Steve Carrell does a pretty dodgy Eastern European despot accent here. There are too many cute Oompa-Loompa things (minions, I think he calls them) in his basement. Adorable orphans are used in emotionally manipulative ways. People who are exploded by tactical nuclear weapons somehow don’t sustain any lingering injuries.

Furthermore, the main idea of the plot is ludicrous. The number 2 bad guy on the planet can’t get a loan FROM THE BANK OF EVIL. I mean, how do they expect to stay liquid if only one guy qualifies for a loan?

Despite all these lapses in cinematic judgement, in fact in spite of these and quite a few more, this movie manages to be quite engaging. Much like Steve Carrell, the film is silly but somehow profoundly charming. What it lacks in cinematic innovation it makes up with clever dialogue and visual élan.

If I had kids, I would take them to this one. And I wouldn’t mind, because it doesn’t suck. There’s more than enough wit and style to keep a grown-up entertained.

I suppose there are some mildly scary moments, and you may have to answer some existential questions about man’s duality from your younger ones, but you don’t want your kids to grow up all mamby-pamby, right?