Despicable Me Screening

[kbushue]

We went to the ASIFA "Despicable Me" screening Wednesday night, and I must say I was very impressed. It was the first feature film out of a new division of Universal, but was mainly produced in France. Alot of very talent voice actors were used, and the animation time was perfect. Story could have used some tightening, but it was very enjoyable. We had an issue with some characters being unresolved, but that was about it. The music was Hans Zimmer, so of course that was great. Definitely take your kids to see it! Well worth the money.

[shna]

Oooh - that's good news! Our little girl is VERY hyped to see this movie. I'm so glad it looks like it will be fun.

[kbushue]

The kiddies behind us were giggling non-stop! I'm sure all kids (big and small) will love this one.

I saw a bus this morning that was completely decked out in 'minions' from the movie. It was adorable!

[littlej]

My 4-yr-old started seeing marketing for this movie last weekend, and has been asking to see it. He hasn't seen a movie in the theater yet, because I can't fast-forward through the "scary" parts! He's still a little sensitive to some perceived violence. Examples: will not watch any scene in Nightmare before Christmas with Oogie-Boogie, but nothing on Phineas & Ferb seems to bother him. Without giving away any spoilers to others (I don't mind myself), any really scary parts in this movie? I know, it's subjective, but give it your best shot.

[kbushue]

Oooh I agree! Oogie Boogie is scary! I love that whole movie, but its pretty dark. But what do you expect from Tim Burton, right?

I really can't think of any scary moments in this film. The 'bad guy' is a funny Bill Gates looking guy who just makes stupid mistakes, and the 'good guy' has his minions that just make you laugh nonstop. It's all very lighthearted, bright colored, and funny as can be. I would definitely say any young child would love it. There is quite a bit of Acme style violence, like Tom and Jerry, but its just contraptions breaking or backfiring.

[potzbie]

Bad news for 'Despicable Me'.

A "pull quote" is an excerpt from a review. It is what movie ads use in their print advertising. You've seen them in newspaper splash ads, where words and phrases appear in quote marks.

Typical pull quotes look like so:
"... Hilarious .... Don't miss ... Oscar-worthy ... Laugh out loud funny ... suspenseful ... dramatic ... heart-tugging ... romantic ..."

In the Los Angeles Times review by Kenneth Turhan (Fri. 7/09/10) I have yanked out the pull quotes from that review for you to judge for yourself how Kenneth Turhan feels about 'Despicable Me'.

"More exasperating than entertaining ... saccharine ... sappy sentimentality ... watching 'Despicable Me' can be something of a chore ... gives off the fatal air of trying too hard ... we end up more worn out than entertained ... [plot elements are] not a pleasure to experience ..."

Me? I saw the trailers for 'Despicable Me' on the internet, and judged the trailers to be entertaining, and thus the movie itself to be promising.

Well, I will probably like 'Despicable Me'. -- I like saccharine. I like sappy.
The Notebook (2004) was two-thumbs up for me.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993) was likewise.

[shna]

I choose to think we'll like the movie (and maybe even love it).

Sometimes movie reviewers review movies with odd expectations. I don't need silly summer comedies to have deep, meaningful scripts or to be believable. I want them to be silly and funny and to let me escape into another world for a couple of hours.

I especially don't get it when reviewers look for deep meaning and exquisite performances in movies that are fluff pieces primarily meant for kids.

[kbushue]

Well, sometimes critics are right and sometimes they're wrong.

In a nutshell, it's a fun, quirky, laugh out loud kids movie. And I'm a big kid

[littlej]

It sounds perfect for the little guy's first movie! Contraptions breaking/backfiring, sappy sentimentality -- right up his alley. I don't even care if I enjoy it, I want him to have a good time. Thanks kbushue, everybody.

[cstephens]

Bad news for 'Despicable Me'.

Not so much - they had a spectacular weekend at the box office. I expect the sequel is in the works as we speak.

I didn't think the film was as layered as some other animated movies, but overall, I enjoyed it.