How 'Despicable Me' Shaped My Love for Movies

Most cartoons have the typical plot and the typical characters. When someone goes to watch the cartoon in the theaters, they can likely tell you the plot, the climax and the ending of the movie within the first five minutes of watching the movie.

In addition, the characters in most cartoon movies are flat characters. They lack a sense of humor and round personality. You can pretty much guess what the characters will do and what the characters will say. Cartoon characters are typically predictable much like the plot, the climax and the movie ending.

"Despicable Me" is different than most other movies. The character, Gru, has a full depth of personality. As the story progresses, you find out his unpredictable behavior has to do with past memories of a sad childhood. Gru's behavior is not predictable. Although we can guess he is going to turn good in the beginning of the movie, the change in his personality takes place gradually. This gradual change is easier to understand. Unlike most cartoon movies I have seen, I did not find myself gagging about half the way through the movie. People are not as good (or as bad) as many cartoons make them out to be.

This movie brings the unpredictability of people down to a level children can understand it. Many children believe when an adult is bad towards them, it must have been their fault. I like "Despicable Me" because it explains to children this may not always be the case. If an adult is bad or mean, it is likely a situation from the adult's past rather than the behavior of the children around them. Children need to understand this concept. The maker's of "Despicable Me" understood how much children needed to understand this concept and they brought the concept to children in an easy to digest form.

"Despicable Me" is full of surprises. Many things happen out of nowhere without the viewer knowing it was going to happen. This keeps the movie intense and exciting even for adults. I found myself engrossed in the movie and this surprised me as I am not usually fond of cartoons or 3D animation.

In addition, "Despicable Me" has a deep plot. It keeps the kids engrossed and reminds adults of the important areas in life. Some adults who have had rough childhoods may even find emotionally healing while watching the movie. The plot includes deep concepts in order to keep adults engaged.

All in all, "Despicable Me" appeals to both children and adults. It is the ultimate family movie. I have never enjoyed 3D animations. However, I bought the pre-release copy of "Despicable Me" and I can not wait to watch it. Children will love it! Adults will love it! It is appropriate for boys, girls, women and men!

After watching this movie, I am now aware of what a 3D cartoon can be. It is can be a wholesome, enjoyable and learning experience for the whole family. It can include concepts for both the young and the old. It can make a person think. We do not have to have cartoons with weak plots, unreal characters and trivial story lines. A cartoon movie experience can be a rich experience for the whole family.

"Despicable Me" has forever changed the way I view movies with 3D animations and I look forward to seeing more 3D movies like this one.