Despicable Me Premieres at LA Film Festival

The 3-D animated story of a struggling “super villain” who is eventually softened by the three little orphans whom he rescues is fun and kid-friendly.

Debuting at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the audience included most of the cast: Steve Carell as Gru, Jason Segel as Vector, Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario, Julie Andrews as Gru’s mother, Will Arnett as Mr. Perkins.

The audience was lively, not not near as responsive as the electrified Eclipse audience.  The after-party was held in the same tent on the event deck as Eclipse.  They even used the same giant moon balloon at the Despicable Me premiere.

By the way, what’s up with the moon theme?  And they both premiered around the same full moon (yesterday).  And there was even a minor lunar eclipse yesterday (a brilliant marketing flourish).  And this month’s moon is no ordinary moon – it’s known as the Mead Moon, according to Garrison Keilor’s Writer’s Almanac.  Coincidentally my brother and I harvested honey yesterday at his house in Santa Monica.  Seriously!  Photographic proof:

And is it a mere coincidence that DESPICABLE contains the letters for the word ECLIPSE?  Okay…

That one was a stretch.  The Despicable Me after-party was mostly a family affair with IHOP sponsored beverages and little dancing “Minions.”   Rainn Wilson was there with his wife and child – as was most of the cast of “The Office.”  Steve Carell was the man of the hour, surrounded by kids and parents and a couple watchful security guards.

The musical score was perhaps the most striking thing about the film.  Pharrell Williams and the talented Heitor Pereira did a remarkable job with the music.  The theme song is especially catchy: