The mischievous yellow Minions, armed with their Minionese dialect, have returned to the big screen, and this time, Maxime Le Mal, voiced by the comedic genius Will Ferrell, emerges as the new archenemy poised to wreak havoc in "Despicable Me 4," masterfully directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage. Maxime, a French supervillain, escapes from the clutches of prison, forcing Gru (Steve Carell), his beloved family consisting of Lucy, Margo, Edith, Agnes, and the latest addition, Gru Jr., to embark on a thrilling chase for survival.
Ferrell, whose comedic prowess knows no bounds, revealed at the film's New York premiere in June that he jumped at the opportunity to play the role of Maxime. "[Chris and I] have longed to collaborate, and when I was offered the chance to voice this French antagonist, all I needed to hear were those two words—'French' and 'bad guy,'" he told Variety with a mischievous grin. "I'm being typecast now," he joked, referring to his portrayal of the Mattel CEO villain in last year's "Barbie." "But it's always a blast to be the mean one, in a goofy way. I believe there's a part of you that rarely gets to shine... it's just pure joy to experiment with the voice and offer a little homage to the legendary Pink Panther," he continued, a sparkle in his eye.
Audiences were last treated to a glimpse of a youthful Gru in the 2022 prequel "Minions: The Rise of Gru." Carell shared that he managed to reclaim Gru's original voice for the film, crediting his children for their invaluable advice. "When I first created the voice, it was my kids who said, 'That's the one, Dad!' after I tried out a few variations," he reminisced. "Before every new recording session, I'd run it by them and ask, 'Is that the Gru we know? Does it sound authentic?' And they'd nod eagerly, 'That's the one!' And so, I'd go with it."
The "Despicable Me" franchise, spanning six films, has amassed a staggering $4 billion at the global box office since its inception 14 years ago. "Despicable Me 3," released in 2017, made history by crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide, surpassing the "Shrek" series as the highest-grossing animated film franchise. "Minions: The Rise of Gru" too, proved to be a roaring success, boasting the highest domestic opening for an animated film since "Frozen 2" in 2019, signaling a "monumental rebound for family-friendly entertainment after the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic," as Variety aptly noted.
When inquired about his assurance in the box office triumph of "Despicable Me 4," Carell responded with a cautious yet optimistic tone, "One can never predict such things, and I prefer to stay unbiased. Remember, the original 'Despicable Me' was a surprise hit, no one anticipated its runaway success or the subsequent franchise it birthed. Therefore, whenever such endeavors pan out well, it's always a pleasant surprise for me." He said this before bidding farewell to the morning premiere to embark on his Broadway performance in "Uncle Vanya."
Joey King joins the cast as a refreshing addition, lending her voice to the eager villainess Poppy Prescott, who idolizes Gru. With her voice acting credits in "Horton Hears a Who!" and "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," King humorously quipped, "I would've been thrilled to play even a rock in this movie." She went on to confess, "Since I was a child, I've been a die-hard fan of this franchise. To be a part of it now as a cast member is nothing less than surreal for me."
Miranda Cosgrove has grown alongside this franchise. Having first portrayed the teenage character of Margo at just 13, she's now 31, yet Margo remains a youthful presence. "I try to keep my voice slightly higher and youthful for the role, but it's not a Herculean task. My job is relatively straightforward and immensely enjoyable," she confessed. Cosgrove also expressed her hopes for an "iCarly" movie following the revival of the TV series that was unfortunately canceled last year. "I'm confident it's going to happen. I'm thrilled about it and eager to conclude the story on the big screen." "Despicable Me 4" is now playing in theaters, promising audiences a hilarious and heartwarming adventure.
