Despicable Me is one of the funniest family franchises in the world of cinema. It began in 2010 by focusing on Steve Carell's Gru as he charted his villainous career. In time, Gru would redeem himself, become a hero and start a family with Agnes, Margo and Edith. He'd also find love with the former agent who hunted him, Lucy.

Despicable Me 4 catches up with the family, including Gru Jr. (aka Junior). However, while Gru wants peace and order, things go awry on a mission. Gru has been capturing villains for the Anti-Villain League (AVL). Sadly, he runs afoul of Will Ferrell's Maxime; a genius who has a scary vendetta. It builds to an action-packed ending that reminds Gru of the power of family.

Despicable Me 4's Maxime Le Mal, Explained

Maxime is a former school-mate of Gru's, and together, they trained to become villains at Lycée Pas Bon. However, Maxime hated Gru for years for stealing his song in a talent contest. Maxime didn't bother to perform, which is why he decided to make a name as a villain and get the pomp and circumstance he missed out on as a teenager. The opening act doesn't go Maxime's way, however.

While he transforms into a cockroach hybrid, equipped with flight and super-strength, Gru and the AVL are able to take him down at a school reunion. Maxime swears vengeance, adamant he will make Gru pay for ruining his personal life years ago, and for now damaging his professional ambitions. Sadly, Maxime escapes AVL imprisonment and works with his femme fatale girlfriend, Sofía Vergara's Valentina. Retribution is high on the agenda. Maxime felt he was bullied, so it's his time to strike back and make Gru pay.

As a result, the AVL's director, Silas Ramsbottom, has Gru and his pack moved to Mayflower, a new town where they can hide under new identities. He fears reprisal. Plus, Gru doesn't want a big war; he wants to tend to his family and get Junior to like him. He leaves it up to the AVL to capture Maxime, although they're not that competent.

Despicable Me 4's Poppy Prescott, Explained

Despicable Me 4 has a second sub-plot running in parallel. Gru's neighbor, Poppy (The Dark Knight's Joey King) exposes his identity after scouring the internet. Her dream is to become a villain, so she blackmails Gru. She wants to steal Lycée Pas Bon's honey badger mascot. This will enhance her CV and better her chances of getting accepted. Her parents have no clue she wants this life, but Gru can tell she's a stained soul.

Gru reluctantly uses some of his Minions for the mission. They succeed, but there are ramifications. The principal, Übelschlecht, tracks the animal down and lets Maxime know where to find the family. While Poppy acts nicer to Gru's family and befriends the girls, she has inadvertently doomed them. Übelschlecht arrives for a fight, which causes a distraction. Junior ends up outside, only to be kidnapped by Maxime and Valentina.

Poppy makes amends. While Übelschlecht is taken down, she commandeers a flying carriage and gets Gru up to Maxime's ship in the sky. Poppy comes off selfless and heroic, helping Gru get on board to recover his son. Unfortunately, the final fight takes a turn for the worse. Maxime has used his cockroach ray on Junior, turning him into a flying roach hybrid as well. He wants to ruin Gru's legacy and take away his family's future. Junior is now his scion, programmed to kill Gru. Maxime savors this moment, sensing he will break Gru mentally, as well as physically.

Despicable Me 4's Gru. Jr Saves Gru

All movie long, Gru Jr. has been attacking his father. He just doesn't like him. He beats him down, messes with his food, and tries to assert himself as a boss. It's reflected in how vicious he is when he mutates. Junior is mimicking Maxime, teasing that he will help kill Gru. Thankfully, Junior remembers the love his father showered him with and breaks out of his brainwashing.

Junior and his father team up after the mind-control, beat down Maxime and send him crashing to the ground below. It's a massive step for their relationship. Gru feels complete at last. The girls love him, and now, his son does, too. Granted, it happens due to a bit of chaos, but Gru gets to rebuild with his son. Gru doesn't want to waste this second chance.

Despicable Me 4's Mega Minions Finish Off Maxime

In this Despicable Me movie, most of the Minions are sent to train with the AVL. Five Minions end up being experimented on in chambers to make super-soldiers. It's very similar to Marvel's Captain America story. They become the Mega Minions. One has the powers of flight, one becomes a pastiche of the Hulk, and another is a copy of the Thing. Similarly, one Minion has an eye that fires lasers like Cyclops, and the last Minion can stretch like Mr. Fantastic.

However, due to them being inept, bumbling heroes who caused massive collateral damage, they were retired. Silas re-activated them to help Gru, however. As they come racing back to Mayflower, they bring animals with them. A massive stampede occurs, which squashes Maxime, who is left bitter and bruised. Gru does visit him later in prison to let him know it wasn't an accident, as he did steal his high-school act. It's a rare evil side. Gru doesn't gloat much anymore, but he has his ego if need be.

Gru does offer to make things up to him. He throws a karaoke party in the AVL jail. He and Maxime have forgiven each other. They perform renditions of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by British pop rock band, Tears for Fears. The Mega Minions break into the jail for the festivities. It becomes a complete jam, which even the incarcerated Valentina enjoys. This looks like a rebirth for the couple.

Despicable Me 4's Ending Is All About Unity

In the prison, other villains from the previous Despicable Me films are seen dancing and singing. They include Vector, Mr. Perkins, El Macho, Scarlet and Herb Overkill, Balthazar Bratt, Belle Bottom, Jean-Clawed, Svengeance, Stronghold, and Nun-Chuck. They're all cool with each other. Gru and his Minions soak it all in. They have indeed made a difference.

Gru is able to move his family back to their original home. Poppy heads to the villainous school with high expectations. Gru's girls reunite with old friends. Agnes gets her pet goat, Lucky, back, while Dr. Nefario reverses Gru Jr.'s transformation. Unfortunately, one of the Minions remains stuck in the Mayflower home, but that doesn't discourage Team Gru from celebrating their victory. They throw a backyard barbecue to commemorate their triumph and return.

Gru's twin brother, Dru, from Despicable Me 3 is present. He has atoned and looks like he wants to be a hero. Their mother, Marlena, is seen as well. This scene happens very quickly, with no conversation occurring. But just like the Fast & Furious movies, the visuals speak for themselves. Gru has all his loved ones with him. Junior worships him now after seeing him in action. The rest of the kids are happy again, and Lucy is grateful they don't have to uproot themselves again. This is their perfect home, and from now on, they will fight tooth and nail for it as their family expands.

Despicable Me 4 is now in theaters.