Special to the Progress
Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
Editor’s note: A Jacksonville resident has been reviewing movies for friends for several years and has offered to share his thoughts with Daily Progress readers. His reviews come in personal letters to his nicknamed friend, Spud Nut. Our reviewer is Tater Tot, so consequently, the movies get ratings based on potatoes.
Despicable Me (rated PG, 95 minutes in 3-D) is a cute, humorous animated movie that is almost up to rival Pixar studio quality in entertainment value for the family.
The lead character, Gru, is a comic villain similar to the once popular Boris Badenov of the Rocky and Bullwinkle TV show.
Gru even has the Russian bad guy accent that Boris used.
His ambition is to be best villain in the world by stealing and shrinking the moon.
He has a band of tiny minions who supply funny antics to make the audience laugh.
The story includes three orphan girls who come to stay with Gru and begin to steal his heart, thereby reforming his character by story’s end.
Stay to see the closing credits when the minions make some charming appearances.
This is a three potato rated feature and well worth a look for summer fun.
Tater Tot
I was thoroughly enthralled by Despicable Me.
Great animation.
Good 3D effects.
Really interesting drawing of the characters, exaggerated and out of proportion — the drawing fits the personality.
Gru is a complex character, an arch villain who discovers love.
Steve Carell’s accent is an integral part of the charm of the flick.
It’s funny and expressive.
So many of the background pieces are funny, like his “car” which is huge and powered by jet engines which leave a trail of black smoke.
The little minions are too cute for words!
Anyway, I could go on and on, but I won’t.
Suffice it to say that this is funny, heart warming and altogether absorbing.
You will hate to see it end.
I’d put this in the same category as Up, which is my own personal favorite animated movie.
I’d say hitch a ride on a passing rocket and race to see this wonderful flick.
Don’t leave the theater until the credits are over, they haven’t stopped entertaining you.
Spud Nut
