Everyone's favorite baddies are back and this time they've gone legit? Well sorta. The Bad Guys 2 is bigger and badder without losing the charm and fun of its predecessor.
The Bad Guys 2 Review
In 2022, Dreamworks Animation adapted Aaron Blabey’s best-selling graphic book series, The Bad Guys, into what is one of their greatest animated films ever (and one of the best heist films of the modern age). This Ocean's 11 meets the animal kingdom high-speed, comedic caper became an instant hit with families and moviegoers of all ages. The premise was simple, these bad guys have been doing bad things all their lives, so much so they are nicknamed “The Bad Guys.” However, they realize they want to actually be good and what follows is a sweet story of redemption. But will anyone ever see you as good if you've been bad for so long? That is the premise for The Bad Guys 2.
The Bad Guys 2 is bigger and badder than the first film but never loses the spark that made it special. Director Pierre Perifel packs in the laughs, zany fun, and all with the type of charm that would convince you to give up the royal jewels. After starting off with a theft and car chase that makes Tom Cruise's stunts in Mission Impossible look like child's play, Bad Guys 2 maintains that energy all the way through to the big finale. And it does so while tackling a very real issue that occurs with reformed criminals: when society refuses to give them a second chance which leads to recidivism. That is a heavy topic for a kids' film but co-writers Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen frame it in a way that adults will understand the real world implications while children see it in a lesson in true forgiveness and how hard it can be to obtain it.
The last time we saw Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Snake (Marc Maron), Shark (Craig Robinson), Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Tarantula (Awkwafina) they had just saved the city and turned themselves in to face their punishment. Now, they are officially free, having served their time. All of them are eager to live life as law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately, they can't get respectable jobs because no one will hire them. Society seems to be waiting for them to slip-up again so Wolf devises a plan he believes will make everyone see them as “good guys.” It's simple. They will use their talents to catch another group of baddies, but that doesn't work since the other gang was planning on them doing just that. Soon they are framed for a crime they didn't commit and forced to return to thievery in order to clear their name.
Visually, The Bad Guys 2 features the same cell-shaded look as before, with vivid colors and eye-popping sequences. The team takes full advantage of this by throwing in some zany moments like one involving a Mexican wrestling match. Or another where we learn farting in space might have some advantages. It also makes full use of the PG rating to work in more “adult” jokes and “crude” humor, like the above mentioned farting. There are relationship growing pains for Wolf and Governor Foxington (Zazie Beetz), as well as Snake and his new lady that will make the parents in the audience giggle. Just prepare yourself for a snake unhinging its jaw for a kiss. Then there is Professor Marmalade's (Richard Ayoade) new look. Kids might not catch this but he's definitely giving rodent Hannibal Lector vibes.
Brenner and Cohen's screenplay is witty, with pop culture references and slick one-liners, as well as heartfelt moments of bad guys really just wanting to be accepted. From the tender to the smelly, none of it would work nearly as well as it does without the great voice work from the cast. Returning and new members alike once again bring their best. Rockwell's Wolf continues to be my favorite, so I might be biased when I say he's a standout in a sea of stellar work. Seriously though, I had zero complaints with the cast. This might be one of the few animated films in recent years that features a-list talent that can actually do voice work. Sure there have been some one-off castings like Jack Black as Bowser but that is the exception not the rules. Because far too often we get Chris Pratts playing iconic characters in the most lackluster ways possible.
Verdict
The Bad Guys 2 might be bigger and badder but it doesn't lose the wit or charm of the first film. Rockwell and the rest of the cast anchor the chaos with their stellar voice work that makes you not only like these baddies but care about them too. Once again the animation pops, livening up every moment. Daniel Pemberton's score is playful and shifty as these bad guys try to live their new straight and narrow lives. If you were a fan of the first film, you're going to love this one. I know I can't wait to see what these Bad Guys get into next.
The Bad Guys 2 is in theaters August 1. It is rated PG for action/mild violence, rude humor and language with a runtime of 104 minutes.
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