Despicable Me, 2010.
Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud.
Featuring the voice talents of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand and Julie Andrews.
SYNOPSIS:
Evil supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) finds out he’s not the number one villain anymore and has been replaced by a younger, arrogant teen named Vector (Jason Segel). Determined the return to his top place, Gru devises a plan to steal the moon, but along the way realises he needs the help of three little girls to accomplish this most evil plan.
In the middle of a typical American suburb lies the fortress of Gru, an evil villain who spends his days hatching plans and stealing important landmarks such as the Times Square TV screen and the Eiffel Tower (the small replica one from Vegas). One day on a trip to the Bank of Evil (Formerly Lehman Brothers) he gets his finance proposal rejected as his schemes never turn enough profit, and a younger villain named Vector has taken over his spot as the most respected villain. Feeling resentful and determined to get his status back and turn a big profit, he forms a plan to steal the moon. Unfortunately, in order to accomplish his plan, he must adopt and enlist the help of three little orphan girls named Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
With competitors like Dreamworks and Disney it’s difficult to make a good animated children’s film today, but Despicable Me holds its own well, and the use of 3D certainly helps the film. With a typical children’s film plot of an evil villain becoming heart-warmed and a changed man through the love of children the 3D aspect certainly helps keep the film interesting, and while there are some cheesy lines, there are many great one liners and the cast deliver them brilliantly.
What made the film was the three orphan girls that warmed Gru’s heart, and I don’t believe there was a single person in the audience who didn’t want to adopt little Agnes, whose utter adoration and love of fluffy unicorns was probably the one thing about the film that will stick with viewers, and see little girls rushing out to the shops to buy their own “IT’S SO FLUFFY I WANT TO DIE” unicorn. Another part that, while predictable, is Gru’s relationship with his mother: one of unfulfilled love, but the flashbacks to his childhood which were some of the funniest scene of the whole film.
Despicable Me isn’t an amazing film, and it’s certainly not in the same league as the likes of Shrek or Toy Story, but it is enjoyable and kids will definitely love it.
Vicki Isitt
Movie Review Archive
Originally published October 7, 2010. Updated April 10, 2018.
