Top 10 Things Only Adults Notice in the Minions Franchise
#10: Gru's Finances Make No Sense
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When it comes to Gru’s business model, we have some questions. How does a middle-aged homeowner pay the bills through villainy, let alone finance a massive underground lab staffed by an army of diminutive yellow wage workers? Sure, the Bank of Evil extended the baddie credit in the past, but how did he pay off those loans? In the franchise’s first film, the bank’s director states most of Gru’s sinister plots never turned a profit. It doesn’t take a genius like Dr. Nefario — who Gru presumably pays or shares backend with — to figure out something doesn’t add up. Clearly, the villain must be running an elaborate pyramid scheme, and we don’t mean the kind that involves stealing assets too famous to fence.
#9: The “Mona Lisa” & “Starry Night” in the Girls' Room
Even the best art appraisers sometimes get duped by a deft forgery. In fact, some of the masterpieces hanging in the world’s most famous museums might actually be cheap knockoffs. The franchise’s CGI artists made an oblique reference to this conspiracy theory by hiding two very recognizable paintings in the background of Gru’s home. Hanging on the wall of his adoptive daughters’ room is Leonardo DaVinci’s grinning gal, the Mona Lisa. Funnier still, Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night sits wedged in a corner next to a barrel of toxic waste. While eagle-eyed folks can definitely spot these visual gags, such subtle humor is what makes this a movie the whole family can enjoy.
#8: Gru Does Little to Hide That He's a Villain
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An evil genius should have both the means and motive to keep their nefarious doings under wraps, but that’s not how Gru rolls. When we meet the villain, he gives a sad child a balloon, but then promptly pops it just to laugh at the kid’s misery. It’s a bold move for a creepy dude who looks like the last person you’d want lurking near a playground. However, he soon draws even more heat by freezing customers at a coffee shop before stealing one of their orders. These crimes could land Gru behind bars for decades. It seems even dumber when you consider how easy he’d be to identify due to the giant car, weird house and penchant for black threads.
#7: The City Is Probably Not a Fan of Gru's House
What’s scarier than a supervillain or evil bank? The answer: a homeowner’s association with an ax to grind. On Gru’s street, all houses look the same, except for his. While other homes have white walls and orange roofs, the villain’s domicile is dark maroon. Gru’s dead lawn also contrasts with the vibrant green ones of his neighbors. Further, the creepy crib towers over every other building. The house likely violates any number of municipal ordinances, and that’s not including the massive subterranean munitions factory or rocket launch pad. No doubt the city gets loads of complaints, but Gru does more than break building codes. He threatens to kill his neighbor’s dog, something that could easily land him in hot water with local authorities.
#6: Minions as Oompa Loompas
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Gru’s loveable army of squat sycophants not only helped their evil master steal the moon, but they also stole the hearts of young viewers around the world. These lemon-like lackys became integral to the franchise’s success, even going on to helm their own film. However, according to a 2013 article in the LA Times, the flamboyant flunkies weren’t in the initial draft of the script for “Despicable Me.” The film’s directors drew inspiration from a variety of pop culture touchstones to generate the Minions. Willy Wonka’s wee workers, the Oompa Loompas, were one influence, while the pint-sized desert scavengers from a galaxy far far away, the Jawas, were another. For adults, this instant nostalgia factor adds to the appeal of these loveable, pill-shaped scamps.
#5: Gru's Car Insurance Must Be Through the Roof
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Modern life can be annoying, especially if you’re in traffic, hunting for parking, or getting tailgated by an overcompensating maniac. We’ve all wished we could dole out vigilante justice, but life doesn’t work that way. That is, unless you’re a supervillain. Part of Gru’s appeal for adults stems from the power fantasy of annihilating life’s quotidian stressors. The Gru-mobile is a prime example. Covered in armor, two stories tall and powered by a rocket, this blacktop behemoth is a tank and sports car rolled into one. While great for a movie, in real life Gru would be buried in insurance premiums and damage claims from his questionable parking skills. Still, that doesn’t mean stressed-out adults can’t indulge in a little vicarious vehicular schadenfreude.
#4: The Minions Are Speaking a Real Language
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The Minions’ unique way of speaking helped endear them to children around the world. Part polyglot tongue, part gibberish, the language holds many surprising secrets older viewers can appreciate as well. For instance, the fictitious patois borrows words and phrases from many real languages. Of course, Minionese features English words, such as banana and potato. From Russian, the fictional tongue gets the word Dä, meaning yes. It also uses the Chinese word for cheers, the Spanish word for wedding and the Indonesian phrase meaning thank you. Many other languages are also sampled, though sometimes words are tweaked just a bit. A nod to this linguistic depth comes in “Despicable Me 3,” when Gru tries to speak the language, much to the amusement of his underlings.
#3: The Minion Economy Doesn't Make Much Sense
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Minions evolved from single-celled organisms with a biological imperative to follow the biggest bad. Instinct could explain their support for Gru, but he clearly pays his peons. In the first film, one minion seems genuinely saddened to learn there won’t be raises. This begs so many questions. Does Gru pay cash? If not, do minions have bank accounts? Do they have social security cards? Do they pay taxes? Rent and meals appear to be covered by their employer, so what do they buy? When Gru sends minions shopping, their confusion implies a lack of experience. Later, the minions crowdfund Gru’s rocket. They hold up cash, a wallet and even a gold watch. For grownups, being a minion might not seem half bad.
#2: The Bank of Evil Has Some Real Life Roots
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Most people worry about having enough money, so seeing a supervillain deal with the same problem can be cathartic. This is why the Bank of Evil makes such a good antagonist. This diabolical financial institution might not be real, but its inspiration is far from fiction. It hides behind a customer-friendly façade, which is true of many actual predatory lenders. Lining its entrance are statues of men being crushed by huge columns, an ominous if apt metaphor for the burden of debt. Below the bank’s front doors, a sign reads, “Formerly Lehman Brothers.” Most kids won’t get this reference to the global financial services firm that helped cause the subprime mortgage crisis, but those who lived through the resultant economic downturn certainly will.
#1: References to Classic Spy Films
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The franchise’s creatives clearly love old James Bond movies and other popular spy stories. They hide many easter eggs and homages to such classics that most kids won’t recognize. First and foremost, Gru bears a striking resemblance to 007’s archnemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld. This isn’t surprising since Blofeld is one of the most parodied characters in history, having also inspired Dr. Evil from “Austin Powers,” Dr. Claw from “Inspector Gadget” and many others. Further, Gru’s faithful tech guy, Dr. Nefario, was inspired by Q, Bond’s ever reproachful gadget purveyor. For the way Gru moves, animators drew from the performance of Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films, as well as others. These callbacks offer nostalgia for older viewers, as well as big laughs for everyone.
