#2 Mad scientist in the world, Gru (Carell), has finally hatched the perfect plot to attain his ultimate dream – to take the #1 title from his arch-rival Vector (Segel). Armed with an enormous assortment of ridiculous sci-fi gadgetry and an army of little genetically altered popcorn creatures as his assistants, Gru is going to steal… THE MOON!

Alas, Gru’s plans take a bit of a detour when three orphaned girls arrive on his doorstep and decide they want this funny looking fella to be their new dad. Says the tagline: ‘Superbad. Superdad?’

Despicable Me is the debut feature from Illumination Entertainment, a new animation studio formed by the lead animators behind the Ice Age movies and Horton Hears a Who. Featuring a top shelf voice cast, it promises to be one of the funniest animated flicks this semester.

Say what? Zac Efron – of High School Musical fame – in a dramatic role? No singing? No dancing? No 17 Again? This I gotta see…

The film is based on the 2004 Ben Sherwood novel, “The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud”, and centres on accomplished sailor Charlie (Efron), who is getting ready to leave for university, much to the despair of his younger brother Sam (Charlie Tahan). As consolation, Charlie makes a pact with Sam to practice baseball with him every day until he leaves. But tragedy strikes when Charlie survives a car accident that takes Sam’s life. At the funeral, Sam’s ghost reminds Charlie of his promise. However Charlie develops a relationship with high-school classmate and aspiring round-the-world sailor, Tess Carroll (Crew). Charlie becomes torn between his promise to Sam and his feelings for Tess, fearing that spending time with her forces him to grow apart from his brother.

With a great supporting cast, including Kim Basinger and Ray Liotta, Charlie St Cloud promises to be the ultimate teen-angst-tear-jerker, so bring the tissues!