Despicable Me is a pretty solid foundation for a multi-billion-dollar franchise. The music in the film is marvelous, with the score and Pharrell firing on all cylinders. Characters such as Gru, Vector, and the Minions are iconic and so are their voice actors who provide some great laughs. The narrative leaves a lot to be desired, being rather simple, and the script may have needed another draft. The found-family aspect of the film, with Gru and the orphans, adds a lot of needed heart, giving it a solid emotional core. Overall, Despicable Me is an ordinarily straightforward but breezy watch that anyone would find entertaining.

7.7/10

Ocean’s Eleven is a slick and stylish heist film. The film has a distinctly cool and sophisticated vibe, driven by the hilariously snappy dialogue and the electric camera work and editing. The lively music and the glamorous setting of Vegas complement the tone of the film wonderfully. The cast has amazing chemistry, with everyone pulling a 9/10, aside from Pitt and Clooney, who give 10s. The movie has a good amount of well-crafted humor, but I felt that the romance subplot was unnecessary. The heist itself was well thought out, with a fair bit of tension and a cool twist to go with it as well. Overall, Ocean’s Eleven does follow the tropes of a heist film, but its timeless charm makes it a high-energy, fun classic.

8.5/10