Minions: The Rise of Gru packs in enough plot for three Minions movies

polygon.com:

Minions: The Rise of Gru benefits from low expectations. Arriving in movie theaters just two weeks after Pixar’s high-profile, frustrating new science fiction epic Lightyear, the latest extension of Illumination Entertainment’s most popular franchise doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, memorable, or even particularly hilarious to make a splash. In a dry summer that’s light on big blockbusters, The Rise of Gru — the fifth feature highlighting gibberish-spouting, indestructible, blobby henchmen the color of bananas (which happen to be their favorite fruit) just has to do its business, get out, and not dawdle in the mind for very long. In that respect, The Rise of Gru does the job. This is neither a uniquely marvelous film nor a teeth-gnashing pain. It’s OK in the moment, and it evaporates as soon as the end credits roll.

The Rise of Gru is odd for two reasons. First, though this is ostensibly a movie about the Minions, from odd-couple leaders Stuart and Kevin to childlike Bob and others, they’re closer to supporting players in what amounts to Despicable Me 0.5, as their supervillain overlord Gru (voiced, as always, by Steve Carell) takes center stage. Even more strangely, The Rise of Gru is bubbling over with plot details, even as it sets its focus primarily on the preteen version of Gru living in the mid-1970s. This young Gru is awash in Minions, who have yearned throughout history to serve a big, evil boss. (For now, Gru is their “mini boss,” a phrase that gives him plenty of grief.)

While the Minions desperately want to prove their worth to the selfish Gru, Gru wants to prove his worth to the fabled Vicious 6, a group of baddies led by his favorite villain, the old hippie Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin). Wild Knuckles,