LOS ANGELES — The cute babbling Minions who played supporting roles in 2010's animated blockbuster “Despicable Me” take center stage in the sequel, a film tipped to rival the original's stellar success. In fact the little yellow men — voiced by the films' French directors with a merry sprinkling of multi-lingual gibberish — have proved so popular that they are to get their own movie next year. For now they have to share the limelight with villain-turned-doting-father Gru (voiced by Steve Carell, also in a jumbled-up accent) in “Despicable Me 2,” out in the United States for the July 4 national holiday. The follow-up is already out in parts of Europe as well as Australia and Hong Kong, and has opened strongly and with positive reviews, fueling its makers' hopes for another blockbuster hit. — Reuters
