Everybody who’s seen the 1998 “Ronin” raise your hand.
Really? You’ve missed a terrific action movie starring Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno is thusly named because it’s a parallel for the Japanese word referring to a Samurai who has lost his master and is up for hire.
Why am I bringing this up in a “Minions & Monsters” review? Because the minions – way, way back – essentially were Ronin, traveling here and there, looking for a master to serve.
That’s how they’re first depicted in this seventh out of the little yellow creatures that have made minion-aires out of the folks at Universal Studios, what with a stream of toys, games, household items and movies for the past 16 years.
Your grandchildren and children will love this movie. But film buffs who have enjoyed the likes of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and other early stars will enjoy it all the more.
We know right away we’re going back to the past, because the current “Universal” logo transitions backward to its first iteration. Then we hear the voice of Allison Janney as a film museum guide who is taking a group of people through the history of the Minions.
We join the group of Minions as they struggle, and often fail, to retain a boss because their antics ultimately to their leader’s injury … or worse (yes, there is a beheading in one brief scene.) Two standouts are James and Henry, goofballs who make each other laugh while they’re messing up situations.
They end up becoming unwitting stars in silent pictures directed by a fellow voiced by Christoph Waltz in a studio owned by greedy brothers, both voiced by Jeff Bridges.
The Minions are the top – kind of like they are now, in fact – but when talkies come along, their “language” just doesn’t fit the bill.
But maybe the Minions can conjure up – so to speak – a monster to make a hit monster movie (remember, this is a Universal Picture, after all.)
The rest is a frantic ode to films of many eras, friendship, and the animated action Minions-lovers appreciate. I bet you can guess who makes a cameo, but you’ll have to see the movie because I don’t want to tell you here.
Oh. If you see “Ronin,” put the kids to bed first.
3 stars
Running time: One hour and 30 minutes.
Rated: PG for coarse humor and one (believe it or not) comical beheading.
In theaters.
Watch the trailer here.
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