A third Minions movie has hit the theaters, what makes this stand out from the crowd? Surprisingly, a lot more than one would think. “Minions & Monsters” has plenty of charm, wit, and laughs for what one might usually dismiss as sequel slop.

Ever since the Minions first graced the big screen in 2010, the little yellow beans have skyrocketed into a global phenomenon. With every passing release of a new “Despicable Me” film, audiences would clamor about the Minion’s countless shenanigans. This popularity led to the Minions having their own movie some years down the line that was well-received by audiences but panned by critics. Now back for a third time, this film takes a different path by following a different set of Minions from previous films. Rather than the iconic trio of Kevin, Bob, and Stuart, we now follow the stories of James, Henry, and Ed.

Much of the story revolves around James, an artistic individual, much to the annoyance of his tribe. His tribe's leader, aptly named Dick, often chastises him for his inability to just go with the flow in searching for a new “big boss” to serve. Henry, on the other hand, finds joy in James’ unique ideas and decides to stay by his side at all times. Ed, a deaf, strongman type also ends up tagging along to help them with their antics. One day, after messing around with a spell book of an evil wizard master they served, the Minions find themselves traversing the deserts of California to find a new boss. They encounter a robber and take pursuit, hoping to serve the thief, only to realize they’ve stumbled upon a big budget Hollywood production. Their sudden disruption finds them turned into stars overnight by movie director Max, voiced by Christoph Waltz. That is, until the introduction of sound to motion pictures.

What's lovely about this movie is its utmost respect to the golden age of Hollywood. There are countless references young audiences might not pick up on just yet to icons like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd. We see homages paid to Georges Méliès’ “A Trip to the Moon” and to the fathers of cinema, the Lumiére brothers. Even modern greats like George Lucas and Keanu Reeves are given their due praise. What's even better is these references serve a true purpose. They're not just thrown in for quick laughs for those in the know. It's almost as if those behind “Minions and Monsters” want this to be an early guide for children to become cinephiles. What's also surreal is how oddly fitting the Minions are in showing us the quiet downfall of silent film artists once the era of sound pictures began similar to films like “Sunset Boulevard” and “The Artist."

Of course, like with every Illumination joint, there's a pure, childish joy that comes from the slapstick humor the Minions bring. Some gags also come unexpectedly, leaving some viewers questioning, “You can do that in a kid's movie?” While some jokes might have you groaning or rolling your eyes from a grown-up's perspective, it bodes well that children from the audience during the screening could be heard laughing and reacting positively to the gags.

Oddly enough, our personal opinion is that the film's weakest point is the introduction of the monsters as the film's villains. Much of the film's charm and wit comes from the moments we solely focus on the Minions fooling around in Hollywood. Goomi, voiced by “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker, feels more like an afterthought. Even the sideplot following Jesse Eisenberg's Dort has a more interesting backstory than the Cthulhu from Temu.

Overall, “Minions & Monsters” delivers a laugh-heavy, surprisingly heartwarming time for those who enjoy cinema. It's personally better than the third and fourth “Despicable Me” movies. Stick around during the credits for some more quick laughs, this time with Gru and family, who remained absent for the most part of the film.