short circuits

New and noteworthy experiences among DVDs, video games, gadgets and the Web.

DVD

A curmudgeon with heart The nasty streak that animates the protagonist of "Despicable Me" -- a hollow-eyed supervillain named Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) -- is so deep and wide as to seem insurmountable. But the film turns into an improbably heartwarming, not to mention visually delightful, diversion. After another evildoer impresses the world by stealing the Great Pyramid of Giza, Gru looks for his big comeback and hits on the idea of stealing the moon. He adopts three sweet girls from an orphanage run by a sadistic Southern belle (Kristen Wiig), and, along with an army of yellow "minions," begins to bring his plan into action. Carell's expert timing is in full force as his character tries mightily to resist the parental tug of his three young charges. The DVD and Blu-ray (Universal, $30-$50) include directors' commentary and background featurettes.

WASHINGTON POST

Also out Tuesday: "The A Team," "Army Wives" (Season 4), "Cyrus," "Dear Mr. Gacy," "Exit Through the Gift Shop," "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work," "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," "Micmacs," "Mother and Child," "Nanny McPhee Returns," "The Other Guys," "The Town," "Trouble in Mind," "24" (Season 8), and Blu-rays of "The Black Pirate," "Hard Boiled," "True Grit."

GAME

Going for a fling on Wii "FlingSmash" ($50 for Wii; rated Everyone) is packaged with the new Wii Remote Plus, which has a Wii Motion Plus sensor integrated into its design. The controller is $40 on its own, so the game is sort of a $10 extra. That isn't to say it's bad; the visuals are cute, and the game is entertaining. It's just not particularly deep. Players use the remote to fling around a ball-shaped hero named Zip. He must make his way through levels filled with blocks, locks and other obstacles. Players flick the remote in the direction they want him to go, and he's sent flying to bash through obstacles and enemies, picking up items wherever he passes over them.

SACRAMENTO BEE

GADGET

A system that does it all The Gadget of the Year is the iHome Studio Series iA100

($199, www.ihomeaudio.com). It combines seemingly every feature possible into one unit. More important, it's simple to use. The iA100 has four speakers for great sound and continues the iHome tradition of producing great looking devices, along with their functionality for any iPhone or iPad. Beside the basics you expect from a desktop clock radio (FM stereo and alarm) and a docking system for the portable media players, the system can pair with any Bluetooth-enabled phone, instantly turning it into a speakerphone. With an iPhone or iPad, it can broadcast the audio from music or video stored on the portable devices. Also available is iHome's free apps -- iHome + Radio and iHome + Sleep -- enabling users to enjoy enhanced functionality with ease.

MCCLATCHY NEWS SERVICE