Review: Despicable Me

Despicable Me / Rated PG / Universal / Dir. by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud / 95 min.

In the new 3D computer-animated comedy "Despicable Me", Steve Carrel provides the voice for Gru, an aging super-villain whose super-villainy seems pretty much tied to petty vandalism and the stealing of great national landmarks, like the jumbo-tron in Times Square and the replica of the Statue of Liberty in Las Vegas. Gru is supported by his own personal techno-wizard, Dr. Nefario (unrecognizably played by Russell Brand) and an army of minions, genial creatures who are shaped like yellow Chicklets and speak in an English/nonsense hybrid that, while jumbled, is always understood. Gru longs to prove his despicable nature by stealing the moon, however his plan is constantly thwarted by enemies grand (a young upstart super-villain named Vector, played by Jason Segal) and enemies ordinary (the bank won't give him the loan he needs to build his rocket). However, his ultimate undoing is the fact that he has a heart. A heart that is softened greatly when his plan requires the adopting of three adorable orphan girls.

If you've seen any of the advertisements for "Despicable Me", you've pretty much seen the first ten minutes of the film, however, you haven't seen the best bits. This is a fast-paced, brightly-colored comedy that leaves you smiling the entire running time. While the voice work across the board is excellent, the characters that steal the show are those darn minions (Mostly voiced by director Pierre Coffin, with one, Jerry, played by Jemaine Clement of "Flight of the Conchord" fame). The minions are the most inventive and giggle-inducing creations I've seen in a very long time. Their moments alone are worth the price of admission.

However, the element that was not advertised (in one of the most aggressive advertising campaigns of the last year)was how much heart this movie has. It's like a combination of Pixar and Looney Tunes and that's every bit a compliment. Granted, the jokes are the main reason for watching, but the story of a villain becoming a hero due to the love of three orphan girls is heart-warming and genuine. Especially when we see the lack of love Gru had as a child. His mother, a sharply-critical nag played by Julie Andrews, was mockingly cruel when he expressed a desire to become an astronaut, a desire that gradually warped into the desire to steal the moon. A sort of "if I can't have it, no one can" type of thing.

Now, if I may digress for a moment, "Despicable Me" got me thinking about something. This has, by most accounts, been a largely disappointing summer movie season. There have been a number of entertaining films, a disproportionately large number of awful films and just one unanimously embraced film, "Toy Story 3". "Despicable Me" is now my second favorite movie so far this summer (behind "TS3") and, before those two, the strongest entertainment of the year had been "How to Train Your Dragon". At first, I could chalk that up to the fact that I'm an animation nut, a truth to which I freely admit. However, I think there's more to it. For me, the perfect film is one in which you feel thoroughly entertained, but you also feel equally edified, either intellectually or emotionally. It seems that, thanks to the reputation of Pixar, many of the most creative storytellers are now working in animation. It invites the best of all worlds: the visual showmanship of the best action movies, the demented wit of the best Monty Python sketches, the heart of the most sincere dramas. It takes time when done right. I just wish that the makers of live-action popcorn movies would take the same time and the same pride that these filmmakers do. If they had, this summer's movie season could've been one for the record books.

As it stands, "Despicable Me" is one of the few bright spots of the summer. Not an animated classic, but a vibrant, funny and heartfelt cartoon that will please many a crowd in the remaining weeks of summer. If you're looking for a fun way to get out of the heat, you could do way worse than this one.

Grade: A-