Opened July 9, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.
PG rude humor and mild action
When I saw the first trailer for this movie over a year ago, it was a scene with an insanely obnoxious (and all too typical) American tourist family in Egypt and a giant inflatable pyramid. And I remember thinking What.The.Heck?! It didn’t really make any sense. Then finally around January another trailer, this one with Gru (Steve Carell – the main “villain”) trying to invade another villain’s Fortress of Evil (that looked like it was Bill Gates’ summer home) and a shark. Which didn’t fit in at all with the previous trailer and left me wondering if the filmmakers had decided to scrap the first idea and go in a completely different direction. That would also explain why it was taking so darn long to finally be released!
Subsequent trailers improved (though that inflatable pyramid nor the obnoxious Americans never reappeared) and I began to think “hey, maybe this won’t suck after all.” With the heavy promotion of Steve Carell (and being a big “The Office” fan), I decided to gamble and take the kids to see it.
I’m so glad I did!!
Funny, smart, off-beat, dark and witty. All the things that made the first Shrek film so great (without as many pop-culture references, though there are some.) It’s a movie that’s not just for kids, but for the adults required to endure it with them.
Example: Gru needs a loan, so he goes to the bank. The Bank of Evil. And it has a little sign underneath that reads “formerly Lehman Brothers”.
I can’t tell you the laugh they got out of every adult in the audience (and there were lots of us, it was a packed house.)
Gru is endearing in his devotion to all things evil… and unexpectedly to the three little girls he adopts, for reasons I won’t get into here. No spoilers!!
But perhaps the best bits go to his minions, the tiny yellow pill shaped workers. They could have a movie all their own (and I wouldn’t be surprised if they rolled into one of those Saturday morning cartoons.) They are hysterical. And definitely add so much to this already very funny movie.
Plus, with the voices Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnet and Julie Andrews, how can you lose?
Note: In most areas, it’s showing in both 2D and 3D. We opted for the 2D (well, my wallet did.) I don’t think we suffered in the least.
My overall review: while it’s no Toy Story 3 (and really, what could measure up to that?!) it’s totally worth an afternoon at the theater. If you miss it there, definitely put it at the top of your Netflix. Or better yet, add it to your at-home collection. Your kids won’t be the only ones wanting to watch it over and over (and over!) again!
Despicable Me movie website.
Tags: film, Jason Segel, Julie Andrews, Movie Review, Movies, Russell Brand, Steve Carell, Will Arnet
Well, I was planning on avoiding this just based on the title alone. It doesn’t sound uplifting at all. What do you mean by dark?
I’ll add it to netflix in a few months.
I still haven’t seen Toy Story 3. It’s on my list of things to do.
It’s only dark in that the “hero” is really a villain. There’s humor in the villainy stuff. It’s not nearly as dark-funny as The Nightmare Before Christmas. But it’s not rainbows and unicorns either. Well, actually there IS a unicorn now that I think about it!
Move Toy Story 3 to the top of your list! It’s one of the best movies ever.
Thanks, Tiffany. We’e going to see Toy Story 3 this weekend.
I LOVED The Nightmare before Christmas. I can handle that sort of “dark” humor. Thanks.
Bring Kleenex!! I promise you won’t make it out with dry eyes. I’ve seen it 4 times and still can’t get through it. Not sad tears, though! You’re going to LOVE it!!!
Thanks Tiffany, I love the previews for this. Now, I will see it sooner than later. Thanks for confirming that it’s worth it. I hadn’t caught who the rest of the characters were voiced by. I like Will Arnet, he always makes me laugh.
I have heard a lot of good things about this one – I may have to give it a try. Thanks for the review.
I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we did! My 6 year old Skye is still running around the house yelling “It’s so FLUFFY!”