Despicable Me is anything but

Last night, I went to see "Despicable Me" starring one of my favourites, Steve Carrell.

It was a delightful, hilarious story about Gru, an aging super-villain competing to out-evil the younger, slicker, up-and-comer wannabe villain, Vector. The cold, awkward, and conniving Gru adopts three adorable little girls as part of his scheme to steal Vector’s coveted shrink-ray, and then has to deal with the consequences of his new role as dad. I bet you can guess whether or not the three little darlings are able to melt his frozen heart!

This movie is packed with laughs. Though his accent oscillates bizarrely between Russian and Scottish, Carrell is charismatic and endearing. It was fun to see him deal with the consequences of bringing three rambunctious girls home to his decidedly not child-proof villainous lair. Knowing nothing about children, he sets out a bowl of candy for them to eat and newspapers for them to do their little-girl business.

It was also fun to indulge in this imaginary world where the villains had sidekick scientists to whip them up inventions like cookie robots and lived in super-high-tech shark-tank protected fortresses. Adult references like “Bank of Evil: Formerly Lehman Brothers” kept the adults laughing at least as loudly as the kids.

One actor we didn’t get nearly enough of was Kristen Wiig, who voices the sadistic Miss Hattie who runs a home for orphaned girls. Jack McBrayer (Kenneth from 30 Rock) was briefly funny as a carnival game operator.

The best part of the movie? The giggly, squirmy four and a half year old seated next to me. Everything delighted her, from the popcorn we shared to the fact that halfway through the movie I shifted to hug my knees into my chest. “You copied me!” she whisper-squealed.

She embodied the exuberant, innocent happiness of the three little girls that ultimately win Gru’s heart.

Go see "Despicable Me". You’ll have a great time and your inner kid will squeal with delight.