While fairly limited in my knowledge of the children’s book series by Aaron Blabey, 2022’s The Bad Guys was a delightful surprise. Sure, it had a great cast and a look that signaled DreamWorks Animation was paying attention to the changing times and wanted to grow accordingly. However, I didn’t expect something so stylish, clever, and funny. It also easily lends itself to future entries, and The Bad Guys 2 did not disappoint. With more focus, a continued strong hold on its stylish approach to the animation at play, and even more well-rounded characters, if this film is not better than the first entry, it’s at least just as good, and entirely entertaining for everyone, good and bad, thanks to all involved.
Following an action-packed prologue focused on a heist that took place before the Bad Guys went good (that also re-emphasizes just how slick, colorful, and fun the animation choices are for this series), we are back in modern-day with our anti-heroes. Having been released from Prison, we find Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Webs (Awkwafina) all struggling to find legitimate work due to their criminal history. Mr. Snake (Marc Maron) is the only one seemingly doing well, as he’s more focused on living a healthier life through exercise and new age healing.
See Also: ‘Thunderbolts*’ Review: Outcasts Outlast Self-Doubt
The setup, alone, provides a strong enough foundation, allowing me to just enjoy being back in the company of these criminal critters. A crew of reformed bank robbers trying to operate in the real world provides just enough character depth for me to feel relaxed letting them reflect on their current position. The script by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen suggests that even a madcap animated film such as this one can take its time, knowing the huge set-piece moments are going to deliver plenty, with added strength coming from the stronger characterizations. Yes, the film still has its share of kid-friendly humor and broader gags in place, but the choice to be a bit more reserved about it shows.
With that in mind, things really get underway with the introduction of the Bad Girls. They include their leader, Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), along with Susan aka “Doom” (Natasha Lyonne) and Pigtail Petrova (Maria Bakalova). They have a dastardly heist plan in mind, and it involves framing the Bad Guys to keep others off the Girls’ tails. This also means ensnaring Governor Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) into the whole affair, as she’s still managed to avoid being revealed as “Crimson Paw” to anyone outside of the Bad Guys.
Detailing the plot, it’s nice to look back and see how much was accomplished, but I was honestly just so taken by the flow of this film. The Bad Guys is one of a handful of ongoing animated series that I can safely say stand as the best going, and it’s because I just really enjoy this world. The visual aesthetic, the music from Daniel Pemberton, the vocal performances (Rockwell feels born to play this character, Maron is having a ball doing a particular voice, and the others are all a delight in their deliveries). It doesn’t hurt that the plotting is solid and builds toward an impressively large-scale third act, complete with real stakes.
As far as these major moments go, the continued choice of applying what feels like storyboards and concept art as the main look and feel of films like this goes (or as I’ve been calling it – the “Spider-Verse Effect”), so much more personality and inventiveness comes from seeing this film embrace a sort of messiness that’s on display. Blending 2D and 3D elements looks fantastic; the anime influence can be both very cool and hilarious. And all of this speaks to the skills of both the heroes and villains in this film. It’s fun to watch them collide in various fights and escapades that reveal more about them and speak to their goals during these big action moments.
Also, keeping in mind that this film is ostensibly a comedy, it’s an absolute joy to watch this film balance various types of humor and find a route that can clearly entertain kids and adults. While I recently gave faint praise to Smurfs for at least being clearly designed for one demographic and not trying to pander to the adults that brought their children, The Bad Guys 2 is a lot smarter than that. Director Pierre Perifel returns, bringing a continued understanding of how to let everyone have fun, based on the interplay between the characters, the visual humor on display, and some of the funniest comedic edits I’ve seen in a film like this. On top of all of that, the evident love he and the crew have for other heist films and cinema, in general, shows in the many movie references scattered throughout.
With everything The Bad Guys 2 had in place, it’s no surprise that watching the movie left me with nothing but positive vibes. This animated sequel delivers on all the good elements that worked the first time around, adding value with new characters, a solid story setup, and increased confidence in what going bigger could mean for this crew. The Bad Guys may have gone straight, but that hasn’t robbed us of the good times they clearly still want us all to have.
The Bad Guys 2 opens in theaters on August 1, 2025.
