Despicable Me 4 4K UltraHD

The world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League-agent, Gru (Steve Carell), returns for a bold new era of minions mayhem in Illumination’s "Despicable Me 4." Gru, Lucy and their girls welcome a new member to the family ––Gru Jr. –– who is intent on tormenting his dad, as a new nemesis shows up and forces the family to go on the run. (Gary Reber)

Special features include six featurettes: "Game Over And Over" (HD 04:19), "Benny's Birthday" (HD 04:01), "Despicable Dialogue" (HD 03:37), "Meet The Cast" (HD 22:16), "Making Of" (HD 10:57), "Mega Minion Mayhem" (HD 04:22) and "How To Draw" (HD 12:11); nine deleted and extended scenes (HD 14:25), Rogues Gallery (HD 03:38) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was animated digitally and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. The picture is wonderful! The animation is amazing! There is so much fast animated action, yet clarity and sharpness are spectacular!. The color palette is vivid with fully saturated hues that consistently light up the screen and pop. Colors are impressively rich and warm with impressive hue shadings, thanks to the wide color gamut. From closeups to backgrounds the palette of color is mesmerizing. Minion yellow is warmly hued and flesh tones nicely contrast with the other colors and are distinct. HDR contrast exhibits fine distinctions in color shading and intensity, as well as exhibiting a wide contrast with bright whites and deep blacks. Every scene is perfectly contrasted. Resolution is fantastic with extreme sharpness exhibited throughout. The extent of animated detail is extraordinary both in terms of line definition and textural vividness. This is one of the most incredible animated productions crafted to date. This pristine reference-quality presentation really dazzles with visually funny slapstick animation that is wonderfully colorful. The imagery delivers constant laughs that will thrill the entire family. (Gary Reber)

The mis-credited Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack should be credited as a TrueHD productions as the height layer is used minimally in about three short-second instances and adds nothing to the dimensionality of the soundtrack. That said, as a TrueHD production, the soundtrack is superb. The sound elements are very active, especially sound effects and the orchestral score. The music is fast paced and very constant throughout. The music is comprised of a wide and deep soundstage with an aggressive extension to the four surrounds. Sound effects are panned extensively and directionalized throughout the soundstage. Bass energy is solid, both as a musical foundation and to enhance sound effects with .1 LFE impact. There are lots of large-scale action sequences where dynamics are strong. ADR dialogue is intelligible throughout and at times directionalized with decent integration for an animated production.

The Immersive Sound element is virtually non-existent. Not even the music is extended to the height layer. Studios need to stop crediting soundtrack as Dolby Atmos when their is vitally no height layer. Even theatrically the credit was "Dolby Vision/Atmos", which was a falsehood with the short-second instances acknowledged. Unfortunately such mis-crediting is becoming more frequent and done so as to boost box office and home theatre expectation..

The ear-level holosonic® presentation is first rate. A high-energy affair, populated with Pop songs and constant orchestral support, as well as lots of sound effects, make for a fun sonic experience. (Gary Reber)