‘The Bad Guys 2’ doubles down on heists, hijinks and hilarious heart in a surprisingly sharp sequel
By James Verniere/Boston Movie News
They’re back and as good at spoofing iconic heist films as ever. Who would have thought that a Dreamworks computer-generated film called “The Bad Guys” based on the children’s books of Australian author Aaron Blabey would do as well as it did since its 2022 release amid the pandemic? After making a respectable amount in theaters, the film went on to success at Netflix, where it spawned two specials, and now a theatrical sequel, “The Bad Guys 2.”
Much of the credit goes to French director Pierre Perifel, who made his feature debut with “The Bad Guys,” and co-director JP Sans, the head of character animation for “The Bad Guys.”
Also crucial to the series’ success is the talented voice cast headed by Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina and Zazie Beetz. Added to the sequel cast are Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Brooks and Maria Bakalova. The premise is simple. Take characters normally considered evil—a big bad wolf (Rockwell), a snake (Maron), a piranha (Ramos), a shark (Robinson) and a tarantula (Awkwafina)—and make them want to prove to society that they are “good guys.”
Things kick off with a flashback to a James Bond-evoking heist in Cairo, where getaway driver and pickpocket Mr. Wolf arrives in a flying suit and gets behind the wheel of a souped-up vintage Camaro to help his friends escape the police. It’s an over-the-top (in more ways than one) tour de force demonstration of the propulsive power of this franchise. The voices, the action, the characters and music of Daniel Pemberton (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”) magically coalesce into an intoxicating distillate. Kids will certainly not be able to resist this, and neither will adults.
In the style of fairy tales, martial arts movies, and animated films like “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda,” “The Bad Guys”—set largely in Los Angeles—blends classic heist tropes from franchises like “Mission: Impossible,” James Bond, and “Men in Black” to tell a story set in a comical fantasy world filled with exaggerated humans and cartoon animals.
In this case, our “bad” animal friends still want to prove they can be good guys. But no one wants to give them a job. Mr. Wolf, who has fallen for Diane Foxington (Beetz), the fox governor of the state, tries to get a job at a bank that he and his friends have robbed. But a lying manager, who suspiciously resembles former congressman Matt Gaetz, secretly shreds his resume after their meeting.
Meanwhile, a thief known as the Phantom Bandit has been on a crime spree. His next target is the golden champion belt of preening, Lords of Lucha wrestler Handsome Jorge, who finds himself pitted against a surprisingly formidable opponent in Pigtail Petrova (Bakalova). The neon wrestling arena with its bouncing, elaborately lighted vintage cars in the parking lot is worth the proverbial price of admission. Did I mention that Mr. Snake has become a yoga devotee and is having a genetically unlikely affair with a fowl named Susan (Lyonne). She is secretly a member of the Bad Girls, a crime team headed by Kitty Kat (Brooks, sounding a lot like Queen Latifah). Happily back for the sequel is Chief, now Commissioner Misty Luggins (a hilariously apoplectic Alex Borstein).
The bad guys make their escape from the arena in a food truck, which they drive into the Hollywood Hills with police pursuit. The imprisoned Professor Rupert Marmalade IV (Englishman Richard Ayoade, again), doing his very best Hannibal Lecter impression will be consulted. The “bad guys” are forced to ask themselves the existential question: Was the “bad life” the “best life” for the gang? What’s with the still eerily hypnotic 1968 Tommy James & the Shondells song “Crimson & Clover?” Why do we hear it twice? Genuine villain Kitty is as obsessed with gold as, uhh, Goldfinger.
Much of the third act is an homage to the 1979 Roger Moore-fronted James Bond entry “Moonraker,” with action taking place in orbit. Screenplay by returning scribe Etan Cohen (“Idiocracy”) and new addition Yoni Brenner (“Rio 2”) moves so fast you barely have a chance to take in the inventive visuals. Will our space-suited heroes join the Guardians of the Galaxy?
‘The Bad Guys 2’
Rating: PG for action, mild violence, rude humor and some rude language.
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos
Director: Pierre Perifel
Writers: Yoni Brenner, Etan Cohen
Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Where to watch: in theaters
Grade: B+
Boston Movie News 