Back in 2010, a couple of children’s animated films came out with roughly the same message — that evil geniuses and criminal masterminds are misunderstood, sweet and salvageable as human beings.

“Megamind,” starring Will Ferrell, was a big hit. “Despicable Me,” starring Steve Carell, was a blockbuster that became a franchise, spawning sequels and spin-offs.

The biggest difference between the two films? Minions.

Fourteen years later, the animated movie world comes full circle as Carell and Ferrell unite for “Despicable Me 4,” with Will affecting a French accent to play the criminal over-achiever-turned-family-man Gru’s latest arch nemesis, “Maxime.”

“Eeet’s always SOMEthing! I can nev-air focus on just being EEEvil!”

And the only grins — “giggles” turns out to be too strong a word — in this still franchise come from the gibberish-spouting Minions. Listen carefully and you’ll hear what sounds like “Suppository!” from one as he takes a leap from a great height.

Cling to that, because aside from the odd moment of clever CGI slapstick, there’s noting else to cling to in this exhausted sequel. Good actors were hired to deliver funny voices, but not given anything amusing to say. Bland situations are recycled from other films. “Domestic life” in an evil genius household is about as entertaining as “Modern Family” without the gays or Sofia Vergara.

The plot — Gru (Carell) and Lucy’s (Kristen Wiig) — baby boy is kidnapped by the villainous Maxime and his sassy moll Valentina (Sofia Vergara) — and Gru must find the baby who seems disinclined to bond with his “Da-da,” even refusing to so much as gurgle “Da-da.”

The family of “leetle goils,” Lucy and Gru goes into AVL (Anti Villain League) witness protection, failing to bond with rich neighbors (Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman) and their bratty, Gru-suspecting daughter (Joey King).

Meanwhile, AVL chief Silas (Steve Coogan) is morphing Minions into Megaminions, superpowered superhero “agents” who resemble assorted members of “The Fantastic Four.”

That goes about as well as you’d expect.

Bringing Mike White in to co-write the script just reminds us how long ago “School of Rock” came out.

Putting Ferrell in the voice cast just makes one wonder if “Megamind” could have produced sequels.

And every time I see Coogan’s Silas, I wonder how the legendary Brit actor James Fox feels about being visually and vocally parodied by Coogan & Co.

Baby befriends badger thanks to an evil genius Hogwarts heist gone wrong — Gru is blackmailed into kidnapping the school mascot — kids adjusting to new school and new neighbors, nothing here yields funny fruit.

Yes, the animation sparkles. And yes, audiences are lining up around the block for something to take the kids to that isn’t “Garfield” or “Inside Out 2,” turning this into another big hit.

But are ticket-buying parents satisfied by any of this? “Despicable Me 4” barely rises to the level of “harmless. slaptsick distraction.”

Rating: PG

Cast: The voices of Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Stephen Colbert and
Sofía Vergara.

Credits: Directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage, scripted by Mike White and Ken Daurio. A Universal release.

Running time: 1:36