Despicable Me (2010)

I greatly enjoyed Despicable Me, watching my rental three times in one weekend. Sure, it helps that I love the superhero/villain and mad/evil scientist schtick esp. with its over-the-top inventions and weapon technologies and esp. when it is turned on its ear and institutionalized as its own nation state (Igor), global smackdown (Monsters vs. Aliens, Megamind), or suburban veneer (Powerpuff Girls, Despicable Me). Our story begins as Gru (Steve Carell) seeks additional funding from the Bank of Evil ("formerly Lehmann Brothers") to build a rocket with which he will steal the moon. He is also battling a nerdy young upstart supervillain named Vector (Will Arnett), whose well-defended fortress is not far from Gru's dark manse set in the midst of white-picket-fence suburbia. Gru decides to adopt and front three cookie-selling orphan girls to regain the upper hand on Vector. Naturally, Gru is clueless about children and resistant to the girls' requests for attention but eventually they begin to appeal to his inner softie. In the end, can Gru accomplish his space mission, make it to the girls' dance recital, and defeat Vector? Steve Carell is ideal for the role of Gru as a vaguely Slavic, hook-nosed, bald guy with a penchant for megalomania and a compound full of little yellow gibbering "minions" that are hilarious and just too darn cute. I intend to own this movie outright, otherwise I would not patronize the studio, which has hobbled the extras on rental copies to try to drive disc sales. To the moon and back again, 5 stars.