"The problem with a film having a “target audience,” though, is that too often - especially when the target is children - it’s an excuse to be lazy."
in the case of minions, that's no issue of "target audience". There was no demand to create. Children and adults alike loved the minions since the first despicable me release. why would a studio ignore that demand?
"I’m not saying every animated film has to be “Inside Out,” but the reason that film works...is that the story resonates with the entire audience, whether or not they think farts are the funniest things ever."
different films work for different reasons. inside out is smart, funny and heartwarming. we can relate to what goes on in that lil girls mind, because we understand the process of growing up and most likely reflect on ourselves.
minions works, well because of the minions, who represent the purest, most innocent form of humor there can be.
or in other words: just because there was carlin, that doesn't mean that all jerry lewis films should be burned and just because there are terry gilliam movies, that does not make it wrong to also enjoy avengers.
it is a snobbish point of view that is represented here. disgusting, really.
"Look, kids like what they like, and sometimes parents have to bend so our sanity doesn’t break. Sometimes that means fine, yes, have a hot dog for dinner or just the bun, I don’t care, Mommy needs some iPad time. Sometimes that means fine, yes, we will go see “Minions.” It’s not awful. It’s just that the obvious attempts to please parents feel cheap."
yeaaah, let's ignore that fact that many adults love the minions themselves and that it is a joy to watch this kind of stuff with your kids.
anyway, This is not teletubbies and i don't have any plans to watch animal farm with my kids anytime soon.
"And we’re a little tall to be talked down to."
wow, that's actually an irony BOMB, since the author does nothing but exactly THAT.
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Unvoiced-Apollo
9 years ago
I get the sense you feel I don't think adults can't get somethimg out of this movie. As I enjoyed the latest intallment of kids' movies from WDAS, the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, the Kung Fu Panda movies, and most of Pixar, this certainly isn't the case. I understand that many adults like it and that's fine. But that doesn't mean there aren't issues when it comes to this movie. Considering the reviews, I have to disagree that adults and kids alike enjoyed minions and that adults are just giving a pass to it because it's a kids' movie. That could be wrong but that's how it feele to me. No demand to create? That's exactly why the film was made because there was demand for them to create a Minions movie.
Neither the author nor I are arguing that it needs to be smart in terms of emotion, but it does need to to be smart in creativity. If Shaun the Sheep can have (for the time being) critical success despite having no dialogue, then Minions should be able to enjoy the same.
I disagree that the Minions' humor is innocent. Not because of the types of jokes it makes. The truth of the matter is I feel they could have gone further with the humor and only did the bare minimum to keep the kiddies laughing. This could have been a great slapstick comedy but falls short of that. And with no dialogue for our main focus, it felt as though the animators didn't fully comprehend the need for good, interpretable pantomime. As Ursula said, "Don't underestimate the power of body language".
Jerry Lewis worked because he knew what to do with his brand humor. Minions, short of what we already saw in their trailer, felt directionless and the creators had no idea where to take them.
The truth is this movie was lazy and it didn't need to be. When the author refers to being talked down to, she's talking about the blatant jokes only adults would get as if that's going to get universal praise from older audiences. It worked for Shrek because it was new and unexpected. Today, it's unnecessary. They could have focused more on the zaniness that is the minions. We have great kids' tv shows like Adventure Time & Gravity Falls that can pull off zany for kids while having rather mature themes. Again though, I understand this movie doesn't need mature themes. But what it should have had was more effort, which I, like many adults feel was lacking.
Many adults like transformers 4 as well. Yet we don't give a pass to Michael Bay despite him having a clear target audience even though there are older folks that like his movies. He and Minions are reflective of exactly what's wrong with keeping only a target audience and doing the bare minimum. I do believe this movie could have had near universal praise from both critics and adults, rather than a movie that seems like it needs to be excused from being a kids' film.
If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.
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therefdotcom
9 years ago
" As I enjoyed the latest intallment of kids' movies from WDAS, the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, the Kung Fu Panda movies, and most of Pixar, this certainly isn't the case."
i don't see those particular examples in any way more valuable.
"If Shaun the Sheep can have (for the time being) critical success despite having no dialogue, then Minions should be able to enjoy the same. "
shaun the sheep was way above those other examples, but still a very similar humor to minions. if you want a good example for "more valueable animation", then you should pick something like "creature comforts", but i doubt that kids will understand the humor.
"Considering the reviews, I have to disagree that adults and kids alike enjoyed minions and that adults are just giving a pass to it because it's a kids' movie."
bs. look at the rating and the age groups that voted and how they voted.
" That's exactly why the film was made because there was demand for them to create a Minions movie. "
so?????
"Jerry Lewis worked because he knew what to do with his brand humor. Minions, short of what we already saw in their trailer, felt directionless and the creators had no idea where to take them. "
to you.
"The truth is this movie was lazy and it didn't need to be."
in your opinion.
"When the author refers to being talked down to, she's talking about the blatant jokes only adults would get as if that's going to get universal praise from older audiences. "
again, the ratings speak differently.
"It worked for Shrek because it was new and unexpected."
shrek? seriously? seriously? c'mon, man. i liked shrek, but c'mon that's beyond nonsense.
"We have great kids' tv shows like Adventure Time & Gravity Falls that can pull off zany for kids while having rather mature themes. "
also good show. more psychedelic than minions, with more pop culture references. apart fron that: not really more "valuable".
"Many adults like transformers 4 as well. Yet we don't give a pass to Michael Bay despite him having a clear target audience even though there are older folks that like his movies. "
copout. tf 4 was not liked by fans of the genre, while tf1 was. now, saying that watching tf1 is dumb, while watching brazil is adult thing to do is the height of pretentiousness and arrogance. it is not comparable. some like this, some like that and some like both.
"He and Minions are reflective of exactly what's wrong with keeping only a target audience and doing the bare minimum."
dude, you praised "shrek". how much lower can you set the bar? talking about bare minimum. oh and you decide what's wrong? talking about talking down. i understand that you can relate to the author.
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regexfan
9 years ago
Just who are you to be so defensive of the movie as if anyone who has slightly different opinions than yours about the movie are all evil? Did you personally invest money into the production of the movie or something? I bet you're just like most of us who post on IMDB, just viewers.
Capital letters and punctuations aside, you sounded like someone who can't accept the fact that people DO have different opinions about things. I saw this movie yesterday and I personally don't feel like I wasted my time seeing it. It was something I really wanted to see (I am a bigger fan of the minions than Gru himself) and the amount of cuteness in the movie didn't disappoint.
HOWEVER, I do think that the movie could've been so, so much better if the story is well constructed and well thought out. It does feel like a wasted opportunity. Had this been a short film, a DVD bonus, or some box set special, I would've enjoyed it a lot more. But as a stand alone movie played in theaters, it just falls flat to me.
I understand people who LOVED the movie, and I can also understand why some people didn't like it. I think both opinions are not baseless. The minions are too cute and too charming for people not to like, but unfortunately some people want more than just cuteness in a full feature film. Don't attack them when they're trying to voice out their opinions.
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therefdotcom
9 years ago
you didn't get the point. like what you like, but talking down on people, because a film that was 100% about silly fun actually turns out to be 100% about silly fun, could have and should have been more educational and/or should deal with "more mature themes" is beyond arrogant, as much as it is incredibly stupid.
furthermore then pointing out a bunch of films that have about the same lack of mature themes/ level of education just adds insult to injury.
and THEN, to finish the whole thing off by praising "shrek", out of all animated films as a counter-example shows an almost impressive level of stupidity.
while we are at it, it was the OP that argued that had a problem with light entertainment to begin with.
one COULD name inside out as the more clever film, but one would only be partially right, because all the mature matters for the most part are also only understandable by adults and understandably are lost on kids altogether.
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Unvoiced-Apollo
9 years ago
"could have and should have been more educational and/or should deal with "more mature themes""
Talk about missing the point.
I compared Shaun the Sheep to Minions exactly because they have similar humor, but very different ratings.
[edit]To further emphasize my comparison, here's a quote which I think reflects my overall problem with the movie:
In the same way, there’s no attempt to give the Minions material that might better play to their preverbal, indestructible strengths. Had Balda and Coffin drawn inspiration from silent comedy – as Aardman Animations did for their intricately funny Shaun the Sheep movie – you suspect the film might have been better equipped to sustain the energy of those giddy early minutes. But instead, it soon becomes one barely choreographed, weightless action sequence flailing into the next.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/minions/review/There are probably some similarities, but as I said, I felt there was no effort given to these guys in terms of humor past what they already showed us in the trailer.[/edit]
I didn't praise Shrek, I identified the reasons it worked on a popular level.
If you think Adventure Time & Gravity Falls is nothing but zany pop culture references, then you haven't seen either.
If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.
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regexfan
9 years ago
@therefdotcom: No offense, but I think you're the one who talk down on people just because someone has different opinions than yours.
You accused people of being "arrogant" and "stupid" for simply voicing out their opinions, that's juvenile, man.
You may expect the movie to be silly fun adventure, some other people may expect something more like a Pixar movie. You can't blame them, Pixar has set the bar so high and almost all their movies are critically acclaimed as well as having commercial success, the general public has been unconsciously expecting every animation movies to be like one of Pixar's or at least contains the same theme. Even How To Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks) has the same kind of theme as Pixar movies.
Stop taking it so personally. Some people who loved Minions also have some ridiculous opinions on this board, like saying Minions is better than Despicable Me, etc. Let people have their own opinions. If you don't agree with them, you can discuss it maturely, but don't call people names and label them certain type just because they think Shrek is better or whatever. (I do think Shrek has influenced the animation genre greatly since its time)
And yes, I DID get the point. I'm afraid you're the one who didn't. From the way you write, I'm guessing you're a teenager. If so, you are excused. If not, then you have a growing up to do...all over again.
Peace.
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