Despicable Me

Despicable Me is a film that continues an encouraging trend - Studios other than Pixar creating computer animated movies actually worth watching.  Currently dominating the box office, a sequel is already being planned. The movie features the impressive lineup of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and Miranda Cosgrove.

Despicable Me is about one of the world's super villains, Gru (Carell with an unusual accent) and his quest to become the greatest villain of all time to avoid fading into obscurity, to outdo young newcomer Vector (Segel), and make his mother (Andrews) proud.  The plan?  To steal the moon.  Why?  Because it's the biggest thing he can think of to steal, and he really likes the moon.  How?  With the help of his elderly friend Dr. Nefario (Brand) and hundreds of little yellow pill shaped Oompa Loompas Minions.  When the President of the Bank of Evil (Arnett) - who bares an amazing resemblance to Dilbert's pointy haired boss - refuses him a loan he gets creative. To make the plan work, he adopts a young trio of orphaned girls, Margo (Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher the wide eyed girl from the Chevy Traverse commercial) from evil Miss Hattie's (Wiig) home for girls.  In the course of things, though, is it possible that the evil Gru will have his heart changed by these sweet children?  Of course.

Overall, it is a sweet and predictable children's movie with some great gags thrown in.  The characters are just so likable and creative, however, that it still succeeds on a level higher than a heartwarming electronic babysitter.  None of the actors are really doing their typical shtick, and it's likely that you won't even recognize them if you don't know who they are before hand.  The Minions are easily one of the highlights of the movie and it is easy to see how they could get their own spin off, as they apparently are.

Not my favorite movie, or even the best animated film of the year (I think Toy Story 3 takes that one), but not bad at all.

**** (4/5 stars)