WHAT’S IT ABOUT
After the death of their super-powered villainous boss, low-level henchpeople Beatrix, Cain, and Harold are left destitute. Beatrix is determined for them to strike out on their own and take over the world by any means necessary.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Villains Inc. is a movie about Beatrix, Cain, and Harold, who have worked together as henchmen for quite some time. They accidentally kill their latest boss, Winter General, just before he is going to take out Captain Justice. Now, they are strapped for cash and struggling to make ends meet. Beatrix decides to go to supervillain tryouts to win the cash prize, but if she fails, she dies. Meanwhile, Cain and Harold take Alex under their wing after rescuing him from Megadeath. Alex is a wannabe inventor; his project could help the henchmen make money. Beatrix’s plan to take over the world by opening a pet store for villains, embedding them with a kill switch, and then using some complex paperwork to receive all their financial assets is dastardly and inadvisable. Before implementing her plan, Beatrix must become a licensed supervillain, passing the annual villain tryouts and gaining superpowers she doesn’t have. The movie portrays a world that embraces benign evil and capitalism to a frightening degree. Superpowers are a commodity, and casualties are high. The film touches on several topics, including friends feeling adrift after losing their jobs, trying to bring a shared dream to life, superhero tropes, a world where superpowers are a human right, consumerism, corporations controlling people, and a bright but foolhardy young inventor finding his place. However, the only topics thoroughly explored are the consumerism angle and the friendship between Beatrix, Cain, and Harold. The cast, led by Mallory Everton, Colin Mochrie, and Jason Gray, is excellent and makes the movie worth watching. The trio’s fantastic chemistry is the movie’s most vital selling point. While Villains Inc. is overstuffed with ideas and story threads, it’s a fun and funny ride worth your time.
OUR RATING – A WHITE PEOPLE FUNNY 5