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Think about The Maltese Falcon -- an amazing noir film, but when you look closer there is surprisingly very little action -- it's mostly a series of interesting, tense conversations between complicated characters in small rooms. (Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Elisha Cook Jr. ...)

And so it is with Brick -- perhaps a bit more action, but the centerpiece here is the dialogue and the intricate plot. Beautiful, sometimes confusing, occasionally hard to follow, and worth it. If you miss a beat don't worry -- let it wash over you and enjoy. Maybe my only regret is that it's not in black and white.

I was always impressed with the previous Minions movies by the depth and intelligence of some of the references and jokes.

This one just doesn't seem that clever -- the Minions are adorable as always, but many of the same old gags are recycled -- they slap each other. They laugh at farts. They get covered in muck. Got it.

One challenge is that Gru is portrayed throughout as a kid -- in previous movies I think Gru's weariness at the adult world and its challenges added a layer that is missing here.

I was amused to re-read the credits -- some pretty heavy-duty voice actors here, many of whom get one line. (Will Arnett? Steve Coogan? Russell Brand is promoted prominently and has maybe five lines in the whole film).

The kids will love it, and there are worse ways to spend an afternoon, but it just didn't ring for me.

PS -- I am intrigued in the worst possible way by some of the reviews here -- at least a dozen proclaiming it the best film of all time, a life-changer, it saved my marriage... stupid internet troll joke or the PR department at the studio trying to boost the average review score? Hmm...

When my daughter wanted to watch this I said, "You mean Four Weddings and a Funeral? That's a great film!"

But alas....

I must confess that I may be the wrong audience for this movie. (I'm an older Dad).

If you have sisters or you're a mom with daughters this might be right for you: "Look! She's just like our Susan! I had that same fight once with MY sister!"

Otherwise the sisters complete hackneyed stereotypes: the overachiever, the underachiever, the stay-at-home "old maid" (kinda young and a bit offensive to be labeled an old maid, but that's how they play it...). Add in the gauche prospective in-laws, and the plot lines write themselves: this one will make up with that one; these two will eventually fall in love.... Oh yeah... and a prospective stepdaughter so annoying that even my 11-year-old daughter wanted to drown her.

In the end (no spoilers!) there is one giant scene were everyone reconciles with everyone --- a scene that possibly has no end to it. (I could have gone out for a pizza and come back and it would still be going on...) The credits claim that the film has an editor, but you couldn't prove it by me:

"I love you!"

"No; I'm the one who loves YOU!"

"I never realized!"

"And we all love Mom!"

Not funny enough to be a comedy; not dramatic enough to be a drama, not romantic enough to be a rom-com.

Hey, if you dig this who am I to complain? But next time I'll hold out for Hugh Grand and Andie MacDowell.