Movie | Despicable Me

Despicable Me
Distributed By: Universal Pictures
Released on: July 9, 2010 (USA)
DVD Release: December 14, 2010 (USA)
Rated: PG
Genres: Animation, Comedy
Format: DVD
Rating: 4

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. (Yes, the moon!) Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world's greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.


I am probably the last person in the world to watch Despicable Me. I am not usually a fan of animated movies but, ever since its release, I was told time after time that I needed to see it.

Despicable Me is the story of super-villain Gru who, along with his team of minions, is attempting to reclaim his super-villain title after a new super-villain bursts onto the scene having stolen the Pyramids. To assist with his mission, he adopts three orphaned girls to help him take down the enemy. However, the arrival of these three girls threatens to ruin his super-villain reputation.

As is the case with animated comedies these days, Despicable Me is definitely a family friendly movie. Although primarily a children’s movie, it contains various levels of humour which appeal to both a young children and adults. This family friendly quality, when done well, is often what makes movies like this so enjoyable.

As well as the comedic aspect, Despicable Me also contains the element of family as we see the relationship between Gru and the three girls grow throughout the movie. This is a very heart warming aspect of the movie.

There is also the underlying theme of never giving up on your dreams as we see Gru attempt to fly to the moon as was his childhood dream. It illustrates the importance of not giving up, no matter how hard things become. This underlying theme is important in films like this one as the children watching can be influenced.

Overall, I really enjoyed this film. It is definitely one of the best animated films I have watched and one of the few I actually do like. I would definitely recommend it to all ages.