Despicable Me hits the big screen this week as it looks to follow in the footsteps of Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon, it really has been a good year for animation movies.
While it’s initially a bit uncertain who is naughty and who is nice in Despicable Me, all will be revealed as the story unfolds.
Below is a guide to the dastardly and delightful players in Gru’s world:
- Gru (Steve Carell) is a villain who finds great pleasure in doing deliciously wicked things to other people. Whether it’s freezing a long queue of customers ahead of him at a coffee shop or creating a balloon animal for a small boy just to pop it, Gru gets to do all of the things we only wish we could.
He’s on track to become the greatest villain of all time by committing the crime of the century, but Gru’s about to face his toughest challenge yet: Fatherhood.
- Gru’s nemesis, the nerdy Vector (Jason Segel), is way too geeky to be this cocky. Holed up in his sleek house/fortress, Vector can usually be found in his orange warm-up suit, playing video games while plotting his next move.
His favorite weapon is a gun that fires live piranhas. Unfortunately for him, Vector has a hard time keeping the carnivores inside the gun’s barrel...
- The eldest of the three orphans, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) is naturally protective of her two sisters. Raised without a family, she distrusts most people and knows the only ones the girls can count on are one another.
A tough cookie and a strong protector, Margo is not afraid to challenge Gru as he tries to parent the girls. He has finally met his match.
-The kid who tests all limits, Edith (newcomer DANA GAIER) might just be the last girl in the orphanage you would run to adopt. Wearing a hat pulled down over her eyes and eager to test out Gru’s dangerous weaponry, she is seen as a bit of a scoundrel. Though this middle child needs (and wants) limits, she’ll never let you know it.
-An innocent little girl who loves unconditionally and wants desperately to be loved, the youngest of the three orphans lives to hug.
Agnes (scene-stealing newcomer Elsie Fisher) is obsessed with unicorns and says random, sweet things. She longs for nothing more than parents to make her family complete... and that unicorn wouldn’t hurt.
-Gru’s Mom (Julie Andrews): Behind every great villain is a disapproving mom. Nothing Gru has done has been good enough for his judgmental grump of a mother.
While she believes she’s quite smart in her parenting approach, the 80-year-old still treats Gru like he’s eight years old. Her overly critical attitude has inspired him toward ever-increasing feats of villainy in order to impress his harrumphing mom.
-Gru’s resident mad scientist, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) looks to be approximately 150 years old and vacillates between flashes of brilliance and black holes of spaciness.
Always hard at work building his boss the latest in incredible vehicles and weaponry, Nefario is (sometimes) sharp as a tack. His hearing, however? That began to fade at least 50 years ago.
-Small, mischievous yellow creatures, the minions (Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud and Jemaine Clement) form Gru’s not-so-bright pit crew.
Hardworking and devoted to their leader and his mad exploits, the minions are content to serve as his crash test dummies. When they meet Gru’s adopted children, however, they find three little girls who are just as much fun as they are.
- Miss Hattie (Kristen Wiig) runs the local orphanage where Margo, Edith and Agnes live before they are sent to live with Gru. A seemingly kind and concerned caretaker, Miss Hattie is actually a stern Southern belle who believes in tough love and big business. If you’re not making your quota by selling cookies, you’re headed for Miss Hattie’s 'Box of Shame.'
-Gru’s noodge of a next-door neighbor, Fred McDade (Danny McBride) is, naturally, the president of the homeowner’s association. Quick to point out any minor infractions of the neighborhood code, McDade is a constant thorn in Gru’s side. He just needs to keep an eye on his dog unless he wants to incur the wrath of Gru.
- An unforgiving loan manager who runs the Bank of Evil, Mr. Perkins (Will Arnett) has long funded Gru’s wicked plans. A monster of a man who has grown unsatisfied with Gru’s imperfect track record, Perkins has reached the end of his financing rope and refuses to give Gru a loan to finance his intricate plot to steal the moon.
- The tackiest tourists you’ll encounter (Jack McBrayer and The Office’s Mindy Kaling), this family is on vacation with their young son.
Armed with wild clothes, disposable cameras and bad fanny packs, the tourists are in for a more exciting trip than they could ever dream of when they discover someone has stolen the Great Pyramid.
- The Carnival Barker (also voiced by Jack McBrayer) at Super Silly Fun Land has no intention of allowing Margo, Edith or Agnes out of the park with a prized stuffed animal.
Calling out taunts like 'Someone’s got a frowny face!' will only motivate Gru to pull out the big guns to win Agnes her beloved unicorn.
- A cross between a bulldog and a piranha with the attitude to match, Kyle is Gru’s guard dog. The recipient of many unwelcome hugs by Agnes, Kyle isn’t sure whether he wants to swallow the little girls whole, or just cuddle up next to them.
Despicable Me is released 15th October
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