Despicable Me 2

Super-villain Gru (Steve Carell) turned straight in the original Despicable Me, so what’s left for him to do in round two? Fall in love. He’s also trying to stop an evil-doer who has stolen a chemical that turns any living creature into a killing machine. But the romantic subplot, involving flirtations between Gru and his detective partner Lucy (Kristen Wiig), proves more entertaining than the mediocre storyline about the search for criminal suspect Eduardo (Benjamin Bratt, in exaggerated Latino-stereotype mode). Whatever magic is lost from the original film is recovered by Gru’s tiny minions: His helpers look like aliens but possess the charm of babbling babies—a weird combination that’s onscreen gold (as was proven by the booming laughs from every child in the theater). Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG.