The original “Megamind” from 2010 was a hit, featuring top-notch voice talent and imaginative visuals. But this new straight-to-streaming sequel, released 14 years later, falls short. It lacks originality in both visuals and voice talent, with only occasional humor and warmth. It feels like a watered-down version of the original, primarily serving as a promotion for a new streaming series called “Megamind Rules.”
In this sequel aimed at a new audience, we get a quick rundown: Megamind, once a villain voiced by Ferrell, is now voiced by Keith Ferguson. He’s from Metrocity, where he has a fish assistant, originally named Minion but now called Ol’ Chum (voiced by Josh Brener), to avoid confusion with the “Despicable Me” minions. When Megamind creates a new villain and the city’s superhero retires, he steps up to be the hero with help from Roxanne, a journalist voiced by Laura Post.
The story kicks off with Megamind adjusting to his new role as a hero, grappling with the idea of helping others and dealing with former villain allies. He starts by pursuing a group of fish-themed criminals, reminiscing about his past as a villain and admitting to missing the simplicity of those times.
Megamind faces more challenges when his loyal assistant, Ol’ Chum, leaves because he won’t promote him. Struggling on his own, Megamind even struggles with simple tasks like using a toaster. Then, his old villain gang, the Doom Syndicate, escapes prison, and he must convince them he’s still evil while figuring out how to stop them. He convinces Roxanne to pretend to be his partner in crime. A young girl named Keiko introduces him to new technology and helps him realize the value of accepting help. Ol’ Chum returns to join the team after his own adventures.
The Doom Syndicate consists of quirky villains like a French mime, a rock monster, a lightning-controlling former weather forecaster, and a goth guy named Lord Nighty-Night who carries a stuffed teddy bear. The film keeps things light and silly rather than scary, with humor including poop and barf jokes. However, some verbal jokes might go over kids’ heads, referencing things like the “Titanic” movie and Simon and Garfunkel lyrics, making it less appealing for parents. Even recent references might not connect with young kids. When the villains throw a block party, Megamind finds it annoying and asks them to use coasters, adding humor with lines like “put another stanky groove in my pocket.”
The movie touches on lessons about bullying and teamwork, with Megamind realizing that caring for others distinguishes heroes from villains. There’s a quick nod to the importance of voting and democracy. However, compared to the original and newer films like “Boss Baby” and “The Bad Guys,” it feels rushed and lacking in depth.
