Despicable Me (2010)

I saw this one with my boys yesterday, and I'm glad I did. It's funny and well-written. Plenty of laughs for the grown-ups and the kids alike. The story follows Gru, this apparent supervillain who has been outclassed by an up-and-coming villain named Vector (Vector is the Apple to Gru's PC -- you can definitely see that in everything Vector does). Gru wants to reclaim his position as top supervillain by stealing the Moon, and, as part of that scheme, he adopts three orphaned little girls (sisters -- the cerebral oldest sis, the quasi-tomboy middle, and the cutsie pie youngest). Gru's villainous heart is, of course, softened by the introduction of these three kids in his world. It's kind of a nod to good parenting, I think -- that kids bring fun and love to your life in ways that a job never will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_rUbqbhUEQ

Anyway, the animation is crisp, the characters are amusing -- Gru's a stitch, and the girls are dangerously cute, and the story is light and entertaining. Universal is in Pixar's shadow, but this is a great addition to their portfolio. I can't wait to get it on DVD.