Despicable Me
Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 9, 2010 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews
Positive:
27
Mixed:
8
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Chicago ReaderCliff Doerksen
Like the best kids' entertainment, this creates a daffy little world all its own. Read full review
100
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
The effect is Chaplinesque if Chaplin had the latest in gadgetry, because the entire picture is also shot in 3-D that, for once, puts all 3 of the Ds to imaginative use. Read full review
95
MovielineStephanie Zacharek
To hell with that childlike sense-of-wonder crap: Despicable Me, instead of trying to return adults to a false state of innocence, reminds us that we all started out as ill-mannered little savages. Read full review
91
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Another 3-D animated kid movie demonstrates that cartoon storytelling pitched to young people is the last, best refuge of sprightly filmmaking this hard, hot summer. Read full review
90
Boxoffice MagazinePete Hammond
A rousingly funny, heartfelt and imaginative 'toon blessed with the vocal talents of Steve Carell and loaded with whimsy and smarts. Read full review
90
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
Coffin and Renaud's execution is fresh, sincere, often lovely and a great deal of fun -- and in this kind of movie, and this kind of movie summer, execution is everything. Read full review
88
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike Scott
This is a self-contained story that stands nicely on its own. How novel. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
Despicable doesn't measure up to Pixar at its best. Nonetheless, it's funny, clever and warmly animated with memorable characters. Read full review
80
VarietyPeter Debruge
There's nothing like a little world domination to melt the most dastardly evildoer's heart. Since villains so often steal the show in animation, Despicable Me smartly turns the whole operation over to megalomaniacal rogue Gru. Read full review
80
NPRBob Mondello
It's all thoroughly adorable, and with an overlay that's nearly as odd as Carell's accent. Read full review
75
Orlando SentinelRoger Moore
This is dizzy diverting fun, from it's first Carell one-liner to the 3D gimmick gags stuffed into the closing credits. Read full review
75
Tampa Bay TimesSteve Persall
Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud craft a fun stretch run, wrapping the story with warm, fuzzy funnies and nothing to suggest a sequel, which is probably wise. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The film is funny, energetic, teeth-gnashingly venomous and animated with an eye to exploiting the 3-D process with such sure-fire techniques as a visit to an amusement park. The sad thing, I am forced to report, is that the 3-D process produces a picture more dim than it should be. Read full review
75
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Carell's genius for loading a comic line with mirth and malice is on joyous display. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
Until the "creep + orphans = happy family" formula starts demanding abrupt, unconvincing character mutations, Despicable Me is a giddy joy. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Despicable Me has enough visual novelty and high spirits to keep the kiddies diverted and just enough wit to placate the parents. Read full review
75
USA TodayClaudia Puig
This fun-filled adventure avoids formula with a whimsical story and terrific voice casting. Read full review
75
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
Hang in there and Despicable Me turns into an improbably heartwarming, not to mention visually delightful, diversion. Read full review
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe Williams
It's not exactly aiming for the moon, but in a marketplace where surpassed expectations are as rare as unicorns, Despicable Me is delightful. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Perhaps best of all, this is a rare instance in which the 3-D, while not an asset, is at least not a detriment. Read full review
75
New York PostKyle Smith
Though Despicable Me is a little ragged on story, it's got a lot of imagination and a heart as warm as a fluffy kitty. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
Carrell has stated in interviews that his accent "falls someplace between Bela Lugosi and Ricardo Montalban," and that's about right. Read full review
70
Village VoiceRobert Wilonsky
So, yes, kiddies--it's funny. Silly. Slight. Though, grown-ups, be warned: I had more fun watching the kid giggle through the screening than I did watching the movie itself. It's no "Toy Story 3." Read full review
70
Arizona RepublicBill Goodykoontz
Settles for simply being goofy good fun. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Everyone knows that the villains are usually the most interesting characters in any movie. So the makers of Despicable Me were wise to cut to the chase and make the megalomaniacal Gru (voiced by Carell) the central character in this animated film. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
Is the movie itself good? Half-good, I'd say - the second, more openly sentimental half. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Short, sweet-and-sour, and amusing rather than funny, Despicable Me can't help but be likable. Read full review
60
Time OutKeith Uhlich
The setup is pure Looney Tunes, and indeed, Despicable Me is at its best when trading in the anything-for-a-laugh prankery that was a specialty of the Termite Terrace crowd. Read full review
60
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
It looks so stylish that thinking about its plot is strictly optional. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Granted, it's a far cry from the Pixar classics. But Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud's nicely quirky, animated comedy has just enough edge to entertain every member of the family. Read full review
60
EmpireKim Newman
It's no first-rank CGI cartoon, but shows how Pixar's quality over crass is inspiring the mid-list. Fun, with teary bits, for kids; fresh and smart for adults. Read full review
58
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
There's no reason to actively dislike the film, but that's not enough, not at today's ticket prices. Just because you're not despicable, after all, doesn't mean you're the pick of the litter. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
The film throws so much ersatz cleverness and overdone emotion at the audience that we end up more worn out than entertained. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
When compared with the ambition and achievement of recent animated films, such as "Coraline" and "Toy Story 3," Despicable Me hardly seems to have been worth making, and it's barely worth watching. Read full review
50
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
Despicable Me cannot be faulted for lack of trying. If anything, it tries much too hard, stuffing great gobs of second-rate action, secondhand humor and warmed-over sentiment into every nook and cranny of its relentlessly busy 3-D frames. Read full review
More From This Movie

72 Critic Reviews

7.6 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL