The animated film “Despicable Me 2” comes out to generously and courteously put us up to date on the latest news on the life and adventures of Gru, former evil villain, and his adopted three “goils”: Margo, Agnes and Edith and perhaps most especially, those yellow chattering and giggling Minions.

If this means nothing to you, I suggest you should rent or download “Despicable Me.” You won’t be disappointed. It is one of those cartoons that entertain adults as much, or perhaps more, than those popcorn spillers. The wit of “Despicable Me” is clever and amusing, but in “Despicable Me 2” love sneaks in; love for family and love for the opposite gender…and disapproval to: disapproval of a young Latin Lothario boy tying to take advantage of the budding feminine charms of Margo and, Gru, quite understandably, being a protective (former villain) papa tries to find non-nefarious ways of solving that problem like smacking him with his freeze gun. What father could blame him?

Gru (Steve Carell) is happily retired from a life of evil and is now contentedly raising his three girls and making revolting-tasting jellies with his Minions and Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand). One day he is kidnapped by the Anti-Villains League’s Special Agent Lucy (Kristen Wiig). After a scene from a 007 film, only under the influence of too much Children’s Cough Syrup, Gru and Lucy appear before Mr. Ramsbottom, the head of the AVL. They wish to recruit Gru in finding an evildoer whose lair is in a shopping mall. The most likely subject is Eduardo, the owner of Salsa Salsa, a Mexican Restaurant. (Eduardo is voiced by Benjamin Bratt).

The evildoer is turning the sweet-natured Minions into crazed fuzz balls with more than a passing resemblance to Gremlins. Please do not be a-feared! One can buy cuddly stuffed versions of both. I am putting both versions on my Christmas list. I figure I will get the sweet Minion and I will give the growling, snarling Minion to one that most resembles that particular personality. She will find it most comforting…to have one with whom she might share common interests and traits, particularly when I don’t put my shoes in the shoe storage place of the week.

“Despicable 2” is a lot of fun. I loved it; she loved it. It is a comfort film; like pizza and ice cream; like hot dogs from Varsity; like tuna casserole with a mega-dose of onion rings on top.

This is a gentle film; nothing really crass except for maybe the fart gun—that might be the rude part mentioned in the MPAA rating, but flatulence is one of the basic tools of childish comedy; without it, children would be joyless, miserable and grow up to be dull and never go to movies and would, in such a case, not read my reviews which makes them evil villains, plain and simple.

There is a very happy ending and perhaps a very essential line in it. When Agnes, the youngest little “goil” tells Gru something, Gru passes out a bit of advice that, in a sense, we should all keep in mind when enjoying animated films: “Never grow up.”

That may be the key to having fun with a movie like “Despicable Me 2”. We bring children or grandchildren as an excuse, but the truth is the truth: we go to see these films to entertain our inner child; the one that giggles at the fart gun.

Not to worry, your secret is safe with me: Critic-Film Fan Privilege.

“Despicable Me 2” earns four Minion bow ties out of five.