Despicable Me Movie Review

Steve Carell has two films starring him in theaters at once at the moment. This film and Dinner for Schmucks both let Carell do his comedy genius. In Despicable Me, however, he gets to play the role of a super-villain who suddenly becomes a single parent. The premise of this film is hilarious enough, but how does the actual film stand up?

Plot

Carell voices Gru a bald, Eastern-European sounding supervillain who is obsessed with his plan to steal the moon. Unfortunately he is getting on in years and finds himself in a mid-life crisis. A younger and more hip supervillain named Vector rises to the top of the supervillain charts by stealing a pyramid and Gru finds himself unable to get the funding he needs for his own evil plans. His frustration is quadrupled when three small orphan girls show up. He finds their cuteness beginning to soften his heart, which as every villain knows is the worst fate imaginable.

Despicable Me

This film really does a good job with what it is. After Toy Story 3, animated films have big shoes to fill and no one is claiming that this film does that, but for those who are looking for some more animated magic this film is just what the doctor ordered. The clever switch of a hero who is a villain is refreshing and clever. And the theme of dealing with being a single parent in order to find the youth within himself is something that adults and kids with both enjoy. The characters are lovable from beginning to end and the humorous minions will put a smile on your face and leave it there for the rest of your day, despite how annoying they seem in commercials on TV.

The film is fun with its morally dubious humor is refreshing as long as you aren't an uptight parent. Gru will demonstrate throughout the movie that he is trying his best to be a bad, rude, and selfish person, but it's all in good fun and the kids in the film get to be the ones to teach Gru a bit about life. This is a fun film but really not much more. If you're looking for something as deep as Toy Story 3 then you're looking in the wrong place, but if you want some great humor and an afternoon of fun then this is the film for you.

Conclusion

This film is best in 3D and it has nice crisp visuals. The minions are a big laugh, but they may encourage your children to act like maniacs for a while. Reviewers give it between a 6 and 8/10.

Source: http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/despicable-me-review/jen-yamato/m60087 ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despicable_Me