Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/06/movies/minions-movie-comedy.html

Last weekend while I was searching for a movie to watch on Netflix, I was repeatedly drawn to Minions (2015). Even though I passed by the film a couple of times again, something about the movie had me hooked, and I decided to give in and watch it. In the New York Times article, the author discusses how a trailer for the movie had a theater laughing and screaming, so much so that this energy and excitement for Minions carried into the start of the actual movie that people had come to see. Indeed, its childish humor and silly characters led it to become the second-highest-grossing animated film ever after its release in 2015, and still one of the top ten ever in 2024. 

Additionally, the article mentions how the comedy in the film could be universally understood because it relies on physical movements and childish gestures rather than witty rhetoric, and people of all nationalities can find it funny. Similarly, in silent films comedians utilized this same type of action-orientated humor, which had an impressionable effect on its viewers and is still enjoyed in the 21st century by characters like the Minions. In one of the films we watched as a class earlier this year, Singin’ in the Rain (1952), Cosmo Brown utilizes this type of humor on multiple occasions throughout the film, building on the films playful and lighthearted themes. While Minions isnt of course a silent film, it builds off of their successful depiction of comedic events, overlapping it with a villainous tone. While they should be serious villains, the minions are by far the most unserious characters in the movie, and both their out of place nature and funny looking appearance help accentuate their comedic effect. 

While walking around on Halloween, I saw at least a dozen minion costumes, which have taken over our society with their glasses, yellow skin and overalls. While finding humor in even the most serious and villainous roles, the minions depict the role of humor in shaping our perception of good and evil. From t-shirts, to halloween costumes, and more, the movie has left a lasting impact on its viewers, which is surely not going away any time in the near future.