This enchanting 3-D animated comedy about a slightly wicked but ultimately softhearted rogue (voice of Steve Carell) follows his rivalry with a nerdy newcomer (voice of Jason Segel) for the title of world’s most terrible villain – during which they compete to steal the moon, no less – and charts the life-altering effect a trio of orphans (voices of Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier and Elsie Fisher) have on him after he takes them under his wing, initially for his own nefarious purposes.
Watch out for: Co-directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin – who also provide voice work for the main miscreant’s army of comically mumbling undersized minions – serve up a delightfully humorous conversion tale spun around themes of loyalty and the transformative power of family love with only a few effects that might scare the most timid and a touch of mild bathroom humor to raise concern among some parents.
Rated: A-I; MPAA: PG
