{In partnership with Bounty/Universal Pictures}
I always wanted a sibling. I remember playing with my Barbie dolls and imagining that I had a sister. My seven-year-old self naively asked my parents on more than one occasion if they could get me a sibling, to no avail. Perhaps that is why Illumination’s latest film Despicable Me 3 resonated with me in a way the previous films could not. The film, which debuts in theaters June 30th, 2017, continues the story of Gru, Lucy and their three daughters Margo, Edith and Agnes.
After failing to take down his latest nemesis, Balthazar Bratt, Gru is fired from the Anti-Villain League. His resultant identity crisis is only magnified by the news that he has a long-lost twin brother, who wants to follow in his brother’s villainous footsteps. Filled with all of the comedic zaniness you’ve come to expect from this franchise, Despicable Me 3, Gru will rediscover just how good it feels to be bad.
Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig reprise their roles as Gru and Lucy, and the duo, who’s chemistry is as magical in person as it is onscreen, talked about voicing their respective characters and how their input shaped them, the dynamic new sibling relationship, and why the film will resonate with families.
The wickedly talented Steve Carell seamlessly voices Gru and Dru, a feat that took some effort, according to the former “Office” actor. “It was fun to come up with a different voice that was similar to Gru’s voice, but not exactly the same.” In an effort to differentiate their personalities (Dru is effervescent and silly while Gru is a grouch), Carell aimed to distinguish the two in demeanor as opposed to an accent.
Having grown up with three older siblings, Carell drew from his own familial experience as he prepared to voice Gru and Dru. “In terms of best friends and the fun you have, you know, on walkie-talkies at night, I definitely related to that.” Carell also thought about those children who never grew up with siblings, like myself, and drew from that as he prepared for his role as Gru. “I think you would yearn for that if you had never experienced [it], especially if it was then offered to you.”
The themes of family and the power of love have always resonated strongly throughout the Despicable Me franchise. And yet, I appreciate the filmmaker’s ability to craft a film that is exciting and funny without being too heavy. Families can enjoy a film that is entertaining, and walk away with a sense of the importance of family. You will also see Gru and Lucy model important life skills such as telling kids the truth. “One of the dilemmas…of being a dad…is telling them the truth, because I always want to tell my kids the truth. And sometimes, when you try to couch the truth in something less than the truth, it doesn’t come out as the truth. I guess what I like about that scene is that he ultimately has to just tell his daughter the truth. And it’s really painful, but ultimately more painful for him than it is for her. Sometimes, the truth is actually better than what your fantasy might have been (Carell).”
Four films into the franchise, and Carell and Wiig know their characters well enough to provide valuable input for the filmmakers. While the actors mainly stick to the script, the filmmakers allow for some improvisation that may be used in the final cut of the film. “They [the filmmakers] are so collaborative, and they encourage us to play around and improvise and try different things (Carell).” The team of writers and animators at Illumination are adept when it comes to screenwriting. However, “we can play and do different versions or [they will] ask if we have an idea for something (Wiig)”. And if a filmmaker is having difficulty with a character arc, they have been known to collaborate with the voice actors. In the original film Gru looked very different. “He was very angular faced, very sinister looking, and they decided to back off of that and make him more funny looking. I weighed in and said ‘Now I think you’ve gone too far to the other side, because I think there does need to be a sinister quality to him’ while being funny”(Carell).
During Illumination’s press event, Yummy Spoonfuls, Kellogg’s, and Bounty showcased their latest collab with Despicable Me 3.
Co-owner Camila Alves was on-site showcasing Yummy Spoonfuls’s smoothies.
Kellogg’s served up their iconic cereals. Plus, right now you can receive a free toy or $8 towards a Fandango movie ticket when you purchase 6 participating Despicable Me products.
Lastly, Bounty helped clean up our messes like a true minion with their new printed paper towels.
Plus Duff Goldman talked to Rockin’ Mama about how he got his start as a pastry chef, shared details about the most elaborate cake he has ever made, and provide tips for parents who are looking for easy ways to make their child’s cakes unique.
Say “Aloha” to the Minions. Despicable Me 3 hits theaters June 30th.
Download free Despicable Me 3 printables here.
You can also keep up to date by following Despicable Me 3 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and GruTube (#DespicableMe3).
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