Film Review: The Bad Guys 2
Back In Badness
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film The Bad Guys 2. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
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PLOT
Via Letterboxd: The now-reformed Bad Guys are trying (very, very hard) to be good, but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming - The Bad Girls.
REVIEW
For many, one of the biggest pleasant surprises of 2022 was The Bad Guys, an animated film that adapted the popular children’s graphic novel series into a clever and stylish caper. With its gang of anthropomorphic animals transitioning from notorious thieves to unlikely heroes, the film struck the right balance of action, comedy, and heart. So it’s no surprise that after the critical and financial success of that film, we’re now getting a sequel three years later in the aptly titled The Bad Guys 2.
Sequels often fall into the trap of trying to go bigger while lazily rehashing plot beats and fan-favorite moments from the original. That leads to bloated plot and diminishing returns on audience moments, something we’ve already seen a few too many times with some of this year’s other sequels. Thankfully, The Bad Guys 2 avoids those pitfalls. Rather than chasing “bigger”, the film focuses on the group’s ongoing struggle to shake off their villainous reputation and redefine themselves, while also introducing fresh new characters and new arcs that keep things feeling like natural progressions.
From a technical perspective, this film is absolutely gorgeous. As much as I loved Elio earlier this year, one of my small nitpicks was Pixar’s continued reliance on their ultra-smooth, safe animation template. Meanwhile, DreamWorks (among other animation studios), and director Pierre Perifel in particular, has leaned into a more stylized, dynamic visual language that helps these films stand out from the crowd. The Bad Guys 2 is no exception as the animation is vibrant, punchy, and full of energy, and Perifel’s direction and the editing give the film a strong, kinetic rhythm that makes even exposition scenes pop.
The original voice cast is back in full force, and the addition of new characters, most notably a group dubbed “The Bad Girls”, only adds more personality to an already stacked ensemble. Danielle Brooks in particular is a standout for me as the film’s new antagonist, Kitty Kat. She plays the role with such menace that it genuinely caught me off guard compared to some other work of hers in recent years.
Comedy-wise, the film delivers in spades. I found myself laughing out loud several times, including one gag near the end that had me wheezing for a second there. Sure, there are a couple of tired bodily-function jokes, and Maria Bakalova’s character leans a little too hard into a stereotypical European at times, enough to make me cringe once or twice, but honestly, those are minor speed bumps in an otherwise very smooth ride.
To keep it simple, The Bad Guys 2 is just as fun, slick, and dynamic as the first film. It’s the kind of movie that’s perfect for families; one you’ll genuinely enjoy even if you’re just a parent trying to give their kids some momentary escapism. And frankly, instead of getting more unnecessary Shrek sequels, I’d happily take another one or two of these. B+ for this one on my end.
GRADING
