# "Despicable Me" (1) nitpick **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055 "2013-08-12T17:47:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/1 "2013-08-12T17:47:38Z")
I wouldn’t ordinarily think of nitpicking a comedy-cartoon, but this is one that would have occurred even to Margo, Edith and Agnes: If Gru needs money for his Moon-theft project, why does he try to borrow it from the Bank of Evil (formerly Lehman Brothers)? It would be more in keeping with villainous professional ethics to steal it; and much easier than stealing the Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/2 "2013-08-12T17:52:08Z")
Rob a bank? Pish, tush. Been there, done that. After all, he’s out to make (or re-make) a name for himself, and that means doing things big! Rob a bank? His vanity won’t let him. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/3 "2013-08-12T18:49:35Z")
I agree with the sinister **Prof. Pepperwinkle**. Furthermore, I took the whole bank-loan subplot as a comment on the banality of evil; here he is stuck with the same mundane humiliations all of us undergo. Trapped, as it were, in the expectations of others. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/4 "2013-08-12T19:08:36Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I agree with the sinister **Prof. Pepperwinkle**. Furthermore, I took the whole bank-loan subplot as a comment on the banality of evil; here he is stuck with the same mundane humiliations all of us undergo. Trapped, as it were, in the expectations of others. Concur - he’s an evil supervillain, but he has elements of a normal life (dealing with the bank, with bills, parking problems, awkward conversations with neighbours). Dr Evil in the _Austin Powers_ series is faced with some of the same sorts of things. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/5 "2013-08-12T19:25:40Z")
I have a pretty big nitpick, they let one of the poor minions float off into outer space and then the sequel wasn’t entirely about rescuing him. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/6 "2013-08-12T22:08:06Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I have a pretty big nitpick, they let one of the poor minions float off into outer space and then the sequel wasn’t entirely about rescuing him. [What Measure Is A Mook?](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatMeasureIsAMook) ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/7 "2013-08-12T23:43:58Z")
Gru and his rival in the movie are evolved criminals. They don’t want to gain money as much as gaining prestige above others in the criminal world. And in that league, one needs more money than a bank heist can provide. That’s why there’s a credit bureau for big-time thieves who need to argue the merits of their case to be granted an extension. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/8 "2013-08-13T00:15:24Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Rob a bank? Pish, tush. Been there, done that. After all, he’s out to make (or re-make) a name for himself, and that means doing things big! Rob a bank? His vanity won’t let him. I think that was the point. Gru wasn’t primarily after the money - he was trying to attain status as a supervillain. Robbing a bank would have just made him look like a common criminal. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/9 "2013-08-13T08:59:30Z")
Incidentally, don’t you think that the concept of Dilbert’s boss being _smart_ (while keeping his fundamentally evil nature) is one of the most pants-shittingly terrifying things _ever_? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/10 "2013-08-13T14:32:56Z")
So is it a loan or a grant? What’s the ROI on a moon? Was he going to hold it hostage for [pause]_one hundred billion dollars_[/pause]. I’ve only seen the movie once so apologies if that was covered in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/11 "2013-08-13T14:41:12Z")
> [@Anonymous\_Coward](#): > > So is it a loan or a grant? What’s the ROI on a moon? Was he going to hold it hostage for [pause]_one hundred billion dollars_[/pause]. I’ve only seen the movie once so apologies if that was covered in the movie. He said the world will pay anything he wants to get it back. No amount specified. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/12 "2013-08-13T19:13:31Z")
He’s really just trying to get in to the Evil League of Evil. Bad Horse wouldn’t be impressed with a bank robbery. StG ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/13 "2013-08-14T01:41:25Z")
Perhaps Gru should work with Doctor Heinz Doofenschmirtz and create a … MOON KIDNAP-INATOR! Just make sure the Self Destruct button is disconnected, or better still, not even installed… Perhaps send some Minions to keep Agent P occupied… \ \ \ \… Continue until either the mission is successful, or Doof screws it up somehow… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/14 "2013-08-14T05:54:54Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > Incidentally, don’t you think that the concept of Dilbert’s boss being _smart_ (while keeping his fundamentally evil nature) is one of the most pants-shittingly terrifying things _ever_? No, the fact he has a son and therefore must have had sex with somebody is the most pants-shittingly terrifying things ever. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/15 "2013-08-14T06:02:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, the fact he has a son and therefore must have had sex with somebody is the most pants-shittingly terrifying things ever. UARGHL!! Didn’t think about that!! **flood of mental images** AAAAGGH! My brain is MMMEEELLLLLTTTTINNNGGGGG…!! ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/16 "2013-08-14T08:31:00Z")
I’m gonna hijack this thread to ask my own Despicable Me question, did the movie or background material ever specify what the heck the minions are? I found myself wondering if they were robots, genetically engineered slaves, or some kind of creature/alien? Gru found somewhere and brought back to his lair. :)Yes this vital question is what bugged me the whole time I was watching the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/17 "2013-08-14T08:40:17Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I’m gonna hijack this thread to ask my own Despicable Me question, did the movie or background material ever specify what the heck the minions are? I found myself wondering if they were robots, genetically engineered slaves, or some kind of creature/alien? Gru found somewhere and brought back to his lair. > > :)Yes this vital question is what bugged me the whole time I was watching the movie. Surprisingly, there is a canonical answer to this question: > [@](#): > > Minions have existed since the beginning of time. They have evolved from single (yellow) cell organisms into the familiar beings we know, and they live for a collective purpose: to seek out and serve the most despicable master they can find. [cite](http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=105595) ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/18 "2013-08-14T09:03:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Surprisingly, there is a canonical answer to this question: Thanks, I’m also surprised to get an answer to that one lol. But wait does that mean Gru is officially the most evil villain? (at least by whatever standards the minions judge by) Or do all the villains have their own minions? The only other one we see in depth didn’t have any hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/19 "2013-08-14T09:12:16Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Thanks, I’m also surprised to get an answer to that one lol. > > But wait does that mean Gru is officially the most evil villain? (at least by whatever standards the minions judge by) > > Or do all the villains have their own minions? The only other one we see in depth didn’t have any hmm. I guess the upcoming movie will address these issues. From what I’ve read, it appears the minions work as a group so only one villain at a time has their services. But there appears to have been a time when nobody wanted them because all of the villains they served ended up getting killed. The movie will be about them trying to find a new villain to serve in the 1960’s: Scarlet Overkill, voiced by Sandra Bullock. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055/20 "2013-08-14T09:18:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Surprisingly, there is a canonical answer to this question: > > _“Minions have existed since the beginning of time. They have evolved from single (yellow) cell organisms into the familiar beings we know, and they live for a collective purpose: to seek out and serve the most despicable master they can find.”_ Oh…! I thought I had read somewhere that the creators of the movie had said that the minions were genetically-engineered corn kernels… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despicable-me-1-nitpick/666055.md?page=2)