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Movie Profile
Despicable Me
2010 ยท United States - Pierre Coffin Chris Renaud
Gru (Steve Carell) is a super-villain, operating out of his suburban home that serves as a front for an underground lair where he, his partner, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), and thousands of short yellow minions (to whom he shows considerable affection) plan their nefarious deeds. When Gru learns that another super-villain has stolen the Great Pyramid of Giza, his pride is injured, and he plans an even greater heist, stealing the Earth's moon, a plan he has had since childhood but discouraged by his mother (Julie Andrews). The prospect is quite expensive, and Gru seeks out a loan from the Bank of Evil ("formerly Lehman Brothers", as it says on the bank door). The Bank's president, Mr. Perkins (Will Arnett), initially refuses to extend Gru a loan, noting that he is much older than the super-villains of the day, but offers that if he can secure a shrink ray, the critical part of Gru's plan, he will give Gru his loan.
Genres:
Comedy, Science Fiction, Drama, Action, Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
Release date:
2010-07-09
External links:
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Rotten Tomatoes
21 Critic reviews
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Laremy Legel
Film.com
Despicable Me is darned cute. I know cute isn't to the lofty level of "message storytelling" but it can be entertaining to watch when done correctly.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
This animated thing pretty near out-Pixars Pixar.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Tom Long
Detroit News
The result is a sweet and witty bit of animated fun with both eye-popping 3-D effects and a warm heart.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
There's a fine line between gleeful anarchy and wasted energy, and Despicable Me has a wonderful knack for staking out its spot and staying on the right side.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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A.O. Scott
New York Times
So much is going on in this movie that, while there's nothing worth despising, there's not much to remember either.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
Welcome to the on-screen psychoanalysis of Joan Rivers, of which she seems equal parts willing participant and antagonist.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Mary F. Pols
MSN Movies
The movie finishes strong, managing to be sweet without being saccharine. It's no Toy Story 3, but Despicable Me is a solid alternative.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Bob Mondello
NPR.org
It's all thoroughly adorable, and with an overlay that's nearly as odd as Carell's accent: Despicable Me looks a lot like other computer-animated pictures...
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
An improbably heartwarming, not to mention visually delightful, diversion.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Kyle Smith
New York Post
Despicable Me may not be the most sophisticated kids movie ever, but it stacks up against recent animated fare like How To Train Your Dragon the way The New York Review of Books compares to USA Today.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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James Berardinelli
ReelViews
This is a smartly written comedy with a soft emotional core.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
This is an agreeable confection with a few soft spots.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News
Right now, any excuse for air conditioning will do. So it's a happy bonus to find that Despicable Me is more than just a heat-busting baby-sitter.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger
Unfortunately Despicable Me is just, predictably -- eh. And the one thing the larcenous Gru never steals is our heart.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
When compared with the ambition and achievement of recent animated films, such as Coraline and Toy Story 3, Despicable Me hardly seems to have been worth making, and it's barely worth watching.
July 08, 2010 read full article
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Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
It looks so stylish that thinking about its plot is strictly optional.
July 08, 2010 read full article
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Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
The film throws so much ersatz cleverness and overdone emotion at the audience that we end up more worn out than entertained.
July 08, 2010 read full article
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Jason Anderson
Toronto Star
What may be the summer's wittiest kids' flick.
July 08, 2010 read full article
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Claudia Puig
USA Today
A whip-smart family movie that makes inventive use of the summer's ubiquitous 3-D technology is something worth cheering.
July 08, 2010 read full article
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Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune
You'll probably leave the theater smiling, but don't expect to be emotionally engaged, Pixar-style. You'll be tickled, not touched.
July 08, 2010 read full article
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Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
An improbably heartwarming, not to mention visually delightful, diversion.
July 09, 2010 read full article
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