Review: 75546 Minions in Gru's Lab
Posted by CapnRex101,
Gru's impressive laboratory could certainly have inspired an enjoyable model, integrating various appealing functions. 75546 Minions in Gru's Lab belongs to the 4+ range instead, simplifying the location for younger builders. This approach has restricted the potential detail.
However, these Minion minifigures are excellent, particularly given the presence of Otto. This character is only otherwise available with 75550 Minions Kung Fu Battle and this variant is exclusive. Some interesting parts are provided too.
Minifigures
Otto is making his debut appearance during Minions: The Rise of Gru and seemingly occupies an important role, based upon trailers. This character is noticeably chubbier than most Minions, although his blue overalls and goggles are each consistent with others. The printing here looks remarkably accurate and I like Otto's shocked facial expression.
Moreover, the black hair component seems interesting and connects to a stud on Otto's head. Kevin also features a unique hair piece, closely resembling the varying plant stems that have appeared in numerous colours recently. Both elements could prove helpful for other creations and they look perfect here, corresponding with the onscreen characters.
Kevin's printed facial expression is shared with 75551 Brick-Built Minions and their Lair which seems somewhat disappointing, although the eyes vary between sets. However, both Minions here feature nearly identical eyes, differing only in their pupil orientation. Spare decorated eyes are provided for both minifigures.
The Completed Model
75546 Minions in Gru's Lab resembles numerous 4+ sets, integrating the 8x16 element which appears very frequently throughout this series. Medium azure seems reasonably bright for the environment but the cohesion between distinct sections of Gru's lair is appreciated. The model feels accordingly robust too, as one would anticipate for younger builders.
Minions are known for their obsession with bananas and three bananas are therefore located beneath an orange slide. This substantial component has not been available in orange before and comfortably accommodates Stuart, although Otto's arms overhang the side. Nevertheless, this slide is a welcome addition to the model for play.
However, my favourite section is definitely the centre, which integrates two exclusive printed elements. The first displays two screens beside a handwritten sign, identifying Gru's lair. The rough decoration looks perfect for a young Gru and the neighbouring washing machine is fun too, containing two unfortunate Minions! I dislike the uneven addition of one 1x2 slope on top though, as if another slope has been accidentally excluded.
This decorated dish is connected using a flick-fire missile element, enabling you to rotate or launch the drum from behind. Otherwise, the reverse appears completely bland, as one may expect given the appropriate focus upon play throughout the 4+ range. There are some great details across the front though, fortunately.
While the floor surface consists primarily of the aforementioned 8x16 plate, a 8x8 lattice plate extends this space further. This extension is necessary to secure the short roller coaster track and also features a yellow railing, where some tools are kept. Moreover, another yellow railing accompanies the model, seemingly creating a buffer for the roller coaster track.
The track is extremely short and seems accordingly silly, although I can imagine the Minions devising such peculiar transportation methods. This red track component returns from 10261 Roller Coaster and the rocket-powered vehicle presents a welcome contrast, comprising light and dark bluish grey pieces. These wheels slot nicely onto the track but there is no means of securing the vehicle anywhere along this curve which is disappointing.
Overall
Play is obviously paramount in LEGO sets, particularly in those developed for younger children. 75546 Minions in Gru's Lab succeeds in that regard, combining some interesting functions and details into a relatively small set which costs £17.99 or $19.99. The accompanying Minions are appealing as well, replicating the onscreen characters while maintaining the aesthetic of LEGO.
However, the cavernous laboratory which appears during the Despicable Me movies, to which this lair is presumably the forerunner, could have provided inspiration for an outstanding model. Expanding this set to match something like 79103 Turtle Lair Attack could have been fantastic, providing potential to include numerous creative functions and embracing the utter chaos which characterises this location onscreen.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review represents an expression of my own opinions.
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11 comments on this article
I picked this set up a year ago and it's actually quite a fun 4+ set. I love the unique hair piece on Otto and i've put that to good use.
As you stated this could form a large lair but it might be useful to buy the Hidden Side Lab and use it on a full City Laboratory.
So the movie has been delayed to 2022, right? Could LEGO just not hold on to these three sets any longer in storage? I know many have leaked before this official 2021 release date, YouTube channel just2good had picked one up way earlier. Will LEGO do this to any other licensed waves (for films)?
@Spidermanager said:
"So the movie has been delayed to 2022, right? Could LEGO just not hold on to these three sets any longer in storage? I know many have leaked before this official 2021 release date, YouTube channel just2good had picked one up way earlier. Will LEGO do this to any other licensed waves (for films)?"
Already as it is, the first sets would be out for possibly 2.5 years (and up to 3.5) if they keep it in line with when the film will be out.
I know this is a low-end 4+ set (for a movie that will be also be for 4-year-olds) but this looks like it has about twelve pieces, and nothing about it suggests "lab"
Otto and Kevin actually have different eyes in this set. Otto is looking to the left while Kevin looks to the right. The distinction is subtle, because the only way you can tell which orientation is right-side-up is to put the white dot at the top.
My first thought was that the ramp was intended for launching the rocket sled (and it may indeed double in that role), but all of the promotional pictures suggest it’s for capturing the sled upon reentry to the lab. I’m certain we'll see it racing around on the streets in the movie, rather than being restricted to a short length of track, so it makes sense that it’s not locked onto the track like a roller coaster car. Even if it’s not, you know kids will want to use it that way anyways, so it still makes sense.
Great spot, @PurpleDave. I guess the fact that there were two spare is a little clue. Crazy that two separate
but almost identical prints were used.
Thank you @PurpleDave, the article has been updated. I must have noticed while building the set, or otherwise got lucky, because the eyes are paired correctly in the photos.
@Brainslugged:
The sheer variety of eye tiles they produced for this tiny theme is astounding. Between just the first two sets there are six different eye prints on 1x1 round tiles. The Kung Fu set includes at least two more new eyes. The airplane set _might_ reuse the same eyes as the giant lair sets. Kevin also might have a pair of Bob's left eye, but Otto's eyes are unique to his two appearances. Bob might be the only Minion who only gets one facial expression. Including the polybag, Bob appears four times and looks like he has the same innocent smile every time. Stuart also appears four times, and has a completely different expression each time. Kevin appears three times, and this looks like it has the same smile as he got in the Lair set. Otto only appears twice, and has different expressions both times.
@CapnRex101:
Did they come in different bags, or mixed together? Anyways, I figured one possibility was that they might have intended them to be crosseyed, like Bob is in all four of his appearances, but all of the official pics have them shown the exact same way. Weird. This version of Kevin and both versions of Otto are the only Minions who are looking off to one side.
Hey, the regular Minion torso is triple-molded, with blue for the overalls, yellow for the arm sockets and "neck", and black for the shoes. This caused some color issues with the Kung Fu and pajama outfits, as they aren't shaped like overalls, and they had to paint over the yellow bits to form the collars. Otto only gets one outfit, but has an entirely different body. It's hard to tell from the photo, but is he also triple molded in blue/yellow/black?
Anyways, a little more lore on the four Minions is that Kevin, Stuart, and Bob were Minions in the first film...but none of them had two eyes. Stuart may be the same across all films, but Kevin and Bob from DM1 are not Kevin and Bob from Minions. Kevin, Stuart, and Bob were chosen to be the trio in Minions due to their superficial similarities to Margo, Edith, and Agnes. Kevin's name was chosen because "kevinos" means "leader" in Attic (aka "ancient") Greek. Stuart's name comes from the Latin word "stuartalumni", which basically means "the one who slacks". Bob's name is short for Robert, which is supposedly a reference to his height, as he's the shortest Minion to appear in any film. At present, Otto is a bit of a mystery, as he's never appeared in any previous film, and they apparently haven't talked about him much.
Orange slide? You mean banana slide :)
Half the price and I would buy it, but the line is exclusive in Germany so no chance =/