Super-villain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) has always been the most despicable baddie around, until fresh-faced pretender Vector (voiced by Jason Segel) steals the Great Pyramid of Giza. Deciding he must go one better, the shame-faced veteran devises a dastardly plot to steal the Moon. He falls at the first hurdle, however, when the Bank of Evil refuses to lend him any cash until he has the Shrink Ray required to execute the plan.
When Vector steals said Shrink Ray, Gru is desperate to snatch it back. Plotting to sneak into Vector's lair, he asks orphaned cookie sellers Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Kate Fisher) to help. For Gru the little girls are merely a part of his master plan, until their youthful innocence begins to melt his icy heart.
Despite a release date close to DreamWorks' similarly themed Megamind, Despicable Me was a box-office smash. Also garnering great reviews, French duo Coffin and Renaud's debut feature is both heartwarming and hilarious, and boasts a cast packed with comic talent.
Previously lending his voice to animations Over the Hedge and Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who Carell is brilliant as the villain with a well-hidden heart of gold. Russell Brand further raises his US profile by providing the voice of Gru's elderly assistant Dr Nefario, while screen legend Julie Andrews voices Gru's mother Marlena.
Despicable Me is a Film programme that first aired in 2010 and has been classified a U certificate.
