Despicable Me

CGI animation has been dominated by two Hollywood heavyweights. The leader has been Disney/Pixar, thanks to the Toy Story franchise as well as movies like Monsters, Inc. and Wall-e; but Dreamworks has made itself a major player in the last decade thanks to the Shrek films and the recent smash How to Train Your Dragon. Over the same time span, other CGI animated films have been released by other companies with increasing frequency; but their subpar quality underscores the difference between them and the Pixar and Dreamworks releases.

With the release of Despicable Me, Universal marks a claim as a new power player in the animation game. The first effort by Chris Meledandri's Illumination Entertainment (which joined Universal in 2007) is a clear winner.

Despicable Me centers on Gru, the world's best and least successful supervillian. When another villain steals an Egyptian pyramid, Gru gets the bright idea that it's time for him to make his biggest heist yet and steal the moon. With the help of a shrink-ray gun, the plan is set. That is until a trio of orphaned sisters comes along. Seeing their persuasive cookie selling powers, Gru decides to use them as pawns in his game against his nemesis, Vector, to become the greatest supervillian. But to do so he must adopt them first.

Seeing the Russian villain's world turned upside down by the orphans is fun enough, but the secret weapon of the film are Gru's minions. Looking like mutant Doozers from Fraggle Rock, the creatures (whom Universal has been wisely using as the main promotional point without revealing too much about them) steal the show. Imagine if the Toy Story aliens were to be full supporting characters instead of merely one-note props and you get an idea about the minions' role in the film. Much like round, little yellow children, they only behave with their id to hilarious results.

Boasting vocal talent that includes Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Jason Segel, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove and Russell Brand, the film has an eclectic cast that helps bring out the various characters' personalities. Many of the actors are hardly recognizable by their voices alone (you'll likely be surprised at who plays what after checking out the film's IMDB webpage). Carell is more than game with his faux-Russian accent, while Brand completely hides in the role of the elderly Dr. Nefario. Wiig is almost just as unrecognizable as a Miss Hannigan-esque orphanage runner, who cares more about her cookie sales than the children's well being and doesn't think twice about putting them in the box of shame if their sales aren't high enough.

First time directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud do well to steer the film from being run of the mill animation. Part of the credit is due to screenwriters Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (the pair behind Horton Hears a Who) who avoid trying to be too pop culture-focused with the humor, which has been the downfall of many recent animated films. Instead the filmmakers focus on making the characters as fun to look at as they are engaging. The humor comes from the characters interaction and their loveable quirks. Coffin and Renaud create a visual world in which pint-sized minions are believably adorable and stealing the moon isn't merely child's play.

The plot doesn't really try to be anything new or different. Everyone knows how it will end well before Gru ever even gets ready for lift off to accomplish his mission. But this is a film that doesn't need big twists and turns in order to keep you entertained.

There is nothing despicable about this fun, family film. Rather, Despicable Me will provide some genuine laughs and make minions the new must have accessory for the fall. You won't want to miss out on getting one, and you won't want to miss out on this film that brings them into the world.