A unique visual experience

Despicable Me (2010)
Certified: U
Duration: 95 minutes
Directed by: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Voices of: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie And­rews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher
KRS release

This year’s top grossing picture up till time of writing is Toy Story 3 with over $1 billion in takings. Another animated feature in this year’s worldwide top 10 as it currently stands is How To Train Your Dragon. Both films have excellent animation but, most of all, they have good storylines and are populated by characters that seem to be more alive than those found in live action movies!

There are two other animated features in the top 10 – Shrek Forever After and Despicable Me. While Shrek Forever After was a just a rehash of the same formula that had turned the green ogre into a veritable cash cow, Despicable Me shows how much the Pixar films have inspired other companies to make animated films that are not just fit for children.

Produced by French studio Mac Guff and distributed by Universal, Despicable Me sports vibrant animation, ingenious use of the 3D technology, has intelligent storyline, below the belt jokes and excellent characterisation, making this more than just family entertainment.

Gru (Steve Carrell) is the world’s number one villain. His suburban home is a cover for his secret lair where he hatches plot after plot along with mad scientist Dr Nefario (Russell Brand) and Gru’s army of pill-like walking drones. However, a new villain enters the scene: Vector (Jason Segel) wants to bring the world to its knees; he has already stolen the Pyramids of Egypt and replaced them with inflatable ones!

Vector’s dad (Will Arnett) is the president of the Bank of Evil and has no qualms in financing his son’s deeds. He also has no mother to keep him in check like Gru (his mother is voiced by Julie Andrews). Now he has a super shrinking ray and both him and Gru are on a race to see who will be the first to steal the moon.

One day he notices that three young orphans – Margo, Edith and Agnes (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher) – seem to be able to gain access to Vector’s home by selling cookies. So he decides to adopt them so that he can gain access to Vector’s secrets. However, soon Gru is knee deep in new problems as he has to face the responsibility of being a dad, besides being the number one bad guy of the world.

In Gru, excellently voiced by Steve Carrell, we are given a character that takes some time for us to like (he is a villain after all!) but once we see the other layers to his character, we are on his side hook, line and sinker. It’s really fun to see him enjoy every little evil thing that he carries out.

Despicable Me has a lot in common in the themes and attitudes inspired with Pixar’s The Incredibles, especially as it covers the superhero genre albeit taking the super villain point of view. This is coupled with quite a sprinkling of A Christmas Carol.

Once the orphans enter into the fray, the film develops another dimension – check out the bedtime story reading to get my gist, as the film is truly emotional in some areas. The yellow minions are also a hoot – watching them hard at work is hilarious.

Complete with a crisp animation style, a musical score that is very atmospheric and moving, and wild outlandish characters, Despicable Me is a unique visual experience.