I’m pretty well known around Daps Magic as the resident horror fan. I’m always up for covering the latest horror film. What you may not realize is that I also love gateway horror. I’m all about exposing kids to the creepier side of cinema, especially when it can be done in an age-appropriate way. Therefore, when I saw the trailer for Minions & Monsters, I knew it was going to be something I needed to see. What I didn’t expect was a love letter to Hollywood and the film classics we all know and love.

Minions & Monsters is “the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.”

Aside from the gateway horror of it all, one of the many things I loved about this film was its obvious love of classic film. After all, the new to the franchise Minions, James, Henry, and Ed, are making their own movie! When asked how the idea for this latest entry in the Minions franchise came about, director Pierre Coffin said, “Chris [Meledandri, Founder and CEO of Illumination] called me with the idea of a Minions movie about the Minions trying to make a monster movie. I loved it right away because it felt very funny and very true to them. The Minions are always trying to serve someone else’s dream, but this gave us a way to let them discover one of their own. We immediately thought that setting it in the 1920s made sense because cinema was still being invented. It was a world of instinct and physical comedy, which felt like the perfect place for the Minions to end up.”

The 1920s setting allows the Minions to take inspiration from the silent film era. This is another part of film history that I’ve been exploring (and loving) this past year. Eagle-eyed viewers may notice references to Georges Méliès’ Voyage to the Moon, The Great Train Robbery, Metropolis, and more! Throughout the film, other notable films like The Mummy, Jaws, E.T., and Godzilla are referenced or parodied. Not only is this fun for adults to engage with via an Easter Egg hunt of sorts, but it’s also an opportunity to get younger viewers interested in the films of the past. Gone are the days of just landing on an old movie while flipping through the channels on cable. Hopefully, this encourages adults (parents or not), to dive deeper into cinema to seek out older releases.

Another theme of this film that I actually discussed with a friend was that of creativity. James’ journey not only sees him attempting to make a movie but also finding friendship along the way. Creativity is not always a solo endeavor, and Minions & Monsters reminds us that sometimes we need those people in our lives to not only help but also believe in us and our dreams. I would love to see this film inspire its younger audience to want to get into filmmaking. Not from behind a computer, but rather from behind a camera.

Speaking of James and the new Minions. I loved the inclusion of Ed. Ed was the first hearing-impaired Minion. He uses the Minionese version of sign language. I think this type of inclusion is important, and what I liked is that it didn’t feel shoehorned in. His inclusion felt natural, and he was important to the narrative, not just a random side character. I think having a new set of Minions for fans to fall in love with was a really good choice because, as much as I love the original crew, James, Henry, and Ed are now my favorites.

Something price-conscious filmgoers might be curious about is whether or not the upgrade to 3D is worth it. My husband and I opted to see it in 3D so I could give you my thoughts on this. It was a mixed bag between us. My husband said that the 3D wasn’t intrusive or annoying, but he didn’t think it was worthwhile. On the other hand, I had a good time with it and noticed it working well in certain scenes, especially the ones where scale matters. So, I’d say it’s more a matter of personal preference for this film.

It may sound cliché to say, but Minions & Monsters is absolutely a love letter to Hollywood and filmmaking itself. There is something for everyone here, whether you’re an adult, child, or somewhere in between. I can easily say that it’s one of my favorite films this year and my favorite of the Despicable Me/Minions franchise. If you’re a movie lover, this one is for you! Minions & Monsters is in theaters now!

My Rating: 5/5