I’ve been a huge fan of the Minions movies. While they are simple, they are also great fun so I was looking forward to Minions & Monsters. I was right to do so. Not only was it fantastic fun but it successfully merges the high energy Minion laughs with a far more complex storyline that was superb.
Minions & Monsters is an animated comedy film directed by Pierre Coffin who co-wrote the screenplay with Brian Lynch. It is the third installment in the Minions prequel series and follows a group of minions as they end up in Hollywood, working in the early pictures. As relayed by Olivia (Allison Janney), a tour guide, the minions end up being instrumental to the history of Hollywood. Hired by Max (Christopher Walz) a director and his bosses, Frank and Elwood Bright (Jeff Bridges), the Minions star in several films but when sound arrives, they are dismissed. One of the minions, James, is a storyteller, though and with the help of his friends, Henry and Ed, they decide to make their own film, summoning a Cthulu like monster Gary (Trey Parker) to star in their monster film. Meanwhile the other Minions, led by Dick, look for a new boss to lead them, finding an alien robot Dort (Jesse Eisenberg). The Minions end up having to try to save the day when a monster called Eyereen is summoned. But will the group win the day? The film also stars Zoey Deutch, Phil LaMarr, and Bobby Moynihan.
Part of the fun of this particular Minions movie is the complexity of the storyline. It is still simple in some ways but we are introduced to more individual Minions like James and Henry. We get to see that James is different from the other Minions. When the Minions arrive in Hollywood, his passion for filmmaking is easy to empathize with and enjoy. Part of what adds to the complexity is the genuine friendship between James and Henry as well as Ed. The way they help and work with each other is part of the charm of the story.
Another aspect I truly enjoyed was the wild chaos of the Minions. In the beginning, we see their bosses and the crazy ways in which they end up making trouble for the boss and leaving, always looking for a new villain to work for. When they make their way to the west and Hollywood, one of the funniest scenes is their entrance to Hollywood, involving a train and a plane. The film making is both funny and magical, as we see James figure out what to do with limited resources. The monsters add another layer of chaos and fun, especially Eyereen, not only a brilliant reference to a monster film but also a play giving us a play on H.P. Lovecraft with her and the other monsters. 
The film has tons of references to old Hollywood and films that were instrumental in the history of film. We even get George Lucas, playing an animated version of himself. Dort is a reference to the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still. The monsters are brilliant references to both H.P. Lovecraft as well as Golden Age Hollywood monsters. Both Max the director and the producers are references to individuals within the history of Hollywood. The film’s musical cues reference the music of Hollywood, including Looney Tunes, Psycho, Bride of Frankenstein and King Kong. It is an incredibly rich and detailed film.
The voice actors are talented and add depth to the movie. The film is not perfect. It does still lack the full depth and emotion of some other animated films over the years but it is one of the best of the Minion films, full of fantastic fun and wild chaos that will keep you laughing the entire time. If you like animated movies or the other Minions movies, you will love Minions & Monsters.
Rating: 4 out of 5 cameras
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