Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
I don’t think I need to explain how I blissfully managed to avoid the Minions until now. I am a childless adult woman who lives in New York City. Why would I set aside time to watch Minions or any of the Despicable Me movies? Who has time for small, squeaky, yellow thumb creatures when there are so many fabulous restaurants to visit and museums to tour (and seasons of Top Chef to watch)?
Well, yesterday, time ran out for me. I had to confront Minions head on.
Minions is a deeply subversive film. Like, why aren’t we constantly talking about how this children’s film exists in a continuum where morality has no place and reason has been thrown out the window? How is it that the nicest characters in the film are also cold-hearted criminals? What is the nexus between good and evil here? What of the philosophical quandaries that this film poses? If the Minions naturally flock to evil, then why did they immediately sidle up to prehistoric man? Were the Minions aware that we are ruinous creature incapable of moral grace? And what can the Minions tell us about the psychology behind emotionally abusive relationships? Why are they all male? How do their overalls stay on their bodies if they have no shoulders? AND WHY IS THERE A SCENE WHERE THEY CRASH A FUNERAL AND STEAL FLOWERS FROM THE MOURNERS?
What darkness is this?
Believe it or not, I didn’t hate Minions nearly as much as I anticipated I would. When the film came out last summer, I found myself bombarded with off-color memes and annoying jokes about the characters. It reached a fever pitch when I was accidentally clicked a link that sent me to a photo featuring a Minions toy being used in a deeply pornographic way. So I kind of went into this film hating the Minions. Now? Eh, they’re kind of cute. That turnaround speaks highly of the film’s charms.
Yes, this film can be charming! The Minions share a sweet camaraderie with one another that’s infectious. Minions can also be smart and clever in its humor. However, I was befuddled by the numerous blatantly sexual moments peppered throughout the film. Were children supposed to appreciate the jokes about butts being groped or spanked? Were they supposed to find thongs goofy? I don’t have kids, but if I did, I’m not sure how I’d feel about them watching this sort of tomfoolery without my supervision:
“Who is Minions for?” I ask you. “Who is Minions for?” I ask the wind. Neither can respond for there is no definitive answer.
Needless to say, Minions challenged me, but that’s probably because I’m a total square when it comes to kids’ movies. I think it’s good when family films end with some sort of moral message. By the end of Minions, I didn’t know what this film thought was right and what it thought was wrong. (I guess helping your friends out is a good thing? Even if they are trying to destabilize nation states and/or blow up the world?)
The Minions in and of themselves are moral contradictions. They are sweet, helpful team players who are obsessed with worshipping evil and aiding villainy. They also seem to be both innocent and naughty in the same measure.
After I finished watching the film, I felt more confused about the great mysteries of life than ever before. When I complained about this to a co-worker, she said, “Maybe it’s not supposed to mean anything. Maybe it’s just there to be fun!”
I suppose so, but if that’s the case, Minions truly is one of the most subversive films I can think of. It looks at life with an existentialist ennui and encourages us as an audience to confront the truth that everything is just sound and fury, signifying nothing at all.
[Gifs by Jaclyn Kessel, copyright Universal Pictures]
