The Bad Guys 2is anaction-packed, brilliantly animatedsequel that’s better than the original in every regard — quite an achievement, given thatthe first film was pretty darn good. The entire animal gang returns, learning tough lessons about how being good isn’t easy. Getting a job, paying bills and contributing to society aren’t as simple as stealing to get ahead. They also face a new challenge from an even bolder criminal crew with a dastardly plan for infamy, but our engaging protagonists show they’ve still got a few tricks up their critter sleeves.
The hijinks begin with a flashback of the Bad Guys in Egypt ripping off an obnoxious billionaire.Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Snake (Marc Maron), Tarantula (Awkwafina), Shark (Craig Robinson) andPiranha (Anthony Ramos)cackle with glee as they foresee a future of glorious thievery, but reality comes crashing down as Wolf drives his old beater to another failed job interview. The bank manager can’t believe he’d have the audacity to apply for employment at a place he’d robbed three times before. A dejected Wolf comes back to a nearly empty underground lair, where everyone else has the same problem: No one is willing to give the former villains a chance.
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The Bad Guys 2
Meanwhile, Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein), now the police commissioner, is perplexed by a series of seemingly impossible crimes committed by a thief deemed “The Phantom Bandit.” The Bad Guys — sans Snake, who’s hilariously found a keen interest in Vinyasa yoga — decide to help Misty catch her culprit, proving to everyone they’ve legitimately gone straight and deserve to be treated fairly. But their investigation takes a surprising turn. Another crew appears to be responsible for the robberies: The Bad Girls — Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks),Susan (Natasha Lyonne)and Pigtail Petrova (Maria Bakalova) — have an epic scheme in the works, and won’t let the Bad Guys or Governor Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) stop them.
Pierre Perifel, who returns as director with screenwriters Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen, has crafteda wonderfully imaginative sequel. The plot and execution are quite clever, with several twists that you definitely won’t see coming. There’s a concerted effort to be bigger and bolder here, but not at the expense of good storytelling. Each character has a unique arc that contributes to the plot in a meaningful way, asThe Bad Guys 2continues to focus on solid ensemble chemistry in addition to fantastic sight gags. Piranha’s propensity for nervous flatulence in shared spaces is a great example of a humorous ongoing gimmick that’s actually important to the plot.
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The Bad Guys 2has eye-popping animation that builds to a truly impressive finale. The opening scene is spectacular, as Perifel sets his own bar high and then joyfully hurdles it with a climax that’s literally out of this world. The slick blend of sharp CGI and 2D hand-drawn animation is enhanced by stunning camerawork and editing: Perifel blows up the screen with expansive wide shots that incorporate all the action, but then swings the perspective around in freeze frames that highlight specific shots. Everything looks vibrant and stylish, with just enough detail to preserve a cartoonish feel. Perifel’s expertise and years of experience with DreamWorks are on magnificent display, and this is the best-looking animated film of the year so far.
Romance is also in the airin a pair of heartwarming subplots with actual depth. Snake becomes smitten by Susan; she plays him like a fiddle, and he loves every second of it. Their conniving canoodling is juxtaposed with the friend-zone dance between Wolf and Diane; you can’t help but smile as their hands accidentally touch and they both realize there is something tangible brewing. It’s rare to see blockbuster animated films spending the time it takes to develop such tender interactions, with genuine sweetness and awkward moments that surpass many romantic comedies.
Sweet Romance
The Bad Guys 2does have a relentless element that may grate on some viewers. This was also the case in the first film, whose nonstop narrative never paused to take a breath. Both are guilty of catering to short attention spans with shotgun pacing. There’s an argument for and against this methodology: you don’t want kids to be bored, but there’s also a point where the Kool-Aid becomes too sweet. Still, Perifel is mostly successful in embracing hyperactivity, because thewell-written characters work with the outstanding animation.
The Bad Guys 2is a production of DreamWorks Animation. It will be released theatrically on August 1st by Universal Pictures.
