Cinema surveillance images are loading at the bottom of the page

Despicable me - Steve Carell, Grace Rolek, Dana Gaier, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Sergio Pablos

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

In a happy suburban neighbourhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbours, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal's new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable me.

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 (Grace Rolek), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher).

Theatrical propaganda posters

Despicable me theatrical one sheet image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film animation family adventure children mad scientist invention

Persons of interest

Russell Brand .... Dr Nefario
Ken Jeong .... Scientist
Jason Segel .... Vector
Steve Carell .... Gru
Miranda Cosgrove .... Margo
Will Arnett .... Mr Perkins
Kristen Wiig .... Miss Hattie
Julie Andrews .... Gru's Mother
Danny McBride .... Fred McDade
Jemaine Clement .... Tim
Mindy Kaling .... Tourist Mother
Jack McBrayer .... Tourist Dad
Rob Huebel .... Newscaster
Elsie Fisher .... Agnes
Dana Gaier .... Edith
Davis Desmond .... Justin
Ken Daurio .... Screenwriter
Cinco Paul .... Screenwriter
Sergio Pablos .... Screenwriter
Pierre Coffin .... Director
Chris Renaud .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Despicable me official movie sites:

Despicable me film production notes
Despicable me movie trailers:

Awards and film festivals:

Golden Globes, USA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) 2011: Nominated: Best Animated Feature Film

Studios and distributors:

Universal Pictures

Intelligence analyst

Agent Chereine Waddell

Theatrical report

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this film. I had seen the preview but had no major desire to see a film which had a ridiculous plot involving a villain, accompanied by his many yellow blob workers, stealing the moon. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Despicable me and recommend it to any one keen to see a fun film with many likeable characters, a unique concept, great cast and lots of laughs catering to adult and child alike.

Gru, voiced by Steve Carell, is an accomplished Russian villain, reminiscent of Lester from The Adams family, who is at risk of being out-villained by a younger whiz kid villain similar to Austin Powers in character, keen to steal his glory with the help of his evil banker father ready to invest. Gru determines to steal the moon to keep his crown and to prove to his mother he is a worthy villain. Thus he sets out to fulfil his plot with the help of his many cheeky yellow workers, who are set up somewhat like slave workers in a factory but we come to realise are more like a big family living in his warehouse.

The only way Gru can steal the moon is to gain the shrink ray a device that will shrink the moon, a venture which sees him being outwitted by his fellow younger competitor and unexpectedly adopting three little girls who challenge him in ways he never expected. I won't go into detail and will leave the rest for you to find out, however, the story is moving and reflects love and comments on our need to belong, and ultimately proved that achievement is not in what you accomplish but in who you are.

Give it a go, it's a feel good film that I can hardly fault.

The animation, family movie Despicable me is directed by Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Sergio Pablos and stars Steve Carell, Grace Rolek, Dana Gaier.