Working from a screenplay by “White Lotus” creator Mike White, who also wrote the 2023 Illumination release “Migration,” and series veteran Ken Daurio, Renaud and co-director Patrick Delage keep things moving at the briskest of clips. And they mine plenty of laughs, mainly from the Minions.

Our prank-loving friends enter into training by the Anti-Villain League, under the leadership of Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan), who offers five of them a “super serum,” which, if it doesn’t kill them instantly, will give them otherworldly powers. The latter happens (phew), with the “Mega Minions” quintet now possessing abilities stolen from, er, inspired by various superheroes. (If you think about it, it probably was only a matter of time before one of the one-eyed Minions got powerful laser beam capability a la X-Men mainstay Cyclops.)

With all the characters and all the zaniness, there isn’t much room for thematic work — especially disappointing given White’s involvement — or meaningful character arcs. Oh, sure, we suspect that Gru Jr., who revels in tormenting his father, will warm to Gru eventually. On the other hand, though, threads such as youngest daughter Agnes’ unwillingness to use her fake name, “Britney,” because it is a lie, are allowed to wither after only a little exploration.

None of this is likely to matter at the box office, of course, as “Despicable Me 4” is poised to be plenty pleasing.

This surely isn’t the last irreverent hurrah for the franchise — Renaud told Deadline a Mega Minions spinoff probably won’t be next, but no doubt something “Despicable” this way will come — so here’s hoping we’ll get a movie a bit more focused and filling.

We’ll take these empty calories, along with all these Minions, to be sure, but the creative folks serving them up are capable of more.

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‘DESPICABLE ME 4’

2.5 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: PG (for action and rude humor)

Running time: 1:35

How to watch: In theaters July 3

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