As is our habit for July birthdays, my adult daughter and I go to a movie to celebrate. This is a decades long tradition for us and often the only movie we see at a theater all year. Now that she has children, they inevitably tag along for a fun family outing. We make a day of it – noon Mass at the Cathedral, lunch at a favorite restaurant, and then a movie. Our tastes are simple and tame, so it isn’t a problem for the kids to join us – usually that is.
Although our birthdays fall on July 1 and 2, we waited for the Minion movie to come out today – July 10. Who wouldn’t enjoy the harmless fun of yucking it up with those cute little pill-shaped protagonists, right? Why I even have priest friends who sport a biretta-wearing Minion as their Facebook profile photo. They’re everywhere – spokes models for several brands from yogurt to cereal. With their penchant for bananas, unique language, and silly antics Minions are the epitome of harmless fun – or so I thought.
Yes, I do realize that the first movie, Despicable Me, found the Minions seeking a villain to follow as well but, in the end, Felonious Gru found redemption and became a good guy after all.
Spoiler alert: In the latest Minions we wait throughout the entire movie for a redemptive quality that never comes. There is a heartbreaking lack of morality in the entire film. You’d hope those little yellow capsule bodies would at least contain a conscience. But, in their quest to follow one villain after another, those lovable, little chuckle-heads never find anyone respectable to whom they want to attach themselves – not even the Queen of England.
Equally distressing for our young companions, are the risqué scenes mingled in with the dark humor. We see a Minion drop his pants to reveal a thong and a trio of hypnotized guards who strip to their boxers to gyrate, twerking-style.
I’ve forgiven or chosen to ignore the gratuitous bathroom humor, injected in many movies for kids these days – ostensibly to keep the boys and teens interested – but I draw the line at a character who says, ‘It’s just feels so good to be bad’ and then never changes her tone.
Sadly, the only thing I found enjoyable about Minions was the excellent Beatles soundtrack and the Minions’ version of a walk across Abbey Road. In my estimation the $7.50 matinee fee was money poorly spent indeed. With such appealing (and therefore influential) characters, my hope would be for good reinforcement of moral values.
More reviews:
MINIONS – Not So Family Friendly
Recently went to see the latest Minions movie with my daughter, 10 year old grandson and his buddy. I am Roman Catholic as is my entire family. My grandchildren have made their sacraments. It was “despicable” to see a nun included as one of the “Vicious 6” -using a crucifix as a weapon and making the sign of the cross before striking. My daughter and I were offended and my grandson was confused. Is it the intention of the writers to make children feel bad about themselves and their faith? They wouldn’t dare try it with currently sensitive groups but can target Catholics. I see where the movie is banned in some Middle Eastern countries because of this religious slap. America, rise up!
Before you take kids to see any movie you ought to look at something like parents guide to ensure you aren’t exposing them to mental pollution. Don’t you expect that there will most likely be something subversive in 95% of kids films?
Exactly! Which is why I shared my thoughts as well as two other reviews. It is prudent to be forewarned.
I would agree with this negative commentary about the Minion movie. I waited too for some redemptive aspect of the movie — Nothing! Not even interesting. I would have taken “cute”, but this show was just plain boring. Absolutely a waste of time . . . or worse.
Since we have invited the evil one to our table with abortions since 1973, why are we now surprised that he is influencing our culture?
It’s not that I’m surprised, it’s that I wanted to forewarn others. There is still the occasional worthy family film. This just wasn’t it.
Thank you for the warning. I hate to see movies that are a waste of money, not to mention deforming.
I’m not surprised. Most of these so-called family movies are full of potty humor with little to no morals. I got tired of it years ago, which is a pity since I enjoy animation. The last time I went to see a cartoon in the theaters was a Studio Ghibli film. The last CG cartoon I watched at theater was The Incredibles.
Thanks for the review Birgit. It’s so hard to find good movies/music/songs/role models…the list goes on and on, and we pay a fortune to these companies and the actors etc. Taking 5 boys to the movies as a single mom is a rare treat. We’ll save our money for the next one!
God Bless…
It is sad that our children are being bombarded with satanic, occult
signs and practices. They are everywhere, in almost everything!
To teach them to be in the world but not of it is a never ending battle
that we all need to take up arms in and fight to our last breadth if
necessary.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
Thank you for your review, it’s so nice to be able to find trustworthy Christian sources of opinion on these new movies. You’ve save me much time and disgust if I would have taken my kids with ever finding a Catholic review first!
What is sad is that you are probably a very small minority of people who have seen this movie who even noticed the problems. Thanks for the review!
I’m afraid you’re right. There have already been several comments among my friends in favor of the movie. Thanks for stopping by!
If the movie had “an excellent Beatles soundtrack,” that alone should have prompted you to walk out. The Beatles were/are no friends of a God-centered culture. They promoted atheism, free love and drugs. They helped greatly to shape the current paganism we live with.
I think Sinatra did the same.
Morally good movies can use products from immoral artists as a draw for those deeply intrenched in secular society. So the use of the Beatles in the soundtrack doesn’t automatically disqualify a movie for viewing. Even one morally questionable scene or even most of a movie doesn’t disqualify the whole movie as long as there is a redeeming end. We are all sinners redeemed by our Faith.
If we were to judge the morality of the actors/participants of movies, we’d never watch another one. This review was for movie content not artist morality.
I saw the trailer for Minions ‘s was repulsed by how blatantly Satanic and cruel and evil it was. Every parent should boycott this movie and its director.
I guess everyone listened to ya:
http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/12/media/minions-biggest-animated-opening/index.html
Let’s keep “pissin’ on” little kids parades! It will make everyone love the RCC!!!!
nasty
Intentionally so….
i know
” …never find anyone respectable to whom they want to attach themselves – not
even the Queen of England.
It sounds like a reflection of our times – no heroes.
Sadly, yes.
I agree, james, on this. What a sad consequence this has on our poor children. There seems to be a wicked torrent pulsating through our culture. Only a few redeeming streams such as the radiant EWTN, movies like “Do You Believe?” Catholic, religious, and spiritual websites, a few traditional priests and Bill Donohue on TV, and the learned Catholic John Allen writing for the Boston Globe, to name a few. But the assaults on religious freedom will strengthen the Church. As Fr. George Rutler says, “Persecution is good for the Church; it allows the virtues to strengthen.”
Surely these are times to cling to our Catholic Faith and seek out those of similar mind.
I hope and pray that Father Rutler is correct.
True! There are anti-heroes like Obama and Che Guavara and the latest person to mutilate their body. But there are no real heroes.
Don’t forget the true villains, Bush and esp Cheney.
Don’t forget Hillary…
or Nixon,
or Scalia