Film review: Despicable Me (2010), directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud

td;dr: Ever wanted a film where you’re genuinely rooting for the bad guy? Look no further!

Evil genius Gru (Steve Carell) wants to prove himself. He wants to pull off the biggest theft ever – shrinking the moon and taking it for himself! That’ll teach his mother (Julie Andrews) who never thought he’d amount to anything!

However, the new evil genius on the block, Vector (Jason Segel), has just managed to steal the Great Pyramid of Giza and is proving to be something of a nemesis – especially when he steals the shrink ray Gru really needed. In a bid to steal it back, Gru hatches a brilliant plan … involving three little orphan girls, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher). He just never expected having to become a dad.

Also starring the voices of Russell Brand as Dr Nefario, Will Arnett as Mr Perkins the bank manager, Kristen Wiig as orphanage hag Miss Hattie, and a whole cellar full of yellow minions!

We saw this film around a friend’s house, after we admitted to not having seen it. Our friends insisted we see it because it’s brilliant. And they were right, Despicable Me is a hoot. You can’t not love the hordes of little minions, and the battle of evil geniuses (genii?) is also very amusing.

I was waiting for anyone to slip up when saying “Miss Hattie”, because I expected them to say “Miss Hannigan“. Not because it’s “Miss H” who’s in charge of an orphanage, but y’know, her attitude. She’s another orphanage manager from hell. Shame box!

The three girls are very determined little ladies who know what they want, while at the same time also being little girls … with ballet lessons and bedtime stories and Gru has absolutely no idea what to do with them. Cue lots of comedy.

Despicable Me is a genuinely funny film, that despite being about evil inventors is utterly charming. Perhaps we’ll even get around to seeing the sequel in less than three years … Expect a few exclamations of “IT’S SO FLUFFY!!”

4 out of 5 cookie robots.