More ‘Minions’ magic

Colorful little henchmen reason enough to catch ‘The Rise of Gru’

You can’t help but be charmed by the current of weirdness that washes through the computer-animated “Despicable Me” franchise. ¶ Take, for instance, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” — the second prequel to the main movie series and the sequel to 2015’s “Minions” — which debuts this week in theaters. ¶ It introduces a collection of colorful new villains, including Jean Clawed, who’s voiced by Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Nun-chuck, a Lucy Lawless-voiced character who, yes, is a nun-chucks-wielding nun. ¶ Yet while a young version of the series’ antihero, Gru (voiced, as always, by Steve Carell), is front and center in this romp, the draw continues to be the Minions. The odd but obedient little yellow fellows — voiced distinctly and clever again by the uniquely gifted Pierre Coffin — are worth the price of a ticket.

After an adventure that ultimately landed them in the late 1960s, we meet back up with them, serving a nearly 12-year-old Gru, in the mid-’70s.

Gru worships a daring supervillain team of the

day, the Vicious 6. In the movie’s opening minutes, the group travels to Asia to steal a powerful item known as the Zodiac Stone. After the gang’s leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin), narrowly escapes with it, another member, the Afro-sporting Belle Bottom (Taraji P. Henson), snatches it from him and literally cuts him out of the team, filling the sudden leadership void herself.

Gru is thrilled when he’s granted a chance to interview for the opening with the Vicious 6 and excitedly heads for an interview in their secret lair within the music store Criminal Records.

There, Gru meets a future associate, then-aspiring mad scientist Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), but the interview is a bust.

COURTESY OF ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT & UNIVERSAL PICTURES Gru (Steve Carell) has grand plans for his future in “Minions: Rise of Gru.”