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FeedMovie Review: Despicable Me
Films opening this week:
Despicable Me - Maple Ridge; Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Quaker, Hollywood Regals; Transit Drive-In
Predators - Maple Ridge; Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Quaker, Hollywood Regals; Transit Drive-In
Despicable Me, the debut offering from new animation studio Illumination Entertainment, has a solid story, impeccable art design and stellar 3-D animation—it's just a bit lacking in heart. Illumination Entertainment joins the growing field of Hollywood animators, bringing along Christopher Meledandri—the man behind Fox’s own steady rise into one of the top three studios for the medium—and former Fox artist Chris Renaud, who co-directs with Pierre Coffin. Meledandri knows how to create entertainment—he’s gotten some laughs with the Ice Age series and more—but, in my opinion, he has yet to hit that home run as a producer, though I applaud him for the effort here, his best yet.
The concept is an intriguing one: a children’s film with a bad guy as its hero. Gru is the world’s second most infamous villain. He dresses the part, has a vaguely Eastern European accent—although Steve Carell does sound like Schwarzenegger at times—and has a legion of minions at his beck and call. To beat young newcomer Vector (Jason Segel) for the #1 spot, he needs to pull off the largest heist ever, even bigger than Vector's Pyramid of Giza triumph. So he devises a plan with the help of his elderly and partially deaf cohort Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) to steal the moon, with the help of a loan from the Bank of Evil (formerly Lehman Brothers, ouch).
Despicable Me is a very funny movie, but we are over a decade into the computer animation era, and good graphics and laughs don’t quite cut it anymore. It all comes down to how the story resonates with its audience. Does it touch them, warm their hearts, and leave them wanting more? The filmmakers here realize this fact and try hard to make it a reality, but the sense of recall is too much to overcome. I couldn’t look at the adorably cute orphan girls without remembering the little one who so obviously inspired them—Boo from Monsters Inc. And although those yellow, indecipherably giggly minions left me in stitches more than once, they also mirrored their DreamWorks’ counterparts—those dastardly Madagascar penguins. I so wanted to appreciate all these characters, but I kept seeing the ghosts of DreamWorks past.
The movie greatly benefits from the characters of Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and especially Agnes (Elsie Fisher). Orphan children at Miss Hattie’s (Kristen Wiig) cookie-selling establishment, the three are exactly what Gru needs to soften his edges and appreciate what it is life has to offer. Warped by a mother who never showed approval (Julie Andrews), his penchant for destruction and nefarious deeds can be understood. At first the cute trio are merely a surefire way into Vector’s lair to steal the shrink ray, but soon the girls’ fascination with weaponry and decimation touches his blackened soul—finally, equals he can teach and bring along as heirs to the antagonistic throne.
Carell is perfect in the Gru role—just wait until he reads “The Three Little Kittens”—and his interactions with Arnett, Segel, and Brand’s characters are funny. Thankfully, though, the filmmakers didn’t see his collaboration as the end all be all for the film, despite using his name above the film’s title on most marketing materials. He is but one cog to the tale, existing with the rest and playing his part. The story may center on his quest for world domination, but Gru's interaction with his employees and adopted children wins out, memorably changing the dynamics. With references to Saturday Night Fever, Annie, and The Godfather amongst others, there is enough to keep both young and old enthralled until the end. I look forward to seeing Illumination’s next effort, hopefully retaining the charm shown here and leaving the blatant appropriations behind.
Despicable Me 7/10
photography:
[1] Gru (voiced by STEVE CARELL) separates two arguing minions (voiced by JEMAINE CLEMENT) in Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's inaugural 3-D CGI feature, "Despicable Me". The film tells the story of one of the world's greatest super-villains, who has just met his greatest challenge in three little girls. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment Copyright: © 2010 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
[2] (L to R) Edith (voiced by Dana Gaier), Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), Agnes (voiced by Elsie Fisher) and Margo (voiced by Miranda Cosgrove) ride a roller coaster in Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's inaugural 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment Copyright: © 2010 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
