Movies Features

Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio – Despicable Me

By Anne Brodie Jul 16, 2010, 16:48 GMT

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in ...more

Writing partners Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio are the fertile minds behind the hit animated family comedy Despicable Me, featuring the voices of Steve Carrell, Julie Andrews, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Jemaine Clement, and Kristin Wiig. Paul and Daurio, who’ve worked as a team for nine years, are no strangers to animated success.

Jim Carrey and Carrell starred in a little thing called Horton Hears a Who! which has grossed $295M to date. They’re bringing the new age of technology into the mix offering Despicable Me 3D, and after just three weeks it’s earned almost $100M mark. We had a very quick chat with the lads as they were rushing out the door to count their box office receipts.

Monsters and Critics - Universal seems to be counting on Despicable Me to give it a boost after some disappointments. Do you feel the responsibility of that?

Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio - We honestly just feel the responsibility to write the best script we possibly can. Everything beyond that is out of our control. We hope this movie gives everybody a boost!

M&C - There’s the suggestion that Despicable Me it could be a franchise! Please comment.

CP/KD - We conceived of the movie as a stand-alone piece, but anything’s possible.

M&C - The imagination involved in this storytelling is really wonderful. Have to touch that child state again while engaging adults. Is it tough?

CP/KD - We honestly only write stuff we’d want to see ourselves, and never write just for kids. However, our wives have often accused us of behaving like children, so that may be a factor.

M&C - Despicable Me is masterfully layered and interesting and appealing. It’s funny, grand, emotional, and meaningful. Do you have anything to add?

CP/KD - Just that this is our favorite interview question ever. Thank you! It’s really gratifying when someone responds to something we’ve put our hearts and souls into for four years.

M&C - The voice cast is amazing led by Steve Carrell – when you developed the story did you envision these actors?

CP/KD - Pretty early on we knew we wanted Steve but had no idea he’d come up with that amazing voice (Carrell calls is a cross between Ricardo Montalban and Bela Lugosi: Ed.). It really helped with the writing once we had that in our heads. And the same thing applies to the choices made by Julie, Russell, Jason, and Kristen. Inspired.

M&C – You’re currently working on another Dr. Seuss extravaganza, The Lorax which has an environmental theme. How are you envisioning it as a 3D film?

CP/KD - We see this as an epic story with a very timely message, and can’t wait to bring another of Dr. Seuss’s worlds to life in animation…but this time with an extra dimension.

M&C - Are you staying more or less faithful to the book?

CP/KD - Absolutely. The Lorax is Cinco’s favorite Seuss book, and we are both committed to staying true to its vision. We meant what we said, and we said what we meant: we will be faithful one hundred percent.

M&C - You’ve got Russell Brand voicing the Easter Bunny in another film you’ve written called Hop. !*&^%$#$@#! Please comment.

CP/KD - When you think cute, lovable holiday icon, who else comes to mind but Russell Brand? Seriously, he’s brilliant, and after working with him on Despicable Me we couldn’t be happier to have him saying (and improving on) our lines again.

M&C - It’s an amazing cast all around with James Marsden, Kaley Cuoco, and Chelsea Handler. You are able to attract top notch talents, must be thrilling.

CP/KD - Each time we found out another actor had signed on, we were totally thrilled. It just got better and better. And meeting Julie Andrews and working with her was one of the highlights of our lives.

M&C - Horton Hears a Who! Set the bar high for you both and I wonder if its success haunts you or spurs you on?

CP/KD - Its success not only opened a lot of doors for us, but it’s definitely inspired us to continue to aim high every time we write a script.

M&C - There are so many 3D films in the air at the moment, and I wonder what will save the 3D trend from its sad fate in the fifties?

CP/KD - Using it in good movies. In the 50’s 3-D was predominantly used in B and C-movies. Now, hopefully, a better class of films are taking advantage of it. The more good movies that use 3-D, that are created with 3-D in mind, the better chance it has of sticking around.

M&C - Why not bring back Smell-O-Vision?

CP/KD - We’re personally pulling for Taste-O-Vision.

M&C - Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished in a competitive field. What are your secrets?

CP/KD - If we revealed them, we’d be out of a job! Honestly, we just work hard at writing what moves us and makes us laugh. That’s it—sadly, not much of a secret.