Despicable Me
Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel and Russell Brand
Directed by: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud and Sergio Pablos
Opens July 9, 2010
In the debut feature from Illumination Entertainment, the animation arm of Universal that aims to become to that studio what Pixar is to Disney, Office star Carell lends his voice to Gru, the world’s premiere supervillain who suddenly finds himself in charge of three precocious, adorable orphan girls.
What We Think: Though Despicable Me’s bad-guy protagonist conceit isn’t the most original idea ever concocted (Shrek, anyone?), the film’s prime stock of comic voice talent (Danny McBride, Will Arnett, and Jemaine Clement, to name a few) and artistic pedigree (producer Chris Meledandri’s credits include Horton Hears a Who! and Ice Age) definitely pique our interest.
Cool to Know: Despicable Me’s style and tone are heavily influenced by the work of cartoonist Charles Addams, the original inspiration for TV’s The Addams Family.
