‘Despicable Me’ tickles funny bones with a villain turned daddy
Despicable Me, the clever animated film that spawned a 2013 sequel, finds Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) trying to battle two inner forces: his desire to wreak world destruction and his love of three orphan girls who are the definition of cute. In this well-paced, enjoyable flick, the laughs are as numerous as the lessons to be learned. It’s quality family entertainment that will delight youngsters and adults alike.
Gru is an awesome character to have at the center of this story. His long, pointy nose and dark, foreboding house instantly make him an oddity in the local neighborhood. Beneath his Addams-Family-looking abode, Gru has an underground lair where his minions (adorable cyclopses who communicate in an indistinct language) toil away on villainous plans to take over the world. The latest idea is to have Gru steal the moon, but before he’s able to realize his dream, three orphan girls enter his life and forever change his outlook. Parallels to Annie are obvious: big, mean guy melts away in the presence of adorable, spunky orphan.
The voice acting from Carell is particularly skilled. He puts on an accent and has fun with the one-liners, especially in the scenes where he’s trying to use his villainy and simultaneously take care of the girls.
What makes Despicable Me so watchable is the plot. Although not completely original, it still feels creative and organic. Jokes and story developments don’t pop out of thin air. There’s a clear structure and winning characters, and that makes this an intelligent comedy that refuses to dumb down its story for the audience.
The animation style is nice, although there have been better examples on the big screen (a Pixar film this is not). The main impetus for telling this tale is the tale itself. The showy animation and inevitable action scenes are secondary.
Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud obviously have fun with the film. They genuinely enjoy these characters and seem to know what will make the audience laugh. Simply look at the character known as Vector (Jason Segal’s voice). With his matching pantsuit and mind set on destruction, this villain is like the ultimate Comic Con fanatic. Yes, he’s a character that fits into the overall plot, but he’s also a mockery of today’s society and the newfound “nerd” culture.
Despicable Me is everything but despicable. It’s nice to see family entertainment that can still be entertaining.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
-
Despicable Me
-
2010
-
Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
-
Written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio; based on a story by Sergio Pablos
-
Starring the voice talents of Steve Carell, Jason Segal, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Kristen Wiig and Will Arnett
-
Rated PG for rude humor and mild action
-
Rating:
