Despicable Me

Lighthearted yet entirely forgettable, Despicable Me follows Steve Carell’s Gru as he sets out to establish himself as the world’s most diabolical supervillain by stealing no less than the moon – with his efforts consistently thwarted by an evil young upstart named Vector (Jason Segel). It’s clear right from the get-go that Despicable Me has been unabashedly geared towards younger viewers, and although it remains quite watchable from start to finish, the film is generally unable to elevate itself to a level beyond cinematic elevator music. There’s little doubt, too, that the movie fares especially poorly in its opening half hour, as filmmakers Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud place an initial emphasis on the central character’s wacky, over-the-top exploits – which, though amusing, results in a lack of substance that’s nothing short of palpable. It’s not until Gru, as part of his scheme to defeat Vector, adopts three young girls that Despicable Me starts to become something more than just a mindless time-waster, with the movie’s midsection, which primarily details the protagonist’s growing attachment to the kids, boasting a comparatively subdued and sentimental feel that proves impossible to resist. (The low-key vibe doesn’t last for long, however, as the film closes with a typically action-packed final stretch.) The end result is a typically broad effort from DreamWorks Animation that’s at its best in its quieter moments, with Carell’s stand-out voice work standing as a consistent highlight within the otherwise erratic proceedings.

**1/2 out of ****