finally bonding with Gru, recognizing him as both protector and role model. The family returns home, no longer hiding, and Gru accepts that his past will always exist—but it no longer controls him.
The film ends with the family together, the Minions back to their usual mischief, and Gru fully at peace with being both despicable and devoted.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes. There is one mid-credits scene featuring the Minions in a comedic musical-style gag related to the events of the film. There is no post-post-credits scene teasing a sequel or spinoff.
Type of Movie
Despicable Me 4 is an animated family comedy adventure with strong elements of action and parody. It balances slapstick humor for kids with self-aware jokes aimed at adults.
Cast
- Steve Carell – Gru
- Kristen Wiig – Lucy Wilde
- Will Ferrell – Maxime Le Mal
- Sofia Vergara – Valentina
- Miranda Cosgrove – Margo
- Dana Gaier – Edith
- Madison Polan – Agnes
- Pierre Coffin – The Minions
- Steve Coogan – Silas Ramsbottom
Film Music and Composer
The score is composed by Heitor Pereira, continuing his long-standing role in the franchise.
The soundtrack blends orchestral adventure themes with playful, high-energy cues, staying true to the series’ tone without overshadowing the comedy.
Filming Locations
As an animated film, Despicable Me 4 was produced primarily at Illumination Studios in Paris.
The suburban setting is intentionally generic, emphasizing Gru’s attempt at a “normal” life, which sharply contrasts with the exaggerated villain lairs and action-heavy finale.
Awards and Nominations
As of now, the film has received family and animation-focused nominations, particularly for voice performances and animation design, though it is more positioned as a commercial hit than an awards-season contender.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Steve Carell improvised several lines during Gru Jr. scenes.
- Will Ferrell was encouraged to exaggerate Maxime’s personality to cartoonish extremes.
- The Mega Minions were designed to parody classic superhero archetypes.
- Illumination intentionally scaled back lore to focus on family dynamics.
Inspirations and References
The movie draws inspiration from:
- Classic supervillain rivalries
- Superhero ensemble tropes
- Family comedies about identity and parenthood
Maxime Le Mal’s theatrical personality is a clear nod to vintage animated villains.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Early concepts included:
- A longer arc where Gru Jr. briefly gains a super ability
- A darker ending where Gru considers leaving the AVL permanently
These were removed to maintain a lighter tone and tighter pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The Despicable Me franchise is not based on a book. It is an original animated property developed by Illumination.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Gru Jr. laughing for the first time during a high-speed escape
- The Mega Minions’ first failed rescue attempt
- Gru confronting Maxime without gadgets or weapons
Iconic Quotes
- “You don’t hate me because I beat you. You hate me because I moved on.” – Gru
- “Villains never retire. They evolve.” – Maxime Le Mal
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Background posters reference earlier Despicable Me villains
- A subtle nod to Minions: The Rise of Gru appears in Maxime’s lab
- Gru’s old freeze-ray briefly appears in storage
Trivia
- This is the first film to center heavily on Gru as a father of four
- Maxime Le Mal is the first main villain voiced by Will Ferrell
- The Mega Minions were animated using a different motion style
Why Watch?
If you enjoy fast-paced animated comedies, family-focused storytelling, and Minion-driven chaos, this movie delivers exactly that. It may not reinvent the franchise, but it reinforces why Gru remains one of animation’s most enduring characters.
Director’s Other Works
- Despicable Me (2010)
- Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- The Lorax (2012)
- Minions (2015)
