Much as I did quite enjoy this, I think it ought really to have been called “Adorable Me” as “Gru” really hasn’t much despicable going on throughout. Indeed, when he is recruited by “Anti-Villain League” to become poacher-cum-gamekeeper, he is the epitome of the family man with the three kids, his army of giggling Minions and even an hint of romance on the horizon with agent “Lucy”. He hasn’t lost all of his knack, though, and is swiftly on the trail of “El Macho”. Arnie? Well no, more a sort of purveyor of enchiladas with his own special sauces - but has he an even more secret weapon that could turn the ever-loyal Minions not just against "Gru", but purple too? With battle lines drawn and lead agent “Ramsbottom” (or “Sheepsbutt”) confident that “Gru” couldn’t find some sand in the desert, he now has to prove he still has what it takes to save the day, the weans, the Minions and maybe even get the gal, too. I think “Gru” is my favourite of all of the animated characters to emerge from the CGI animated universe. He exudes a degree of cheery menace that I really enjoy, and even though I wish they'd have written something more along the lines of “Darth Vader” than “John Boy Walton” for him here, I still enjoy the facial expressions and Steve Carell’s voice talents. Staying on the audio front, the sniggering from the Minions is also fun, peppered as it is with the occasionally recognisable word amidst the gibberish. They are undoubtedly the saviours of this film, and probably the entire franchise, as their mischief - quite often entirely superfluous to the plot, and for more adult eyes only, raises most of the smiles here. It’s not quite as sharp and witty as the first film, but as sequels go the French comic and artistic influences help to keep it distinctive.