Far Out!

An In-Depth Analysis of Herb Overkill

We all know who MINIONS' Herb Overkill is: husband of supervillain Scarlet Overkill, inventor, super genius, and fox. But who is he really? What function(s) does his character serve? What kind of insights can we glean from analyzing his role?

To find some answers, let's first break down his character functions in terms of his role as a narrative device as well as his characterization.

In terms of basic narrative function, Herb serves as Scarlet's sidekick inventor. His existence is a natural outgrowth of the DESPICABLE ME universe. Supervillains need gear, so like Felonius Gru, Scarlet also has an inventor sidekick. Being her husband is a different way of featuring the sidekick inventor character (and it's also pretty groovy since supervillain couples in love are rare).

Herb's character is a stylistic device that, through dialogue and visuals, informs viewers about Scarlet (especially that we should feel positive about her, at least in the beginning) as well as to keep our attention focused on her. She's the film's main antagonist and the other main character besides the Minions, therefore Herb's visuals and shot composition reinforce that element.

For example, note the multiple times Herb looks at Scarlet, drawing our eyes to her as well. He worships and adores her, as exemplified by him giving her a card, calling her "my Queen," and creating inventions for her. He bends over when walking with her to reduce the height difference between them. Combined, his visuals and behaviors tell us that Scarlet is special (and of course, many of us agree with Herb on that point!). It's also a way of showing us how accomplished she is since she attracted a groovy, super genius inventor as a partner and husband. Reading between the lines, he's also great in bed. Only the best for Scarlet Overkill!

Herb and Scarlet's marriage likely offered the filmmakers greater freedom regarding sexualizing her character. That the Overkills appear to have a satisfying sex life is clear from the many instances of them touching each other affectionately, their loving facial expressions, and suggestive situations and dialogue. In and of itself, that's a beautiful thing.

If Scarlet wasn't married, however, the filmmakers might not have felt they could get away with depicting her as sexually active. Scarlet being married gave the filmmakers "permission" to imply she has sex without the risk of audiences perceiving her as promiscuous (or worse).

Now I'd like to touch upon one of Herb's functions that might not be readily apparent until one examines factors beyond the basic narrative. But first, let's take a closer look at his personality and physical aspects.

Herb is male (obvious, I know, but there's a point to my mentioning it), a dork, a scientist, presumably a non-fighter, and a skinny guy who isn't conventionally handsome (That big nose! Those huge round ears! That shaggy hair!). He's laidback, likes playful handshakes, and his clothes are a hipster mix of dressy and casual.

Before I continue, I want to be very clear that I'm now discussing Herb in the context of his absolute earliest conception, that raw "id" time when he would have sprung newly formed from his creator's head—a time that likely occurred after Scarlet herself had been conceived and developed. This would be the time when a creator thinks, "What kind of character would I find the most interesting to write about?" and/or "What kind of character would best represent me?"

Herb strikes me as an example of the trope of the geek guy who attracted a hot woman (see also: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GiveGeeksAChance). Herb is as non-Alpha as one can get and I'd wager ordinary/nerdy guys can easily relate to him—and may also share the fantasy of being married to a gorgeous woman like Scarlet Overkill.

Now let's take into account the people who created Herb Overkill: MINIONS' team of all (presumably cis het) male filmmakers: co-directors Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin, screenwriter Brian Lynch, and production and character designer Eric Guillon. From what I've read, they all seem like geeky guys (and I mean that in a descriptive sense, not a pejorative one).