This has been one hell of a summer for animated films. After Shrek Forever After and Toy Story 3, Despicable Me sure had a lot to live up to in order to keep audiences pleased. With a dizzying amount of promotion, NBC Universal was working hard to establish itself as a formidable force in the realm of computer animation. Despite critically acclaimed animated features such as Coraline and The Tale of Despereaux, NBC Universal is still not known for animation on the same level as Dreamworks or Disney/Pixar. I am glad to report that Despicable Me more than delivers for audiences and helps fortify NBC Universal as a force to be reckoned with when it comes to computer-animated 3-D films.
Steve Carell is absolutely delightful as the main character Gru, while the script more than delivers on clever humor and a surprising level of emotion. The film’s iconic Minions might also be my new favorite animated characters, so silly and inherently likable that they are nothing short of instant crowd-pleasers. A talented voice cast brings life to the other humorous characters, and the script’s use of supper-villain clichés is more than entertaining for anyone who has ever read a comic-book or watched a Saturday-morning cartoon. For a surprisingly and consistently funny film that will please both children and parents, Despicable Me is an absolute must-see.
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Overall Recommendation: Very High
