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The Cold War between Pixar and Dreamworks may at last be at an end — thanks to animation newcomer Illumination Entertainment. The production company, founded as early as 2007 by 20th Century Fox’s Chris Meledandri, finally storms the battleground with its first film, “Despicable Me.”
The movie goes where Pixar’s “The Incredibles” feared to tread: likeably-loathsome nemesis Syndrome may come equipped with witty appeal and a tragic backstory, but he still deserves his comeuppance in the end. The creators of “Despicable,” on the other hand, ask us to go beyond showing a bit of sympathy for the devil and actually root for the bad guy. While directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud do not hesitate to show the main character’s love of evil — vis-à-vis the medieval torture devices that double as furniture and a pet dog with more fangs than fur — it’s hard not to fall for the trap and become despicably delighted.
Gru (Steve Carell), a down-on-his-luck-and-lucre supervillain, struggles to compete with younger, tech-savvy criminal, Vector, who seems to have stolen his game plan straight from the Bond villain guidebook. In the midst of a desperate plan to steal the moon from the night sky, Gru soon finds himself saddled with the care of three orphan girls: Edith (Dana Gaier), Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher).
Perhaps even more surprising than the story’s premise is the unexpected outcome of the voice-acting. Steve Carell takes on a Russian accent; the melodic Julie Andrews tackles the part of Gru’s gravelly-voiced mother. Even Flight of the Conchord’s Jemaine Clement lends an adorable babble to Minion Jerry.
With “Despicable Me,” screenwriter Ken Daurio, whose rather unimpressive list of former works include “Santa Clause 2” and “Bubble Boy,” somehow manages to take a smattering of well-worn clichés and present them in an unexpectedly heartwarming light. As absurdly caricatured as the characters may be, their quests for acceptance in the midst of overwhelming obstacles tap into the root of what it means to be human — animated or otherwise.
Despicable Me
PG
Three reels out of four
Now playing in area theaters
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