Fourth installments in franchises can be tricky endeavors. Continue as before and you risk tedium; stray too far from the formula, and you might upset the fanbase. The good news with Despicable Me 4 (the sixth in the series, including two Minions spin-offs) is that intriguing new characters, settings and situations help keep the anti-villain antics engaging.
Pitted against Gru (Steve Carrell) this time is Maxime Le Mal, a blast from the supervillain-turned-secret agent’s crooked past. Voiced by Will Ferrell, Le Mal has the technology to turn anyone into a superpowered cockroach (including himself).
