Despicable Me (2010)

The original film that started the hugely popular franchise, this was actually the first animated feature from Illumination, and is still one of their best.

Super villain Gru (Steve Carell) has a problem. There is another villain getting all the credit for the best crimes and heists, and Gru’s popularity is waning.

When this new villain, who goes by the name of Vector (Jason Segel), steals a pyramid, Gru realises he needs to step up his game, or become obsolete.

Gru (Steve Carell).

With the assistance of long-time collaborator Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) and his army of little yellow Minions (who are actually super-cute rather than super-evil), he plans the greatest crime he can think of: he plans to steal the moon.

But first, he needs to outsmart the young upstart Vector. Enlisting the help of three young girls - Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher) - orphans who live in Miss Hattie’s Home for Girls, run by the over-bearing Miss Hattie (Kristen Wiig), he begins his evil plot.

Under the pretence of adopting the three girls, he begins to enact his plan.

Gru's mother (Julie Andrews) with Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher).

The only problem is, the more time he spends with the three girls, the more he comes to love and appreciate them. And if he isn’t careful, he’ll lose his evil streak altogether.

The screenplay, written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, is very clever, filled with plenty of humour that will appeal not only to children, but also to adults. Animated films that span this audience age range quickly become favourites, and this film was certainly no exception at the time of its release. Even now, nearly ten years later, it still stands up to this scrutiny, and I still love it every time I watch it.

The humour is accentuated well by the performances of the entire voice cast. Steve Carell is fantastic as Gru, bringing real personality to the character. The three young girls are also great, particularly Elsie Fisher as the youngest sister Agnes, who certainly has some of the best lines.

The Minions.

Heitor Pereira’s score, and the original songs by Pharrell Williams, also add their part to the overall experience of the film, highlighting particular moments in the story, but never overpowering the action. In fact, for an animated film, it is scored very sparingly, and in a good way.

Co-directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud have made a wonderful film here, with plenty to appeal to audiences of all ages. The many sequels this film has spawned (with still more to come) keep up the same quality, but of course, this original is certainly up there among my favourite animated films of all time.

9 out of 10.