4 stars: I've got problems how 'bout you? I want to be the number one villain do you?

In almost all films with superheroes or heroes,   the most interesting character is not the hero but the evil, demented mad man he is trying to stop. I can name more than ten villains off the top of my head that are far more fascinating than the hero who is trying to stop him The Joker is far more fascinating than Batman; Brainiac is more fascinating than Superman is. The Green Goblin is more fascinating than Spider-Man the list goes on and on and on and on In the new animated kids film. "Despicable  Me"  from directors  Pierre  Coffin and Chris Renaud  takes the most fascinating character  and puts that character in the spotlight as the lead in a film that proves that not only the hero can be  interesting. Gru is the kind of villain who is not interested in destroying his hero or the world. However,  he wants to be know on national cable television  as the greatest villain in the world to everyone including the bank manager  from  the local Bank of Evil(I had no idea villains had a bank). The Bank is  run by  the ever creepy and disturbing Mr. Perkins(voiced by Will Arnett) who sees Gru as a bumbling idiot who has not pulled off a single great act of villainy in years and thinks he never will. That is until Gru devises a plan so genius so evil so... so.. so... Despicable that it will change the world forever and Gru will forever be known as  the greatest villain  in the world. So grab your kids, grab your popcorn, and  prepare to strap yourselves in for one of the best-animated  family  adventures this year.




 

Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud  and  writers Ken Daurio & Cinco Paul  have crafted  such a  clever, ingenious tale  of super-villainy, father daughters relationship, over the top antics and  lame brained schemes "Despicable Me" proves to be one of the years most entertaining and surprising films. Surprising is the fact that someone older than ten years old would find an animated film about a washed up super villain outrageously entertaining  and you know what I am proud to say it, I loved this film I loved everything about this film  what is  there  not to love? "Despicable Me" is a rousing joyous film that not only follows the trapping of the best in animation (in particular the Loony Tunes). It also sets up its own ground rules and ideas by implementing  them in a sporadic and  boisterous  fashion, this film is not short on laughs in-jokes, high   jinks or outlandish plot twists(The main character, Gru, desires to be the greatest villain by pulling off the ultimate theft by   stealing the moon!!!?) This quirky film swerves from one point to another without ever losing itself in its own energy or flamboyant style. Directors  Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud have crafted a fine piece of work that not only pays homage to the mega maniacal villains of the sixties, seventies and early eighties  but also pays tribute to the best of animation like DreamWorks "Shrek"(2001), Disney/Pixar's "UP"(2009) , "Toy Story"(1995)  and many, many more. "Despicable Me" is as entertaining as it is boundlessly energetic, it moves with the quick swift pace of all animated films. However, holds onto the integral nature and good-hearted fun that it should have this film does not get bogged down in over the top antics or harebrained schemes (And let me tell you that some of the schemes in this film are rather clever). No, "Despicable Me" is meant to be an entertaining film for the entire family  that  not only kids will absolutely  fall  head over heals in love with the parents, teenagers will love as well  this is one of the best and most thrilling, hilarious, touching and despicable films of the year.








What you will take away when you finish this film is that family over almost anything is important you cannot forget about them, you cannot leave them behind (Unless you do not like your family) family is important. The anti-hero of this well crafted story Gru finds that out. "Despicable Me" is a fantastical magical  film  the kind of animated film that only comes along once in a great long while, this film  was produced by Universal who is not know for making animated features have  just jumped into uncharted waters from them and  they make a big splash with this delightful treat. "Despicable Me"  fast pace and quick witted dialogue help add to this films deliciously deviant atmosphere "Despicable Me" is a perfect example of all ages entertainment that surpasses its age stereotypes  and becoming a strong triumphant piece of comedic flare  that is just the right touch of both evil and good.






 I have never been a huge fan of Steve Carrell in fact; I really do not like him much for that matter. Carrell is one of those types of comedians that have that kind of Jim Carrey type of energy when it comes to his comedy the only difference between him and Jim Carrey. I actually like Jim Carrey as both an actor and as a person. But I must give the credit where the credit is due Carrell delivers what is possibly one of his best and most likable performances as the washed up, has been  super villain Gru  his quirky accent seems to be a combination of both Béla Lugosi and Boris Karloff and a mad Russian villain. Carrell does not over play Gru or under play him. He just shoots for even and hopes for the best and luckily, for him he is luckier than he knows, Carrell's off beat style of comedy comes quite in handy when the Loony Tunes antics kick in and the film shifts from over the top comedic flare to more grounded cutesy territory. Carrell is the shining light in this film and thanks to his ever present and up front, performance helps elevate this rather standard animated film the rest of the cast including Jason Seagel, Russell Brand. Miranda Cosgrove and Julie Andrews all deliver fine performances in this unexpected near classic animated film. 





"Despicable Me" may not be a Disney/ Pixar or an animated masterpiece but for what it is it is fantastic. This film is all good hearted fun and charm it doesn't need to be serious or dramatic, it doesn't need to make a strong moral point about adoption  or the importance of family  hell it could have just been about being despicable  and I would have appreciated it just  the same. This film will win many over and then on the other hand it might not  with animated films that are not from Disney/Pixar are always being compared against those films "Despicable Me" is no "Toy Story" and it certainly is no "UP" but for what it is it is great  good humored fun that it sets out to be.