Movieline

Universal, Best Buy Endorse Cell Phone Use During Despicable Me

So there's good news and there's bad news regarding Despicable Me. Good news first, because we all need it: Some more information has emerged about the film, a 3D animated whatsit we teamed up to learn more about last week. Apparently it opens Friday, and now, not a minute too soon, there's some real promotion happening. The bad news: It involves using your iPhone or other smart-phone device while the movie is playing. But there's good news about that, too! Sort of.

According to a press release slid beneath Movieline's door this morning, the Best Buy "Movie Mode" app is a free download that will translate the dialogue of those little yellow "Minions" (so that's what they're called! Check another answer off the list) during Despicable Me's end credits. Which could be great -- if you'd rather watch your phone in the theater than watch the actual credits themselves. Regardless of which group you fall into (and assuming you intend to see this in the first place), expect to meet vocal representatives of the other side when the phones come alight in the dark near the end of the film.

To say nothing of the fact that the phones are most advisedly on during the movie, even though Best Buy swears it has the potential for disaster covered: "The application will also automatically disable the ringer, dim the screen and discourage texting during the film so as not to bother other movie patrons," the release notes. There's even this helpful video with an adorable, conscientious young child to help assuage your apprehensions! Or... not. You tell me. [Best Buy]