DESPICABLE ME

US, 2010, 95 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristin Wiig, Pierre Kaufman, Chris Renaud, Jermaine Clement, Danny Mc Bride.
Directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin.

Not too many films around with 'despicable' in the title. And the film is so entertaining that critics will not be tempted to use 'despicable' to describe it. It is very likeable, even the villain (hero), Gru. Children will enjoy it, as will adults, but it is for older youngster rather than the littlies.

While some of the elements may be familiar enough, two rival villains and their competitiveness, three little orphans with wide-eyed longing to be adopted, the strands come together in ways that are rather unpredictable.

The characters and the drawings are quite different from the American style and much of the animation was done in Paris by a French team. This is most welcome. The characters are all exaggerated, especially the adult faces. We know many of the cast who voice the characters – but the drawings don't look like the stars at all. Steve Carrell (relishing his accent, from Eastern Europe?) is not tall and gangly like Gru (the initials come from an old Soviet intelligence agency). Jason Segal is quite big but here voices the small, nerdy, paunchy villain, Vector. And, just as well Julie Andrews doesn't look like Gru's mum, a witch-nosed, piled-hair harridan of a mother (with Julie voicing it as gruff and accented as well), And Doctor Nefario does not look like Russell Brand. The voices are most enjoyable.

And the plot? The film opens with a bold kid climbing up the great pyramid in Cairo only to discover that it is a blow-up and the real one has been stolen – as have other emblematic buildings. Then we are introduced to the misanthropic Gru who aspires to be the world's greatest villain and is feeling rather peeved that someone else has stolen the pyramid. But he has a bright idea – and the screenwriters must have thought, why not go for the moon, and they do. Gru will steal the moon by shrinking it and bring it back to earth for ransom in his Dr Nefario-built rocket. You see, it is unpredictable!

Gru, however, was not counting on the determination of the three orphans who tried to sell him cookies. They want to escape from the institution's cruel Miss Hattie (Kristin Wiig). They are American-cute and start to melt Gru's heart, even with a visit to an entertainment part and a roller coaster ride (in 3D) that is too much for Gru.

There is a lot of slapstick from the Pixar-studio like little minions that Gru relies on for everything, even the final cliffhanger (well, cable hanger between two rocket ships!).

Amusing for all – and adults may like the sub-heading over the door of The Bank of Evil: 'Formerly Lehmann Brothers'.

1. The popularity of this film? The series? The adults, younger audiences?

2. The animation, bright colours, the characters, shapes and sizes, the cosmic element, space and the moon? The humans, The Minions? Machines? Action and stunts?

3. The comic voices, the sounds of the Minions? The musical score?

4. Gru, Steve Carrell’s voice, his character, in action, the stealing of the Great Pyramid, his friendship with Dr Nefario? The plan to steal the Moon, shrink it? The approach to Mr Perkins, asking for the loan? His wanting to see the Ray? The rivalry with Vector?

5. Gru, the rivalry with Vector? Vector and his stealing the Ray? Gru trying to recover it, the fortress, the traps?

6. Gru, the girls, selling cookies, easy access to the fortress, his disguising himself, the girls being too lively, his inability to control them, a poor parent?

7. The stealing of the Ray, the girls wanting the day at the Park – and their enjoying it?

8. The contact with Mr Perkins, his refusal about the money, the girls and their piggy bank, giving him the money? Paying the Minions?

9. The plan to steal the Moon, when it was nearest the Earth, the Ray? The day, the girls and their ballet recital? The spacecraft?

10. Dr Nefario, sending the girls back to the orphanage? Vector and his plans? The revelation that he was the son of Mr Perkins?

11. Gru getting the Ray, the return, the note from Vector for the ransom of the girls?

12. Vector, taking the girls, and the moon?


13. The issue of the shrinkage, Dr Nefario’s revelation, the rescue, the moon increasing in size, the explosion and Vector being taken to the moon?

14. The return of the Great Pyramid? Gru telling his story? And the girls doing the ballet?

15. The popularity and the desire for a sequel – and more of the Minions?