Nothing really appealed to me about this movie. I hate to label, but honestly I’m a little bit turned off when it’s animated and it ain’t Pixar. Plus the trailer had a fart joke in there. I hate fart jokes. They are the epitome of childish. I don’t care how many stars you’ve got piled in there. It didn’t work for Shark Tale.
But then something happens when you go to college and you and your roommate decide to go to a dollar movie at 12:30 am and you laugh your head off in spite of yourself. True story. A few days after the fact, you kick back and realize that some of those jokes were actually stupid but man was it epic at 2 am. Then you go to another buddy’s house and you watch it again… – laughing just as hard as before (okay, maybe not just as hard – that might not be possible. I wouldn’t know though, I don’t think you’re ever fully conscious when laughing late at night. Let’s be honest).
So anyway. I think it’s hard to really review and critique movies like this. Because I had a blast at the movie theater. I laughed oh-so-hard. But hey, it’s not that great of a movie. It’s cute, it does what it does, it gives you a few feel-goods, and tells dumb jokes. The end.
Gru (Steve Carell) is a villain has-been. He’s old, but still wants to be the meanest, toughest bully out there. Sadly, there are new hot-shot dudes who are meaner, tougher, and badder. One such younger dude, Vector (Jason Segel) (whutt up HIMYM!), who succeeds because of all of his toys and traps in his cooler than cool super-villain lair – is Gru’s competition, and pulls off things like stealing pyramids in Egypt. Gru is sick of people one-upping him, so he decides to pull off the biggest heist of the century and steal the moon. Oh yeah, he also turns Daddy Warbucks and adopts three little orphans from the evil orphanage lady who looks like Dolores Umbridge (Kristen Wiig) along the way (box of shame? really?)
It’s predictable. The story tries to be all feel-goody and get you teared up but it doesn’t have the emotional touch of Pixar. It ends up just being cheesy. But it is funny. (Did anyone else laugh at the whole “Formerly Lehman Brothers” sign?) There are a few side characters to spice it up – Will Arnett as Mr. Perkins speaking all GOB-like and Jack McBrayer as that evil carnival dude trying NOT to sound like Kenneth but still totally does being the best. Julie Andrews also represents as Gru’s messed up mother. The two youngest little girls were adorable, but the oldest was just annoying. And typical. An overdone character.
The minions were also entertaining. I’ll be honest, I was taken with the cute lil’ midgets. And it’s got a catchy theme song. Always key. Not to mention a random Wilhelm scream! K, done mentioning all the random tidbits. Think what you may, but I for one was entertained. 6/10
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