El Macho

Lore & Background

El Macho's legend begins with his presumed death: he rode a shark into an active volcano with 250 pounds of dynamite strapped to his chest. This elaborate ruse allowed him to vanish for two decades. He resurfaced as Eduardo Pérez, the owner of Salsa & Salsa, a Mexican restaurant in Paradise Mall. His true identity is discovered by Gru, who suspects him from the start. El Macho's plan involves the PX-41 mutagen, which he uses to transform most of Gru's Minions into purple, mindless, and indestructible monsters. He recruits Dr. Nefario as his assistant after Nefario retires from Gru's employ. El Macho frames wig merchant Floyd Eaglesan for the mutagen theft to mislead the Anti-Villain League. He holds a Cinco de Mayo party where he reveals his true nature to Gru, and later takes Lucy Wilde hostage when he realizes she and Gru are AVL agents.

In Their Own Story

At the Cinco de Mayo party at his restaurant, Gru follows Eduardo and discovers he is indeed El Macho. Having faked his death and with Nefario as his assistant, El Macho has kidnapped most of Gru's Minions and used the PX-41 mutagen to transform them into purple, mindless, and indestructible monsters, intent on using them to conquer the world. He offers Gru the chance to team up with him, but Gru refuses and leaves with his daughters. Suspicious, El Macho sends a mutated Minion named Kevin after them. When Lucy arrives at the party after Gru leaves, El Macho realizes she and Gru work for the AVL and holds her hostage. Nefario witnesses this and informs Gru. Gru infiltrates El Macho's fortress with two Minions in disguise, but the mutated Minions attack them. El Macho, distraught when his mutated Minions are cured, threatens to kill Lucy by sending her into the volcano where he previously faked his death. He uses the mutagen on himself to battle Gru, but Gru and Nefario defeat him by firing a fart gun, which knocks him out.

Reader's Guide

El Macho's primary weapon is the PX-41 mutagen, which he uses to create an army of indestructible monsters from Gru's Minions. He operates from his restaurant Salsa & Salsa as a cover. His leadership style is theatrical and autocratic; he demands loyalty and views his minions as tools. He offers Gru a chance to join him, revealing a desire for partnership, but turns hostile when refused. His defeat comes when Gru and Nefario use a fart gun to knock him unconscious after he mutates himself. His pet chicken, Pollito, accidentally activates the rocket Lucy is tied to, but she and Gru escape by jumping into the ocean.

Did You Know?

• El Macho was originally voiced by Al Pacino, who recorded all his dialogue before leaving in May 2013 due to creative differences.
• Benjamin Bratt replaced Pacino and had to match his timing exactly to the already-completed animation of the character's mouth movements.
• El Macho faked his death by riding a shark into an active volcano with 250 pounds of dynamite strapped to his chest.
• El Macho's pet chicken is named Pollito, and it accidentally activates the rocket that Lucy is tied to during the climax.
• El Macho uses the PX-41 mutagen on himself to battle Gru, but is defeated by a fart gun fired by Gru and Nefario.

Character Origins and Identity

El Macho is the primary antagonist of Despicable Me 2, operating under the alias Eduardo Pérez, a Mexican restaurant owner. He was presumed dead after riding a shark into an active volcano with 250 pounds of dynamite strapped to his chest 20 years prior. This faked death allowed him to vanish from public view and resurface as the proprietor of Salsa & Salsa in Paradise Mall. His true identity is discovered by Gru, who suspects him from the beginning. The film confirms his identity when Gru follows him at the Cinco de Mayo party and discovers he is indeed El Macho.

Narrative Role and Villainous Plot

El Macho's central plot involves stealing the PX-41 mutagen from an Arctic laboratory. He uses this mutagen to transform most of Gru's Minions into purple, mindless, and indestructible monsters, intending to use them to conquer the world. He recruits Dr. Nefario after Nefario retires from Gru. He frames wig merchant Floyd Eaglesan for the theft to mislead the Anti-Villain League. His plan is revealed at his Cinco de Mayo party, where he kidnaps the Minions and transforms them. He later takes Lucy Wilde hostage when he discovers she and Gru are AVL agents.

Production History and Casting Changes

Al Pacino was originally cast as the voice of El Macho and recorded all of his dialogue. However, in May 2013, Pacino left the project due to creative differences. Benjamin Bratt was brought in to replace Pacino. Bratt initially tried to imitate Pacino's voice but found it impossible, so he used Pacino as inspiration while developing his own interpretation. The animation had already been completed with Pacino's performance, so Bratt had to match his timing exactly to the character's mouth movements. Chris Meledandri stated he was not 'aware of any of the major animated films of the last 15 years that has brought an actor in at such a late stage'.

Defeat and Final Confrontation

El Macho's defeat occurs at his fortress. After his mutated Minions are cured by Nefario's antidote, El Macho threatens to kill Lucy by sending her into the volcano where he previously faked his death. He uses the mutagen on himself to battle Gru. Gru and Nefario defeat him by firing a fart gun, which knocks him unconscious. El Macho's pet chicken, Pollito, accidentally activates the rocket Lucy is tied to, but she and Gru escape by jumping into the ocean before it enters the volcano.