Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Movie · 2013 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 38m · PG · English
Curator score: 3.5/10 (1.3M ratings)
Tagline: More minions. More despicable.
Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 3.5/10
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Letterboxd: 3.30/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
- Metacritic: 62
- TMDB: 6.9/10
Director: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin
Production: Illumination, Universal Pictures
Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Moisés Arias, Nasim Pedrad, Kristen Schaal, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Nickolai Stoilov, Vanessa Bayer, Ava Acres, Lori Alan, Jack Angel, Eva Bella
Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Curator Review
Verdict: A breezy, kid-friendly sequel that leans harder into slapstick and Minions chaos than the first film, with enough charm and pop-culture energy to keep families entertained. It’s not especially sharp or memorable, but the voice cast, upbeat pacing, and playful villain setup make it an easy watch if you’re already in the mood for animated comfort food.
Best for: families with younger kids; viewers who like broad animated comedy; fans of light spy-parody plots; people who enjoy the Minions’ brand of chaos
Skip if: you want a sequel that deepens the characters; you dislike hyperactive kid comedy; you’re tired of Minions-centric humor; you prefer wit over noise
Overview: Despicable Me 2 is the rare sequel that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel so much as decorate it with more gags, more gadgets, and more Minions. The result is uneven, but it stays upbeat and easygoing, with a strong enough comic rhythm to carry its thin story through to the finish.
Worth noting: The movie works best when it plays as a goofy spy caper with a domestic twist, pairing Gru’s awkward family life with a fairly simple anti-villain mission. There are stretches where the humor is more frantic than funny, but the animation is polished and the voice performances keep the whole thing buoyant.
Bottom line: It’s not the most essential animated sequel of its era, yet it has a certain shameless charm that explains why so many viewers defend it. If you want something harmless, colorful, and fast-moving for kids or a low-stakes rewatch, it does the job.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- James (Schaffrillas): Where is Vector? Is he safe? Is he alright?
- Danny: I like it, fuck you.
- ximenaribs: Let me get this straight, you think despicable me 2 is good and find minions funny?
I do, and I’m tired of pretending I don’t
- sarah: y’all are just afraid to admit that this is the peak of cinema
- Remobo: It's 2021...where is my giant, tortilla chip sombrero with guacamole filling?
Recommended similar titles:
- Despicable Me 3 (2017 · Action, Animation, Comedy · 1h 30m · PG · Curator 1.3/10 (185.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads)
A direct continuation of the same family-first, villain-flavored comedy, with similar energy and a bigger emphasis on absurd set pieces.
- The Croods (2013 · Animation, Adventure, Family · 1h 39m · PG · Curator 2.9/10 (776.7K ratings))
A colorful, family-oriented animated adventure that mixes chaos, sentiment, and broad comedy in a similarly accessible way.
- Monsters vs Aliens (2009 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 34m · PG · Curator 6.1/10 (5K ratings))
Another playful studio animation built around oversized personalities, action-comedy pacing, and kid-friendly monster mayhem.
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 30m · PG · Curator 4.5/10 (1M ratings) · Where to watch: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential)
Shares the same zippy, gag-driven animation style and a cheerful commitment to visual silliness.
- Rio (2011 · Animation, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 36m · G · Curator 4.5/10 (879.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu)
Bright, energetic, and family-friendly, with musical bounce and a polished mainstream animation feel.
- The Secret Life of Pets (2016 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 26m · PG · Curator 1.8/10 (692.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads)
A broad, crowd-pleasing animated comedy that thrives on character antics and fast, joke-heavy momentum.
- Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 31m · PG · Curator 6.2/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu, Max)
A sequel that balances action, humor, and heart more successfully while still staying accessible to younger audiences.
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 33m · PG · Curator 7.9/10 (6.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads)
Loud, colorful, and built around relentless comic momentum, with a similar willingness to go big and silly.
- Trolls (2016 · Family, Animation, Fantasy · 1h 32m · PG · Curator 1.5/10 (381K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads)
A candy-colored, high-energy family movie that prioritizes upbeat spectacle and easy laughs.
- Minions (2015 · Family, Animation, Adventure · 1h 31m · PG · Curator 1.9/10 (936.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus)
For viewers specifically drawn to the franchise’s chaotic side characters and nonstop visual gags.
- The Incredibles (2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A sharper superhero-family hybrid that offers the same broad appeal but with much stronger writing and style.
- Shrek 2 (2004 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 32m · PG · Curator 8.4/10 (2.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus)
A benchmark for animated sequel comedy, mixing fairy-tale parody, family dynamics, and crowd-pleasing humor.
Topics: animated comedy, family film, spy spoof, villain redemption, slapstick, feel-good, fast-paced, 2010s animation, heist-adjacent, broad humor
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/despicable-me-2/93456
Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Movie · 2013 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 38m · PG · English
Curator score: 3.5/10 (1.3M ratings)
More minions. More despicable.
Overview Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.5/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Letterboxd: 3.30/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Metacritic: 62
TMDB: 6.9/10
Director Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin
Production Illumination, Universal Pictures
Cast Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Moisés Arias, Nasim Pedrad, Kristen Schaal, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Nickolai Stoilov, Vanessa Bayer, Ava Acres, Lori Alan, Jack Angel, Eva Bella
Where to watch Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, kid-friendly sequel that leans harder into slapstick and Minions chaos than the first film, with enough charm and pop-culture energy to keep families entertained. It’s not especially sharp or memorable, but the voice cast, upbeat pacing, and playful villain setup make it an easy watch if you’re already in the mood for animated comfort food.
Best for
families with younger kids
viewers who like broad animated comedy
fans of light spy-parody plots
people who enjoy the Minions’ brand of chaos
Skip if
you want a sequel that deepens the characters
you dislike hyperactive kid comedy
you’re tired of Minions-centric humor
you prefer wit over noise
Overview
Despicable Me 2 is the rare sequel that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel so much as decorate it with more gags, more gadgets, and more Minions. The result is uneven, but it stays upbeat and easygoing, with a strong enough comic rhythm to carry its thin story through to the finish.
Worth noting
The movie works best when it plays as a goofy spy caper with a domestic twist, pairing Gru’s awkward family life with a fairly simple anti-villain mission. There are stretches where the humor is more frantic than funny, but the animation is polished and the voice performances keep the whole thing buoyant.
Bottom line
It’s not the most essential animated sequel of its era, yet it has a certain shameless charm that explains why so many viewers defend it. If you want something harmless, colorful, and fast-moving for kids or a low-stakes rewatch, it does the job.
Top Letterboxd reviews
James (Schaffrillas) (2.5★) · 4809 likes
Where is Vector? Is he safe? Is he alright?
Danny (4★) · 2943 likes
I like it, fuck you.
ximenaribs (4★) · 2866 likes
Let me get this straight, you think despicable me 2 is good and find minions funny?
I do, and I’m tired of pretending I don’t
sarah (4★) · 1920 likes
y’all are just afraid to admit that this is the peak of cinema
Remobo (3★) · 1760 likes
It's 2021...where is my giant, tortilla chip sombrero with guacamole filling?
Recommended similar titles
2017 · Action, Animation, Comedy · 1h 30m · PG · Curator 1.3/10 (185.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads
A direct continuation of the same family-first, villain-flavored comedy, with similar energy and a bigger emphasis on absurd set pieces.
2013 · Animation, Adventure, Family · 1h 39m · PG · Curator 2.9/10 (776.7K ratings)
A colorful, family-oriented animated adventure that mixes chaos, sentiment, and broad comedy in a similarly accessible way.
2009 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 34m · PG · Curator 6.1/10 (5K ratings)
Another playful studio animation built around oversized personalities, action-comedy pacing, and kid-friendly monster mayhem.
2009 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 30m · PG · Curator 4.5/10 (1M ratings) · Where to watch: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
Shares the same zippy, gag-driven animation style and a cheerful commitment to visual silliness.
2011 · Animation, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 36m · G · Curator 4.5/10 (879.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu
Bright, energetic, and family-friendly, with musical bounce and a polished mainstream animation feel.
2016 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 26m · PG · Curator 1.8/10 (692.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A broad, crowd-pleasing animated comedy that thrives on character antics and fast, joke-heavy momentum.
2011 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 31m · PG · Curator 6.2/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu, Max
A sequel that balances action, humor, and heart more successfully while still staying accessible to younger audiences.
2012 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 33m · PG · Curator 7.9/10 (6.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Loud, colorful, and built around relentless comic momentum, with a similar willingness to go big and silly.
2016 · Family, Animation, Fantasy · 1h 32m · PG · Curator 1.5/10 (381K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A candy-colored, high-energy family movie that prioritizes upbeat spectacle and easy laughs.
2015 · Family, Animation, Adventure · 1h 31m · PG · Curator 1.9/10 (936.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
For viewers specifically drawn to the franchise’s chaotic side characters and nonstop visual gags.
2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A sharper superhero-family hybrid that offers the same broad appeal but with much stronger writing and style.
2004 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 32m · PG · Curator 8.4/10 (2.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
A benchmark for animated sequel comedy, mixing fairy-tale parody, family dynamics, and crowd-pleasing humor.
Topics
animated comedy, family film, spy spoof, villain redemption, slapstick, feel-good, fast-paced, 2010s animation, heist-adjacent, broad humor
Open Despicable Me 2 (2013) on Curator TV