The Details

Despicable Me

Voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Miranda Cosgrove

Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud

Rated PG. Opens Friday

Beyond the Weekly

Despicable Me

IMDb: Despicable Me

Rotten Tomatoes: Despicable Me

The first film from Illumination Entertainment, Universal’s answer to Pixar, Despicable Me is nothing compared to the joys of Toy Story 3, but it does have its moments. Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud at least understand the balance of wonder and cleverness that makes Pixar movies great, but their story of a second-rate supervillain named Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) who adopts a trio of cute little girls as an ancillary part of his latest diabolical plan is too soft and cutesy to have the impact its creators would probably like, and its hodgepodge of a story eventually loses its way. Carell is amusing as Gru, and the odd yellow creatures who serve as his minions certainly have merchandising/spin-off potential. But the rivalry between Gru and fellow villain Vector (Segel) is too vague, and the movie limps to a finish without ever finding a distinct identity.