Despicable Me 4 begins with an exciting confrontation (courtesy of slick angles and tense music by composer Heitor Pereira) between Gru and a new villain, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell).

Directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin make clever use of 3D effects, with stomach-dropping moments of vertigo and playful jokes about visual perspective. The supporting cast is eye-catching, too.