Despicable Me 3 – Special Edition Blu-ray Review: Fun For Everyone!

The Despicable Me 3 Special Edition Blu-ray not only presents the enjoyable film in all its high-definition glory but also offers a ton of extra features!

I was provided a review copy of Despicable Me 3 Special Edition Blu-ray for review. The opinions are my own.

Whether there are some people who like it or not, the Despicable Me franchise is here to stay. Being a fan of this CG animated film series, I can tell there are still a lot of stories to be told from Illumination Entertainment and their parent company Universal Pictures, and I can’t wait to see them.

Even though Gru (Steve Carell) let go of his villainous ways and settled down with his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) and the three adorable girls, his world gets a new dose of comedic drama when he faces Balthazar Bratt in Despicable Me 3. Balthazar (voiced by Trey Parker, the creator of South Park) is a 1980s child star who is angry at the entire world over his canceled show. He isn’t the most iconic of animated villains but he’s a fun one, complete with a skintight purple suit, shoulder pads, and pop-culture references. I loved how the film decided to use old songs to hit the nostalgia nerve.

The story grows more interesting with the introduction of Dru, Gru’s twin who’s also voiced by Steve Carell. What follows is Gru and Dru trying to bond over their differences as well as Lucy struggling to be a mom to Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Nev Scharrel). Lucy loves the girls but as a special agent, she needs time to figure out when not to take down anyone who’s in front of her because she perceives them as a threat to her family.

One of the things that makes the Despicable Me franchise great is how it defines family. Gru doesn’t need to have any blood relation with the three girls to love them and the same goes for Lucy when she decides to become their mother. It’s all about choosing your own family and facing conflicts with love and understanding.

Despicable Me 3 gives every character something to do during the film’s runtime and then makes every storyline come together in the end. Gru forms a bond with his brother and helps Dru realize that leading a life of crime isn’t for him anymore. Lucy connects with the girls during a family vacation. The yellow Minions find their way back to Gru after deciding not to work for him. And Agnes, who is my favorite character, goes on an adventure to find a unicorn.

The entire plot is about doing the right thing, properly dealing with disappointment as you grow older, and realizing that your family always has your back. Littered with comedy in almost every scene, I’m looking forward to seeing where this franchise goes next.

Coming to the Despicable Me 3 Special Edition Blu-ray from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, it is a two-disc combo pack that also has an UltraViolet Digital Copy. The discs are in a standard blue case with a lightly embossed slipcover.

The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode presentation is great. All of the razor-sharp lines look awesome. Even the lettering on the signs when Gru and his family visit Freedonia are easily readable. Try pausing the film during any of the scenes in Freedonia and you’ll understand what I’m saying. Even the stitching of the character’s clothes is clearly visible. It’s great stuff!

The tons of special features include:

• Character Profiles (HD, 11 min): Five separate interviews with the cast where they talk about their thoughts on the characters.
  • Steve Carell: Gru & Dru
  • Kristen Wiig: Lucy
  • Miranda Gosgrove: Margo
  • Dana Gaier: Edith
  • Nev Scharrel: Agnes
• The Making of (HD, 7 min): This is a very brief discussion on the production and features some cast and crew interviews along with BTS footage.
• Mini-Movie (HD, 4 min): Titles “The Secret Life Of Kyle,” this is a fun little short featuring Gru’s dog.
• Developing Dru (HD, 4 min): A few minutes that show the work behind the creation and design of Dru.
• Despicable Me TV (HD, 3 min): Enjoyable faux commercials, a total of three, inspired by certain scenes in the film.
• Minion Moments (HD, 2 min): Two one-minute long shorts (‘Drenched’ and ‘Overkill’) featuring the Minions.
• Sing-Along (HD, 2 min): A fun way to sing along to the chorus of Pharrell Williams’ song “Doowit.”
• Minion Mug Shots (HD, 2 min): A fun still gallery with the characters in prison.
• Wanted Posters (HD, 2 min): A gallery of wanted posters of the characters.
• The AVL Files (HD): An interactive text-based featurette that offers more background information on six characters.
• Freedonia Visitors Guide (HD): An interactive piece that focuses on the five regions of Freedonia.
• Music Video (HD): Pharrell Williams performs his song “Yellow Light.”
• Deleted Scene (HD): Just a single scene with Edith misbehaving. It is introduced by Dana Gaier.

All in all, Despicable Me 3 is an enjoyable installment in the franchise. It’s no wonder this film was able to rake in more than $1 billion at the box office. The Despicable Me 3 Special Edition Blu-ray is a great way to revisit Gru and his family even if you’ve already watched it on the big screen. The home release offers great video presentation and an impressive DTS:X soundtrack. Furthermore, the extra features just increase the fun.

Feel free to check out my announcement of the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD (December 5, 2017), and Digital (November 21, 2017) release dates for more information. You can join the conversation using #DespicableMe3.

Have you watched Despicable Me 3 yet? Feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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