Steve Carell vs Will Ferrell in Despicable Me 4

Fifteen years after Gru (voiced by The Office star Steve Carell) first tried to steal the moon In Despicable Me, but stole our hearts instead, the world’s favourite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League-agent, is back in Despicable Me 4 … as humble solar panel salesman Chet Cunningham. “It’s a stretch for Gru,” admits Steve, “as he’s accustomed to a life of excitement and danger. Also, he’s not the best actor, so that invariably leads to some problems!”

Gru and Lucy (Bridesmaids’ Kristen Wiig) have to take on new lives in the peaceful town of Mayflower along with their “gworls” Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan) and their new baby son, Gru Jr, after Gru reignites his old feud with supervillain Maxime Le Mal (Step Brothers’ Will Ferrell) who, along with his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Sofía Vergara), is now dead set on punishing Gru.

Stream Despicable Me 4 now.

He’s like an evil onion

“When you’re voicing a character like Maxime Le Mal, there’s no such thing as too much villainy,” says Will. “I approached Maxime with a mix of suave sophistication and deep-seated insecurity, blending those layers to create a villain you love to hate, but also kinda feel sorry for. It’s a delicate balance, but one that was incredibly fun to explore.” 

Maxime’s grudge with Gru goes back to their school days at the Lycee Pas Bon (High School Not Good) School of Villainy. Maxime’s resentment over a perceived slight at their ninth-grade talent show has been festering for years, only to reignite when Gru has Maxime arrested and humiliated during their class reunion. Driven by a determination to destroy his rival, Maxime escapes prison, and the rage-fuelled hunt begins. 

“You know that feeling when you’re stuck in traffic and someone cuts you off? Multiply that by, like, a bazillion, and you’ve got Maxime’s level of disdain for Gru. It’s a potent cocktail of bitterness, resentment and a dash of pure, unadulterated evil,” reveals Will. “The guy’s name literally translates to Maxime the evil. But beyond the name, Maxime’s got layers, like an evil onion waiting to be peeled. He’s not your run-of-the-mill villain, that’s for sure. He’s got this mix of arrogance and insecurity that’s just ripe for comedy.” 

A chip off the old, evil block

Evil, insecure and layered? That sounds like someone we know. But does Maxime share Gru’s big, gooey heart under his villainous shell?

“I think that it’s fun to watch a character fight against the inevitability of their own goodness,” says Steve Carell. “Some people aren’t so nice, but they try to convince the world that they are; Gru is nice, but he tries to convince the world that he’s not! When we first meet him, he’s an evil, villainous criminal mastermind. But soon, we come to see that he also has an enormous heart, and a great capacity to love. He’s sort of a villain, kind of a hero. But mostly, he’s a husband and a father.”

An evil supervillain wanting to annihilate Gru is small potatoes compared to the real battle he has on his hands in this film – getting his baby son to love him. “Lucy and the girls have always been his motivation to be the best that he can be, but with the arrival of Gru Jr, the family dynamic changes,” says Steve. “Gru Jr is a chip off the old block, but he’s not warming up to dear old dad. Gru has nothing but love for his baby boy, but he faces an uphill battle to win his son’s affection. It’s every parent’s nightmare to not instantly bond with your kids, and Gru struggles to establish a relationship with his new bundle of joy, while simultaneously saving the world as an AVL agent.” 

Director Chris Renaud explains, “We envisioned Gru Jr as a  mischievous little troublemaker, much like how Gru might have been as a baby. He finds joy in teasing his dad and isn’t too keen on the typical baby antics. However, their relationship evolves as the story unfolds. Witnessing Gru in his supervillain element sparks a shift in Baby Gru’s perspective – a case of like father, like son. Initially at odds, Baby Gru gradually connects with his dad on a deeper level, mirroring Gru’s own evolution.”

“The family’s turmoil in having to relocate struck a chord with me. It reminded me of my own experiences of moving as a teenager. While not everyone juggles the complexities of secret identities alongside relocation,” adds Chris. “The script (by The White Lotus writer-creator Mike White) cleverly explores the challenges that come with integrating into a new environment, which I think will resonate with many.”

Stream Despicable Me 4 now. And enjoy the collection, with Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, and Despicable Me 3 on Showmax, along with Minions.