Top 20 Things Only Adults Notice in the Despicable Me Franchise
#20: Jean-Clawed Is a Reference to the Voice Actor
“Minions: The Rise of Gru” introduces us to a villain with a giant mechanical lobster claw for his right arm. Some younger viewers might pick up on the clever play on words in the name Jean-Clawed, which ties the lobster claw into a French-sounding name. However, there’s a deeper reference here that adults are more likely to catch. The name is also a nod to the man who voices the character: Jean-Claude Van Damme—the famous Belgian martial artist and action film star who rose to prominence in the late ‘80s and ‘90s.
#19: “Sit” Sounds Very Close to Something Else
It’s safe to say plenty of young viewers laugh after seeing Agnes’s pet baby goat poop on the floor in “Despicable Me 4.” For adults, Agnes’s response might be considered even funnier. Although, it might go over young viewers’ heads, especially if they haven’t yet learned a certain swear word that starts with an s and ends with a t. Agnes emphasizes that she wanted Lucky to “sit,” highlighting just how close that word sounds to a word that describes what the goat actually did. It’s not something you’d necessarily expect from a kids movie!
#18: The Bicentennial Billboard
The opening shot of “Minions: The Rise of Gru” likely didn’t fully register with most kids, but it might’ve brought back memories for older adults. It shows a billboard that reads “Bicentennial 1976.” This refers to the 200th birthday of the United States of America, which was a celebratory time filled with festivities. Because the movie takes us back to the mid-70s, it’s filled with other pieces of nostalgia as well. We also see a rotary phone, which is like a foreign object to kids nowadays. Plus, adults are likely to notice the 1975 “Jaws” poster at the movie theater. All those details are great, but the “Bicentennial” reference is probably the least likely for kids to recognize.
#17: The Realistic Depiction of Class Reunions
If you’re an adult who’s attended a class reunion, you know exactly what they can be like—the good, the bad, and the awkward. And even if you haven’t, you probably get the idea of the uncomfortable, cringe-worthy moments these events can bring. “Despicable Me 4” does quite the solid job of capturing that classic reunion vibe, much of it coming through the interaction between Gru and Maxime Le Mal. It’s clear these two were not exactly friends back in the day. There’s also an awkward exchange between Gru and who Maxime calls “the most popular girl in school.” And of course, there’s the inevitable comparison of who’s become more successful. Kids won’t fully get what’s going on here—but adults definitely will.
#16: Gru’s Reminder of Just How Many Milk Options There Are at the Grocery Store
First of all, the question “Did you remember to get the milk?” is a quintessential adulthood thing. That’s exactly what Lucy asks Gru during a kitchen scene in “Despicable Me 4.” Younger fans of the franchise might not fully grasp Gru’s response, but parents who do the grocery shopping sure will. Gru lists off a variety of milk options, and as adults, it hits just how relatable this really is—not only when it comes to milk, but other grocery store items as well. Seriously, kids, the choices can be overwhelming at times.
#15: Questionable Banana Placement
The minions do all sorts of creative, unusual, and unpredictable things. Using X-ray glasses is on that list. During a scene in “Despicable Me 4,” we get an X-ray image of a couple of the capsule-shaped fellas. And one of them appears to have something strange inside: a banana—yes, as in, the fruit. The randomness of this image might elicit laughs from younger viewers. But there’s also a more adult way to interpret it, given what the banana can symbolize anatomically and the controversial placement of it in this minion X-ray. Yeah, you get what we’re saying.
#14: Moon Inaccuracies
Okay, first off, let’s acknowledge “Despicable Me” is an animated, fictional franchise. Even so, there’s a fair share of realistic elements to the films. However, the moon is certainly not one of those. Obviously, kids understand you can’t just steal the moon. That’s part of the absurdist, yet appealing nature of the franchise. But, on top of that, if you look at the franchise through an astrophysical lens, you’ll probably notice some less obvious scientific issues that kids likely wouldn’t pick up on. For one, the moon’s gravity is incorrectly portrayed multiple times. Secondly, Gru’s trip to the moon is ridiculously short. In reality, it takes days to get there, not minutes. Come on—get it right! Just kidding, obviously.
#13: The Meaning of Playing Records Backwards
The Beatles were known for using backmasking in their music—embedding messages that can only be heard when a track is played backwards. The most infamous instance of this dates back to 1969, when supposed backmasked messages and other ‘clues’ helped fuel the false ‘Paul is dead’ rumor. Other famous bands like ELO and Led Zeppelin have also been accused of backmasking. Older viewers might notice that “Minions: The Rise of Gru” references this concept, as Gru plays a record backwards in order to access a secret supervillain base. And while we’re on that musical note, another thing adults notice but kids likely don’t is the film’s throwback tunes, including “Shining Star,” “Cecilia,” and “Funkytown.”
#12: “Dance Dance Revolution”
Released in 1999, this rhythm-based game became a classic. Not only did “Dance Dance Revolution” become known for its entertainment value, but also for its fitness appeal. Nowadays, the game is nostalgic for many adults. Watching Poppy Prescott and her cat dance on the platform in “Despicable Me 4” may have brought back good memories for adult viewers. And it’s understandable if, after watching this scene, you wanted to get back on that dancing platform and get busy. But most kids, especially younger ones, would likely not make that “DDR” connection.
#11: Lucy Downing Two Alcoholic Beverages
While it’s not explicitly stated, we can infer there are adult beverages involved in “Despicable Me 4.” Well, at least adults would likely draw that conclusion. Young viewers might just view them as fruity juice beverages of sorts. We’re specifically referring to a country club scene involving Lucy and Patsy. Gru interrupts because the kids are in trouble. Lucy then downs both her drink and Patsy’s in all of two seconds. Adult viewers will pick up on what’s really going on here, including what Lucy is consuming and the potential effects that could come of it.
#10: Gru's Finances Make No Sense
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
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
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 lackeys 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
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
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
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
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
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.
Which part of the “Despicable Me” franchise made you feel old? Let us know in the comments!
