‘DESPICABLE ME 3’ trailer introduces new villain, lots of 80’s references

Courtney Howard // Film Critic

DESPICABLE ME was a box office juggernaut when it came out in 2010, taking in $544 million world-wide. 2013’s sequel, made even more money with a grand cume of $970 million world-wide. And now that Gru (Steve Carell) is a full-fledged family man, he’s using his very special set of villain skills for good, helping to nab one of the world’s most wanted criminals in DESPICABLE ME 3.

In the film, SOUTH PARK’s Trey Parker voices the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date.

Guys, I’m already readying my think piece: “What 80’s references are NOT in DESPICABLE ME 3?” Spotlit in the trailer we’ve got a myriad of things: shoulder pads, mullets, mohawks, keytars, Michael Jackson, Rubik’s Cube, fingerless gloves, Bubbliscious gum, Phil Collins, cassette tapes, and *takes a deep breath* the running man. This trailer is barely three minutes long. Lord help us what else will be used in the (assumed) 90 minute feature.

DESPICABLE ME 3 opens on June 30, 2017.