'Despicable Me' Charms CC

After reading not-so-positive reviews of "Despicable Me" in the LA Times and New York Times, I wasn't particularly excited to take CC to see this animated movie, especially given the grumpy title.

But after weeks of seeing her face light up at every billboard -- "The yellow things!" -- and hearing her pronounce "Despicable" perfectly, was there really any doubt that Ian and I'd be able to resist the supervillain Gru (voiced by the awesome Steve Carell) and his little yellow minions?

Although I thought the movie got off to an awkward start -- Gru is not so much evil, but rather desperate and beaten-down, courtesy of mommy issues -- it really gains speed once Gru's multitude of little yellow (different, better?) workers enter the picture with their chirps and burbles.

Gru is out to get his evil mojo back after rival Vector (Jason Segel) steals a pyramid, making headlines. (Again, this seemed a bit awkward and random. Why a pyramid?) Gru sets out for an even bigger prize -- the moon.

Enter a trio of orphaned girls, and priorities start to shift for the single-minded Gru. While he wants an entry into Vector's super mod lair, via cookies the girls are selling, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher) are just looking for a dad -- no matter how weird he is.

Needless to say, hearts melt -- mine included, particularly during a bedtime-story scene -- and the movie makes up for any initial missteps.

CC was definitely charmed and didn't fidget once during the 2D version we saw. (3D would have been another story, thanks to those glasses.)

She even asked me to put a single ponytail in her hair, on top of her head a la the youngest of the girls, Agnes. That and she wants a pink fluffy unicorn. A big one.