The holidays have never been this delightfully disastrous. Despicable Me 5: Merry Mischief (2025) bursts onto the screen like a candy cane explosion — a whirlwind of snow, slapstick, and sincere heart that only the Minions could deliver. It’s the season of joy, but when Gru’s crew is involved, “joy” usually comes with a side of chaos.
Gru (Steve Carell), now fully settled into family life with Lucy (Kristen Wiig) and their three daughters, has hung up his villain gloves for good — or so he thinks. Life is peaceful… until Santa’s sleigh vanishes in a mysterious blizzard that sweeps across the globe. At the center of it all: Mr. Frostbyte, a brilliant yet bitter tech mogul who plans to “freeze Christmas” forever using an army of drone snowmen and a satellite-powered ice cannon.
Before Gru can say “bah, banana humbug,” the world is on the brink of a global winter — and only one team of yellow agents can stop it. The Minions, armed with their candy-cane blasters, snowball bazookas, and marshmallow grenades, form The Jingle Squad — a holiday strike force with more enthusiasm than coordination. Their mission? Save Santa, thaw Christmas, and maybe survive their own inventions in the process.
From the frozen fjords of Norway to the twinkling rooftops of London, Merry Mischief zips between snow-covered skylines and peppermint-scented pandemonium. The animation gleams like frosted glass — rich, colorful, and textured with holiday warmth. Every snowflake sparkles, every Minion pratfall lands perfectly, and every gag is balanced by genuine heart.
Pierre Coffin’s Minions remain the emotional (and chaotic) heartbeat of the series. Whether they’re caroling off-key in gibberish or accidentally freezing the Eiffel Tower, their blend of innocence and anarchy captures that perfect childlike energy the franchise thrives on. Their running joke about trying to replace Santa with a Minion wearing a red bucket and cotton beard is pure comedy gold.
Gru and Lucy’s partnership continues to shine, blending domestic humor with spy-movie spectacle. Their teamwork has evolved into something warm and endearingly human — two former super-spies trying to wrap presents while the Minions set the tree on fire. Miranda Cosgrove’s Margo also gets her own small but poignant arc, reminding her family (and the audience) that the magic of Christmas isn’t in gifts or glitter, but in forgiveness and togetherness.
Mr. Frostbyte, the film’s icy antagonist, is a clever modernization of the classic holiday villain archetype — part Scrooge, part Silicon Valley. His frozen heart hides a backstory tied to his childhood Christmases, making him a surprisingly sympathetic foil. His face-off with Gru is more emotional than explosive, ending in a moment of understanding that melts more than just snow.
Director Chris Renaud delivers both spectacle and sincerity — combining slapstick chaos with a surprising emotional depth that never feels forced. The pacing is crisp, the humor universal, and the soundtrack sparkles with remixed carols, original songs, and one unforgettable Minion rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock” that’s destined to become meme history.
The film’s final act — a high-flying sleigh chase through the aurora-lit skies above the Arctic Circle — is pure holiday wonder. With the Minions dangling from reindeer harnesses and Gru steering Santa’s sleigh using banana-scented rocket boosters, it’s absurd, thrilling, and oddly touching.
By the time the credits roll, snow is falling, laughter echoes, and Gru’s family — alongside thousands of Minions in Santa hats — sing their own chaotic Christmas carol. The message lands gently but powerfully: Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be shared.
✨ Rating: ★★★★☆ (9.2/10) – “Hilarious, heartfelt, and overflowing with Christmas cheer.”
Despicable Me 5: Merry Mischief proves that even in a world of gadgets and chaos, love, laughter, and a little banana pudding can still save Christmas.
#DespicableMe5 #MerryMischief #Minions #Gru #FamilyComedy #HolidayFun #ChristmasMovie #JingleSquad #FestiveLaughs #BelieveInBananas
Watch movie:
*Content is hosted on a partner site.
