Would have worked as a stand alone film

Rating: 6/10 (25 July 2013)

Like a lot of people I only got to hear about this animated film amid all the hype about it's sequel.
The first twenty minutes are a bit slow and take painstaking detail to set up all the characters that we will spend the next ninety minutes. We laugh amiably at Steve Carell doing vocal gymnastics is the voice over for Gru and adults will get a laugh out of the fact that Julie Andrews is voicing such a horrible person while kids will be besotted with the Minions.
However if you can get through the first twenty minutes what you'll find is a funny, visually stunning film that appeals to all ages. It has warmth and humour running throughout and is certainly the most creative animated film I've seen in a long time.
However do I think the idea needed to be stretched to a sequel? No.