You'd
have
to
be
totally
despicable
and
heartless
not
to
be
entranced
by
"Despicable
Me," the
new
animated
3-D
feature
that
mixes
wit,
affection
and
cartoon
slapstick.
This
is
a
movie
that
entire
family
can
enjoy
as
it
tells
its
story
of
a
master
villain
tamed
by
three
little
girls.
Gru
aims
to
be
the
world's
No.
1
villain,
but
to
do
so
he
must
pull
off
the
crime
of
the
century.
With
the
aid
of
his
little
yellow
minions,
he
proposes
shrinking
and
stealing
the
moon.
To
do
so,
though,
he
must
recover
a
shrinking
ray
stolen
by
Vector,
a
rival
villain.
To
accomplish
this
aim,
he
adopts
three
orphan
girls
who
have
sold
Vector
cookies
in
order
to
gain
entrance
to
his
lair.
But
as
every
parent
knows,
where
children
are
involved
plans
usually
are
disrupted,
delayed,
deterred
or
deferred.
Much
to
his
surprise
and
annoyance,
Gru
actually
finds
himself
growing
attached
to
his
young
charges,
even
as
he
gives
in
to
their
demands
in
order
to
carry
out
his
scheme.
"Despicable
Me" brilliantly
combines
comedy
and
compassion,
humor
and
heart.
The
film
begins
slowly
then
builds
up
steam
as
Gru
devises
plot
after
plot
to
recover
his
shrinking
ray
and
claim
the
top
spot
in
villainy.
One
of
the
movie's
delights
is
seeing
all
the
gadgets
and
weapons
Gru
and
his
arch-rival
have
at
their
disposal.
Whatever
situation
arises,
something
is
always
at
the
ready
to
handle
it.
Also
abetting
the
enjoyment
is
the
purposeful
use
of
3-D.
In
"Despicable
Me," it
is
more
than
a
gimmick.
It
actually
helps
tell
the
story.
The
really
cool
use
comes
during
the
end
credits
when
the
filmmakers
do
show
off
a
bit,
putting
some
of
the
minions
through
some
delightful
stunts.
Steve
Carell
as
voice
for
Gru
is
a
master
stroke.
Speaking
with
an
unrecognizable
foreign
accent,
Carell
conveys
Gru's
megalomania,
dastardly
scheming
as
well
as
his
ultimate
softening
and
reformation.
Adding
to
the
pleasure
are
the
voices
of
Jason
Segel
as
Vector,
Julie
Andrews
as
Gru's
mother,
Kristen
Wiig
as
the
Miss
Hannigan-like
owner
of
the
orphanage,
Russell
Brand
as
Gru's
scientific
helper
Dr.
Nefario
and
Miranda
Cosgrove,
Elsie
Fisher
and
Dana
Gaier
as
the
girls.
"Despicable
Me" is
a
pleasure,
an
entertaining
outing
that
will
have
youngsters
and
oldsters
alike
laughing
out
loud.
It's
imaginative,
smart
and
charming.
Director:
Pierre
Coffin
and
Chris
Renaud
Cast:
Voices
of
Steve
Carrell,
Jason
Segel,
Julie
Andrews
and
Russell
Brand