It might come as surprising, but I prefer Despicable Me 2 over its predecessor. For me, the first film was just sort of bland; its humor wasn't that great and its overabundance of cutesiness sails dangerously close to gagging territory. While Despicable Me 2 is quite similar, there are improvements that stand out; such as a sharper sense of humor and its new female lead Lucy. Lucy’s one of the better female character’s I've seen in recent animated film; she’s enjoyably eccentric, quite humorous, a strong action girl, and given a unique character design that’s far from your typical “pretty perfect” look (making her stand out all the more). There’s also some actual chemistry between Lucy and Gru, who effectively work off each other’s bizarre personalities while providing strong character development as they bond and interact.
Yet these improvements are suddenly thrown out the window when the film hits its third act. In a quick and terrible series of events, Lucy’s character inexplicably deteriorates into your typical damsel in distress; leaving Gru alone to defeat the main villain in an overly cliché way. The film continues to deteriorate however, through a combination of rash plot-holes, unexplained character absences, and flashcard-ing through 147 dates to a sudden and highly unnecessary marriage scene where Lucy, Gru and the children (who throughout the film are barely given any screen time with their newly acquired mother) become a family. In a matter of 25 minutes or so, Despicable Me 2’s third act wastes all the developments it’d been building up throughout; which leads me to this post’s concept.
The idea of this post is to reconstruct Despicable Me 2’s third act into something I believe would have made for a more effective and solid ending. Please take note that I’m not adding any new elements or characters, but simply taking what the film has given me and redesigning it into what I consider a more satisfying conclusion. If you’re forgetful of character names and/or plot points, here’s a Wikipedia link to help you out (Despicable Me 2 Plot). If you haven’t seen the movie…then I suggest seeing the movie before reading.
We start around 70 minutes into the movie where El Macho proposes him and Gru team up and conquer the world. Gru avoids answering the question in order to escape, but is stopped in this version by El Macho's guard chicken Pollito, who attacks Gru. Pollito's aggressive nature makes El Macho realize Gru was the one who broke into his restaurant, puts two and two together as to how the Anti-Villain League arrested Floyd (whom El Macho had set up), and captures Gru (either through the use of his brute strength or one of the mutated Minions). After capturing Gru, El Macho sends one of his mutated Minions (whom I will from now on refer to as MMs) up to capture Gru's children in hopes of forcing Gru to team up.
The MM begins wreaking havoc upstairs at the party in search of the kids, which sends the guests into a panic. Margo (being the oldest and most protective of the kids) notices the trouble and runs to find Edith and Agnes. Now in the original version Margo’s love interest Antonio is revealed to be a jerk after going off to dance with another girl. In this version Antonio’s reveal comes from his refusal to help Margo (who he’s around at the moment) search for her sisters, either because he’s too scared of the MM, is unsympathetic to her plight, or simply is a mean kid (he is El Macho’s son after all). Similar to the original, Margo learns her lesson about boys and goes off alone to find Edith and Agnes. She finds them and they try to escape but are blocked by the MM who grabs Agnes’ unicorn (that she brought with her in this version) to eat. Cue same results as the original where Agnes releases a high-pitch scream that humorously disorients the MM.
At this point Lucy shows up by hang-glider after having a revelation of her affection for Gru. She discovers the kids and, realizing the danger they’re in, chooses to get them out of harm’s way before finding Gru. The scene has the triple benefit of A) showcasing Lucy as a responsible adult (which is important seeing as the good majority of grown-ups are irresponsible or villains) B) Giving her more screen time with the children and C) revealing more of her and Gru’s similar mindset (as he would also consider protecting the kids top priority). Lucy hijacks Gru’s tank-ish vehicle and drives the kids back to their house. Unfortunately the MM had grabbed onto the vehicle and goes in for the attack after the machine stops. Lucy proceeds to use her karate techniques (that she hasn't yet used against a single enemy) on the MM, who while briefly stunned, gets right back up (since it was revealed no less than 5 minutes earlier that creatures mutated by the PX-41 mutagen are indestructible). The MM proceeds to charge at them as Lucy pulls out her flame-gun (which she hasn't used since the opening) as a last resort; using her body as a shield in front of the kids and revealing a selfless, motherly nature to protect them (hint, foreshadowing, hint). Just before the MM strikes however, someone off-screen jabs a needle into him, injecting a yellow serum that turns the MM back into a regular Minion.
Turns out the mysterious off-screen person is none other than Dr. Nefario (similar to how he saved the children in the original), who considers Gru and the children more important than his desire to be evil. Dr. Nefario had snuck out of El Macho’s secret lair after hearing the plan to kidnap the children; bringing along the antidote for the PX-41 mutagen as he did in the original. He explains that by combining it with the awful-tasting jelly Gru made they can create long-range weapons that will turn all the minions back to normal; only in this version it will take some time to create. Lucy decides to go on ahead and save Gru while the weapon’s being created. Dr. Nefario agrees to fly over once it’s done and tells Lucy where he last saw Gru being detained.
Back at El Macho’s lair, Gru is revealed tied up to a similar TNT-loaded shark rocket El Macho used to fake his death. He once again asks Gru to join him in world conquest to which he once again denies. El Macho states that it’s Gru’s decision but that in several hours both the MM filled rockets and Gru’s will launch, only instead of a city, Gru’s will be heading towards an active volcano (to which El Macho sinisterly states is how he faked death only this time it’ll be real). He then leaves (in typical Bond-villain fashion) to give Gru time to think over the ultimatum, which cues Lucy sneaking in to save him. She begins cutting the ropes binding him but since there’s no immediate rush (with no one around and the timer still high), the scene presents some great time for dialogue between the two love interests. The dialogue between them may contain some puns and humor (going along with their eccentric behavior), but ultimately should be a sweet scene where Gru realizes she cares enough to help the kids and come rescue him.
The two then proceed to try and sneak out but are once again confronted by Pollito. Here we have some dark humor placed; before the chicken starts cawing out, Gru pulls out the lipstick-Taser and fries the bird, calling out his attack after (which Lucy finds adorable). Unfortunately some of the MMs smell the burnt chicken and notice the pair, prompting a scene where they’re chased to the rooftop by the mutants. Completely surrounded, Gru finds the courage to ask Lucy on a date if they survive, which she obviously replies yes to. Cue the same rescue scene from the original where Dr. Nefario and the kids show up armed with antidote jelly guns, Gru humorously gets mad at Nefario for bringing the kids, and they all proceed to shoot the Minions back to normal.
After returning the Minions to normal, an angry El Macho injects himself with PX-41 in order to kill Gru and Lucy; who this time around fight together using the flame gun, freeze ray (which Dr. Nefario brought for Gru) and any other gadgets they brought (since both have run out of jelly). Despite knocking El Macho a few stories down, their weapons are ultimately ineffective since it was clearly shown that PX-41 makes you indestructible; leading to El Macho getting up unscratched but highly irate. By this point Lucy and Gru have proven themselves capable fighters while using good coordination and chemistry working together; this proof of strength and harmony to the viewers means they no longer need be El Macho’s conquerors. But if not them, then who…why the Minions of course (who are ticked off at El Macho for transforming them)! The scene proceeds to a comedic montage of them hitting El Macho with every weapon known to man (Mace, Anvil, Baseball Bat, Hammer, A Thrown Pie for extra randomness, etc…), which while it doesn't defeat the indestructible mutant, stuns him long enough for a Minion to fire antidote jelly into his gaping mouth. Giving the Minions the final blow is a double plus as it satisfies both viewers who can’t get enough of the Minion’s antics while also giving them a scene of competence. The scene then fades out as everyone cheers.
Now here’s where things get significantly altered. The next scene shows Gru and Lucy back on The Anti-Villain League submarine where Silas Ramsbottom (who in this version shows up again) congratulates the pair on a job well done. Ramsbottom apologizes to Gru for insulting him earlier and gives them both medals. He explains (while also showing on video) that El Macho is being held in a top security prison while his son is being sent to live with a relative. The scene should show El Macho somberly talking to his son behind jail glass, regretful that they must be separated from each other; which is important to show as it not only reveals a more humane, fatherly side to our main villain, but also plays as a warning to what could have happened to Gru had he decided to join. Lucy then asks if she can continue working in America to which Ramsbottom permits while also offering Gru official employment as an AVL member. Gru is never shown directly answering however, so as to leave it ambiguous for the next film (can’t be called Despicable Me 3 if you’re title character’s a complete good guy).
Gru and Lucy then proceed to their first date which is on that awesome beach island Dr. Nefario used to hold the Minions. Since it’s the finale they also bring the kids, Dr. Nefario, and the Minions along. Cue a big beach party where the Minions do some cutesy things and Dr. Nefario creates a wave machine where they all perform goofy tricks. The final scene ends with Gru and Lucy getting their big, darn kiss (which Edith is disgusted by and Agnes loves) and all of them getting together for a group photo where a MM pops up right as the credits role (similar to the original).
Improvements in the Alternate Version:
- Lucy is NOT easily captured thru the “standard female grab area,” aka simply being grabbed by the arm; which in the original made all her previous demonstrations of expert martial arts, quick wit and battle sense, and swift one-handed use of the flame gun (which she should still have on her and been able to use with her free arm to attack/threaten El Macho into release) completely null and void.
- The children and Lucy are given more time together; strengthening their foreshadowed connection of mother and daughters for viewers to see rather than be told.
- Lucy utilizes her skills, abilities, strengths, and weapons effectively on actual enemies (including the main villain); removing the faux-action girl implications of the original.
- Lucy and Gru are given more screen time together, further showcasing their chemistry along with strengthening their relationship.
- The concept that the PX-41 mutagen makes its experiments indestructible and all enduring is kept intact and not tossed away for a lipstick-Taser/fart gun joke as in the original.
- The Minions are given a major scene of competence where they strike the final blow(s) to the main villain.
- Silas Ramsbottom does not simply disappear half way through the movie, and is given a final scene with Lucy and Gru where several plot points are wrapped up; such as Lucy’s transfer, Ramsbottom admitting Gru’s competence, and the fate of El Macho and Antonio (whose outcomes are also left ambiguous in the original).
- El Macho and Antonio are given a somber scene together, not simply to be dark, but to reveal a humane fatherly side to El Macho along with the consequences of his actions (that could become Gru's fate should he ever go back to being a complete villain…perhaps setting up a dilemma for the next film).
- It does NOT cut 147 dates later to Gru and Lucy’s marriage, instead ending on their first date as there was no reason to marry them so hastily (unless those wedding themed Minion jokes were really too good to pass), especially since it was practically guaranteed a third film would be made. By ending here on their first date, the third film can give more focus to Gru, Lucy and the children’s growing relationship as a family; showcasing (instead of telling) all the joys and conflicts that occur (perhaps one conflict could be one of the children having trouble accepting Lucy into the family). Then after all the development, have them get married by the end of the third (another plot point could be Gru trying to figure out how to propose). That way the viewers can see Lucy A) have a strong relationship with the kids that actually feels and becomes a mother-daughter relationship when she does eventually marry and B) grow and develop even more with Gru.
These improvements not only create a strong, satisfying ending for Despicable Me 2, but also set up some good plot ideas for the third film to work off. A win-win situation if I've ever heard one.