MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

Despicable Me Rated PG

Directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin.  Animated Feature.

Photo © 2009 Universal Pictures
Movie Review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

Villains in movies these days are of two basic types: a) the crazy psychopaths who do mean and hateful things without logic, reason or hope for redemption (The Joker, Anton Chigurh, Hannibal Lector); or b) the troubled souls who have suffered some childhood trauma and may eventually reform (The Grinch, Willy Wonka, The Abominable Snow Monster).  Fortunately, it’s in children’s films where hope reigns supreme.

It feels good to see a bad person change, for it reminds us of the power of love to transform the human heart.  Christians should appreciate that.

Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) enjoys being the Greatest Villain of All Time (according to cable news) and he rules the underground lair of his suburban home with the assistance of dozens of minions, little squeakboxes in the shape of time-release cold capsules who follow his commands.  Gru is aided and abetted by Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) who is somewhat hard of hearing but full of great ideas for new inventions.  But Gru’s fame may soon be eclipsed by Vector (Jason Segel), a younger pretender to the throne who seems to be building a reputation of his own.  Gru decides that the only way he’s going to keep his title is to pull off a heist so great that the world will take note: He will steal the moon.

As Gru is planning his big caper, his doorbell rings and he encounters Margo (Nickelodeon’s Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), three orphan girls with old-fashioned names, selling cookies that he likes.   A plan begins to hatch in Gru’s head: These girls could be used by him to infiltrate Vector’s home as spies.  But as the big bad guy begins to care for the girls, things begin to change.

Despicable Me is lightweight and not too original, borrowing character design from The Addams Family and Veggie Tales, its relationship of curmudgeon and child from Up, and slapstick gags from Looney Tunes.  And yet, it’s still a lot of fun.  Steve Carrell’s voice work as Gru is particularly good.  Animated in France, it has a more universal appeal than other films set in America.  And, if you like 3D, the film is designed to make you glad you paid the extra three bucks for glasses, including some really funny 3D jokes in the closing credits.

Despicable Me is not as good as Toy Story 3, but it is far superior to summertime dreck such as Marmaduke, The Last Airbender, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.  Your kids will enjoy it, and you’ll find yourself smiling, too.



Pitchfork/Halo Ratings: Three halos. (A funny and sometimes charming summer diversion.)
One pitchfork. (For mildly crude poop and flatulence jokes.)

COMMENTS!

Do you have comments about this movie or movie review? Email comments. (Your comments will be posted to our web site.)