--- title: "Despicable Me: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/despicable-me/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/despicable-me" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Despicable Me (2010): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 15 reviews: 7 positive, 6 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews lean towards an entertaining family comedy whose humour earns more consistent praise than its story. Critics repeatedly single out the Minions, ingenious gadgetry and comic set pieces, with several also admiring the animation’s timing and use of space. Steve Carell’s performance draws praise for giving Gru some vulnerability beneath the bluster. For the warmer reviews, his growing bond with the orphan sisters supplies enough feeling to make a predictable plot work. Reservations centre on familiar storytelling and sentimentality, but the spread is wide: the same family scenes strike some critics as touching and others as cloying. Even favourable assessments acknowledge borrowed ideas or mawkish moments. The Los Angeles Times offers a sharper dissent, finding the film exhausting and Gru irritating, while still enjoying the Minions. NME likewise praises the small comic sidekicks and Carell but finds the film dull and lacking depth. ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4/5. Staunton praises the film as a wonderfully inventive animated comedy. He singles out its ingenious gadgetry and Gru’s softening bond with the orphan sisters. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-mld4mg/despicable-me/) ## Slant Magazine — Simon Abrams Rating 3/4. 5 July 2010. Abrams finds the film an enjoyable, unambitious diversion, with its predictable plot proving no major obstacle. He praises the filmmakers’ comic timing and inventive use of space in the animated world. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/despicable-me/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2010. The critic finds the film funny, clever and warmly animated, though less surprising than Pixar at its best. He especially praises Steve Carell’s performance as Gru, which conveys vulnerability beneath the villain’s bluster. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/despicable-me-film-review-29709/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2010. Newman finds the film fun and smart, though not a first-rank CGI cartoon. He singles out the appealing orphans and the warmth and poignancy of Gru’s transformation into a parent. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/despicable-review/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The review page could not be accessed, so its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be established. The available page text contains only a browser check. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/despicable-me-2010) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2010. The page identifies this as a review, but its text is hidden behind a paywall. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint are therefore unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/despicable-me/5015065.article) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 11 October 2010. The three-star review offers a measured assessment of the film. It points to cartoon villains’ greater appeal than their heroic adversaries as a source of fun. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/despicable-me-3) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 1 October 2010. Smith finds the film entertaining but derivative, with a clunky, overly sentimental story. He praises the comic set pieces, especially the minions and the film’s gadgetry. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/despicable-me-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2010. Bradshaw finds the comedy agreeable but unoriginal and less impressive than its American reception suggests. He singles out the contrast between Gru and more interesting animated villains as a weakness. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/14/despicable-me-review) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 9 July 2010. Turan finds the film exhausting and overly sentimental, with too much forced cleverness. He praises the amusing minions as its most charming feature, while criticizing the cloying orphans and irritating villain. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-09-la-et-despicable-me-20100709-story.html) ## HeyUGuys — Gary Phillips Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 October 2010. The critic calls it an excellent, highly entertaining animated film that succeeds for both children and adults. They especially praise the Minions’ comic appeal and the film’s inventive use of 3D. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/despicable-me-review-2/) ## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2010. Bitel finds the film highly entertaining, with its family themes made funnier rather than solemn. He singles out the mischievous minions as scene-stealing highlights. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/despicable-me-film-review-by-anton-bitel) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4 out of 5. 11 October 2010. The critic calls the film a triumph and a strong new competitor in animated family entertainment, despite its derivative story and mawkish moments. The minions earn particular praise for their laughs, distinct personalities and entertaining end-credits sequence. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/despicable-me-review/) ## Collider — Ethan Anderton Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2011. Anderton finds the film charming, funny, and heartfelt, though not quite up to Pixar’s standard. He praises its voice cast, animation, and the warmth of Gru’s relationships with the girls. [Read the review](https://collider.com/despicable-me-blu-ray-review/) ## NME — James McMahon Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film neither bad nor good, faulting it for being dull and lacking depth. They praise the Minions’ comic moments and Steve Carell’s lively lead performance. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-movie-11612-324313) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/despicable-me.md