Despicable Me is the animated film that introduced the world to Minions, freeze rays, and one of animation’s most lovable redemption arcs. Released in 2010, it blends family comedy with a supervillain parody and quickly became a modern classic.
Detailed Summary
Gru: The World’s Greatest (Almost) Villain
The story centers on Gru, a self-proclaimed supervillain whose pride is wounded when a younger, flashier villain named Vector steals the spotlight. Gru lives in a gloomy house with his loyal scientist Dr. Nefario and an army of Minions who adore him far more than he deserves. His identity as a villain is core to his self-worth, even if the world has mostly moved on.
The Moon Heist Plan
Determined to reclaim his reputation, Gru devises an absurdly ambitious plan: steal the Moon using a shrink ray. However, the shrink ray is stolen by Vector, forcing Gru to come up with an unconventional strategy to get close to him.
Enter the Girls: Margo, Edith, and Agnes
Gru adopts three orphan girls not out of kindness, but because they can easily access Vector’s fortress while selling cookies. What begins as manipulation slowly turns into something more meaningful. The girls bring warmth, chaos, and emotional cracks into Gru’s carefully controlled villain life, especially the youngest, Agnes, whose belief in unicorns and unconditional love disarm him completely.
Vector vs. Gru
As Gru balances villainy with unexpected fatherhood, Vector escalates their rivalry. The conflict shifts from gadgets and schemes to emotional stakes, as Gru starts questioning what success and happiness really mean.
Transformation Through Family
Gru’s internal struggle becomes the heart of the film. His growing attachment to the girls conflicts with his lifelong ambition, and the Minions notice the change long before he does.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Gru successfully steals the Moon, briefly achieving his lifelong dream. However, Vector kidnaps the girls, using them as leverage. Faced with a choice between ultimate villain success and the safety of the children, Gru immediately abandons his triumph.
He returns the Moon, which grows back to its original size in space, losing the heist entirely. Gru rescues the girls in an action-packed showdown, where Vector ends up stranded on the Moon due to his own arrogance and poor planning.
The emotional resolution is clear and complete: Gru officially adopts Margo, Edith, and Agnes, fully embracing fatherhood. His house transforms from dark and hostile into a warm family home. The Minions celebrate the change, and Gru attends the girls’ ballet recital, something he previously dismissed as unimportant. The film closes on the idea that love and family have redefined Gru’s identity more powerfully than villainy ever could.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes. There is a short post-credits gag featuring the Minions, continuing their tradition of chaotic humor. It does not tease a sequel directly but reinforces their growing popularity and comic relief role.
Type of Movie
Despicable Me is an animated family comedy with strong elements of satire, action, and emotional storytelling. It balances slapstick humor with a surprisingly heartfelt character arc.
Cast
- Steve Carell as Gru
- Jason Segel as Vector
- Miranda Cosgrove as Margo
- Dana Gaier as Edith
- Elsie Fisher as Agnes
- Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario
- Julie Andrews as Gru’s mother
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Heitor Pereira, blending playful orchestral themes with mischievous undertones. The soundtrack also features songs by Pharrell Williams, whose upbeat style perfectly matches the film’s tone.
Filming Locations
As an animated film, Despicable Me was produced primarily at Illumination Entertainment studios in collaboration with Universal Pictures. While there are no physical filming locations, the suburban neighborhood design draws inspiration from American middle-class suburbs, emphasizing how out of place Gru’s villain house truly is.
Awards and Nominations
- Nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film
- Nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film
- Won multiple Annie Awards nominations for animation and character design
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Steve Carell helped shape Gru’s accent, which became one of the character’s defining traits.
- The Minions were originally meant to be much fewer in number. Their popularity during development caused their roles to expand.
- Agnes’ unicorn obsession was inspired by real childhood behaviors observed by the writers.
- Gru’s emotional arc was intentionally written to appeal to adults as much as children.
Inspirations and References
The film draws inspiration from classic supervillain tropes, James Bond-style villains, and family comedies like Annie. Gru’s visual design echoes old-school animated villains mixed with European caricature styles.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Early drafts reportedly featured a darker ending where Gru struggled longer with choosing villainy over family. These versions were abandoned to maintain the film’s optimistic tone. Several deleted scenes focused on extended Minion antics, later reused in sequels and shorts.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Despicable Me is an original screenplay and is not directly based on a book. However, multiple children’s books were published after the film, adapting its story for younger audiences.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Gru adopting the girls purely as part of his scheme
- Agnes asking Gru if he believes in unicorns
- The Moon shrinking and being returned to space
- The ballet recital finale
Iconic Quotes
- Gru: “I’m going to steal the Moon!”
- Agnes: “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!”
- Vector: “Oh yeah!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Gru’s house number is 45, a subtle nod to Fahrenheit 451.
- Vector’s name and design parody Silicon Valley tech culture.
- Minion language includes fragments of Spanish, French, and English.
- Gru’s scarf remains unchanged throughout the film, symbolizing his rigid personality early on.
Trivia
- This was Illumination Entertainment’s first feature film.
- Minions were initially envisioned as robots.
- Julie Andrews returned to animation voice work after many years.
- The film’s success directly led to the Minions spin-off franchise.
Why Watch?
If you enjoy heartfelt character growth hidden inside comedy, Despicable Me delivers. It works equally well for kids laughing at Minions and adults appreciating Gru’s emotional transformation.
Director’s Other Works
- Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- Despicable Me 3 (2017)
- The Lorax (2012)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- Despicable Me 4 (2024)
- Minions (2015)
- The Incredibles (2004)
- Megamind (2010)
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
