Boston Globe Gives 3 Stars to 90-Minute Minions & Monsters Review

Q: Why does the new Minions movie replace fan-favorites Kevin, Stuart, and Bob?

It replaces Kevin, Stuart and Bob because **“Minions & Monsters” is designed as a much earlier standalone prequel**, set in 1920s Hollywood, and the filmmakers wanted a fresh group of Minions to fit that chapter of the timeline. The movie takes place decades before the better-known Minions stories centered on Kevin, Stuart and Bob, whose major adventures are tied to the 1960s and 1970s era of Scarlet Overkill and young Gru. By moving back to silent-era Hollywood, director Pierre Coffin and co-writer Brian Lynch built the story around new characters—Henry, James, Edward and their leader Dick—rather than forcing the familiar trio into an origin tale that serves a different period and premise. There is also a creative reason. Coffin has said the film is a personal tribute to silent comedy, early cinema and classic horror, with the Minions used as heirs to visual comedians like Chaplin, Keaton and Harold Lloyd. New leads gave the filmmakers room to shape a different comic dynamic and tell an “origin of cinematic mayhem” story without repeating the established Kevin-Stuart-Bob formula. So the change is less a rejection of fan favorites than a storytelling reset: a prequel in a new era, with new Minions chosen to match the film’s Old Hollywood concept.

3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 30

Three stars: the Boston Globe says “Minions & Monsters” delivers enough cleverness and chaos to entertain, even as the long-running franchise shows signs of fatigue.
The review highlights a 1920s Hollywood plot in which Minions Henry and James become accidental movie pioneers, with the first half packed with silent-era jokes, director references and film-history Easter eggs.
Goomi and a monster-summoning spell drive a more frenetic second half, shifting the movie from cinephile humor toward slapstick aimed more squarely at younger viewers.
Pierre Coffin and Brian Lynch’s script earns praise for layering smart movie knowledge into the gags, while the 90-minute runtime is cited as a plus.
The critic still argues the Minions are wearing out their welcome, suggesting the seventh outing in the “Despicable Me” universe may leave adults wondering how much more the characters can do.