When you think of the movie Despicable Me, you probably picture Minions. These goofy sidekicks won everyone’s hearts from their very first big-screen appearance, and have subsequently overshadowed every other character in the franchise. However, many forget that the movies’ main character is actually Gru, the former super-villain turned secret agent.
So, it is high time to reveal some fun facts about him. How tall is Gru from Despicable Me? And how did he go from a spiteful villain to an unlikely hero? Read on to find out!
Who Is Gru?
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Felonius Gru is the main character of the Despicable Me franchise. At the beginning of the story, he is a super-villain with only one goal. Namely, he wants to steal a shrink ray, use it on the Moon, and steal it. This ambitious plan is a response to his long-time rival Vector, who managed to steal the Great Pyramid of Giza and put a replica in its place.
However, Gru’s plan goes sideways when he adopts three girls in order to steal the shrink ray. With time, he bonds with them and finds that he actually enjoys the time they spend playing.
As the franchise develops, Gru slowly leaves his villainous days behind. In fact, he becomes a true father figure to the three girls, a husband, and a secret agent working on the side of the good. As far as redemption arcs go, Gru’s is, perhaps, the most powerful one in the animated movie world.
Generally, Gru is grouchy and easily annoyed. However, these characteristics are just a front. Beneath it all, Gru is loving, protective, and smart. He would do anything for those he loves, and he craves validation, support, and acceptance from his family.
At first, the movie creators envisioned Gru as a character resembling Dracula. However, as they worked on the story, they decided to change course and create a Bondian morally gray hero instead. Thus, Gru is more like Goldfinger, one of the antagonists plaguing James Bond, and a pre-crisis version of Lex Luthor, Superman’s nemesis.
How Tall Is Gru from Despicable Me?
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When you Google Gru’s height, you will most likely get a pretty peculiar result. Namely, many sources claim that Gru is about 14 feet tall. Now, while human logic has no place in the Despicable Me universe, this height is still a bit ludicrous. After all, such a height would make everything else in that world quite disproportionate.
So, how tall is Gru exactly?
According to the movies’ creators, Gru is about 4 minions tall. Translated to measurement units that you can easily grasp, his height is around 8 feet (2.40m). In other words, while he is still freakishly tall by human standards, his height is at least not 14 feet.
More Fun Facts About Gru
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#1. He speaks with an Eastern European accent.
#2. Gru comes from a long line of villains, so he believes that being evil is his legacy.
#3. He has a twin brother, hilariously named Dru Gru.
#4. In the first movie, Gru is approximately 50 years old.
#5. Gru is voiced by Steve Carell, a legendary comedic actor. Steve described Gru’s accent as a combination of Ricardo Montalban and Bela Lugosi.
#6. The movie creators picked Gru’s name carefully, as the word means spy in Russian.
#7. Gru is quite athletic and strong.
#8. He built a functioning rocket as a child.
#9. Beneath his cold exterior, Gru is a real softie.
#10. The Freeze Ray is his signature weapon, although he can use a wide assortment of guns and tasers.
#11. Whenever he gets an idea, he yells “Lightbulb!”
#12. Gru’s hair was black in his youth, but he is now predominantly bald.
#13. He meets his future wife, Lucy, when she tries to recruit him to join the Anti-Villain League.
#14. Gru is so fast that he can outrun and dodge missiles moving at the speed of sound.
#15. When he needs to be, Gru is an excellent strategist. He can come up with intelligent attack plans and carry them out to perfection.
#16. During his childhood, Gru’s biggest dream was to visit the Moon.
#17. Gru was bullied in school, which resulted in his fear of approaching people first.
#18. Even at the height of his villainy, Gru treated the Minions and his partner Nefario nicely and considered them friends.
Featured image source: Pinterest.com
