‘Despicable Me 4’ Proves It’s Time to Euthanize the Minions

Despicable Me 4 exists because its five big-screen siblings—three direct predecessors and two Minions-focused prequels—made the franchise the most lucrative in animated-cinema history. Pretending there’s a creative reason for continuing the series is foolhardy, and Chris Renaud’s sequel offers no reason to think there’s anything more than a profit motive at play here.

Continuing the tale of bald, oddly shaped Gru and his clan of human and yellow compatriots...