Matinee at the Movies! robgirlbooks' experience watching Despicable Me 2 with her two boys. Goodness!

Do not sit near me at the movies, my only advice if you see me with my two boys partaking in an afternoon animated feature. Even if you have kids of your own and you tell yourself, "Mine can't sit still either," keep your distance, because I would if I could. I will confess this, I have turned into the single mother in all TV sitcoms. The mom on the phone with the kid wrapped around her leg as he barks. The mom rubbing her forehead as her kid pretend shoots people with the 64 oz bottle of apple juice at the grocery store. The mom who thinks she can sit through a movie with two hyper boys with only a contraband plastic baggie of Skittles to settle her nerves. I am her.

So we make it through the loud previews. Eleven year old Will covers his ears and keeps letting the folding seat fold him. Four year old John loves the previews and won't stop talking. I've learned not to tell him to whisper. I have no idea how he can whisper so loud, but he manages it. A Lego preview comes on, enthralling all of us into perfect moviegoers. I think maybe I will survive this experience after all. Will goes back to folding. John chatters away. Then the movie starts along with the music. I had no idea there would be so much music. I sneak a peek at Will to see how he's doing because he has a hard time with music he's never heard before. He's covering his ears. "Mom, I think I will be going home now." That's at the five minute mark. I look at John and he's waving his dang contraband baggie of Goldfish crackers around. I turn back to the screen, might as well enjoy as much of the movie as I can before we're kicked out.

The little yellow minions rock. The boys laugh in delight every scene they're in, especially when they destroy stuff. But then the music follows the scenes and the scary parts are even scarier for the boys because they're not desensitized in the least. At one point, little monster creatures are running around everywhere. "Okay, that's scary," Will says loudly when the theater is absolutely quiet. I'm covering John's eyes and holding Will's hand. I reassure them that the ending will be good because they love good endings. And suddenly we're at the end. I breathe a sigh of relief. We made it, but then the minions start singing. I mean really singing, some boy band song but with a Spanish accent, maybe it was a Spanish song. I have no idea. Will throws his hands back over his ears. John starts bouncing around and talking, all the while the song goes on until I can't take it anymore. I burst out laughing, tears streaming down my face kind of wondrous laughing. I can't stop.

So go see Despicable Me 2. I loved it. Really. The boys both told me to go pick it up at the library. I give it 5 STARS. And it's highly unlikely you'll run into me or the boys, so you might give it 5 STARS too!