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Movie Review: Despicable? Not at all — that would require 'Despicable Me' to be more memorable

"Despicable Me" certainly doesn't look despicable. This computer-animation entry from Universal has a textural depth and distinctive art direction signaling that a new player in the modern animation game is ready to stand up to the leaders in the field. But then come the poop jokes, the intestinal gas humor and the lead character who uses words and phrases such as "chillax" and "the dillio" as if he (or a lazy screenwriter) random-sampled Urban Dictionary five years ago and never went back. When the movie shows its real colors — the ones behind the bright hues and sharp lines — that's when it becomes not despicable but sadly ordinary.

And that is too bad, because the premise showed promise. Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is an old-school evil genius, the kind of guy who, by spy thriller rules, has to be bald, odd-shaped and always prepared to tell James Bond exactly why his plan will allow him to rule the world. But times are tough for Gru. Lately he, his elderly assistant Dr. Nefario (an oddly restrained Russell Brand) and his multitude of Minions — tiny one- or two-eyed goofballs shaped like tater tots — are only pulling off minor disasters that few people notice. Meanwhile, a dorky teen called Vector (Jason Segel) gets all the glory by stealing wonders of the world. Vector must be stopped, and Gru's plan is twofold: persuade the Bank of Evil run by Mr. Perkins (Will Arnett) to bankroll the theft of the moon, and infiltrate Vector's lair by adopting the three lovable orphans who tried to sell Gru cookies and get them to peddle their wares to his nemesis, thereby allowing him entry.

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