Images courtesy of Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Animation
THE BAD GUYS 2— 3 STARS
Ignoring the universal lunacy of the Despicable Me franchise for young viewers, 2022’s The Bad Guys was likely “baby’s first heist movie,” and the brand spanking new The Bad Guys 2 might be their second, unless they have cool mentors who have shown their kids Over the Hedge or the National Treasure duo. For the adults lugged to the show by shirt-tugging kids, not only will you recognize and appreciate the crime fiction tropes played for lighthearted entertainment, but you can pat yourself on the back that you are raising them right. Based on the popular juvenile graphic novels written and illustrated by Aaron Blabey, which have now spanned 20 episodes in nine years, this series of books and movies is a perfect place to start a future cinephile’s love affair with a good caper flick. Give yourself due credit and earn your cool points, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and family buddies.
In the first film three years ago, the crew of master criminals dubbed by the fearful Los Angeles public as “The Bad Guys” completed a mildly successful reformation arc. Comprised of the ring leader Mr. Wolf (Oscar winner Sam Rockwell), the irascible right-hand-man Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), the tech guru Webs (Awkwafina), Mr. Piranha’s flatulent muscle (Anthony Ramos and his golden pipes if a microphone shows u), and the hip master of disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), they learned to find greater mood, wagging tails, and higher satisfaction by doing the right things instead of the wrong things, after dodging their pursuing long-arm-of-the-law, Chief Luggins (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Emmy winner Alex Borstein), foiling the evil plans of the rich guinea pig magnate Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade, last seen this summer in The Phoenician Scheme) and engratiating themselves with Governor Diane Foxington (Joker’s Zazie Beetz). With clean records but a tarnished public reputation, the quintet is having a rough time finding regular jobs that will accept them with renewed trust and limited skill sets.
When the news continues to report numerous prizes and artifacts being snatched by a new criminal element using techniques and calling cards that frame the Bad Guys, Wolf gets the bright idea of having his team volunteer to cooperate with authorities as expert consultants for now-Commissioner Luggins to apprehend the unknown culprits. Deducing that the new players are after items made with a rare metallic element called—get this— “MacGuffinite,” they stake out a lucha libre wrestling event with their special championship belt made with the coveted metal to draw out the perpetrators. In doing so, the Bad Guys run into “The Bad Girls,” a trio of female thieves formed by the vindictive snow leopard mastermind Kitty Kat (The Color Purple Oscar nominee and A Minecraft Movie’s Danielle Brooks), the buff wild boar Pigtail Petrova (fellow former Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), and the raven Susan (Natasha Lyonne, doubling down with love interest roles this month), who just so happens to be Snake’s suspicious new girlfriend.
LESSON #1: THE POWER MOVE OF A SUCCESSFUL THEFT— With this premise of rivals and old scores that bends the egos of reformed criminals who know they still have the chops with their consciences trying to further clear their names and become better citizens, The Bad Guys 2 leans on the addictive thrill of the chase that began in the first film where our team might be better off staying bad rather than turning good. The crime professionals in the movie talk about their jobs being more about the “power move” of accomplishing a nearly-impossible task than being about the lucrative loot itself. They’re not wrong. Zipping with outstanding, Lenovo-built kinetic animation for daring heists and wacky chase scenes bouncing over streets and even into space, The Bad Guys 2 plays with those urges and charts a path of topping one power move after another.
LESSON #2: THE ELEMENTS OF A CAPER FILM— In putting audiences through these paces, The Bad Guys 2 continues to be a cheeky primer into the elements of a caper film, something it completely identifies itself to be in the opening credits. As aforementioned, the tropes of heist movies that adults will catch are all over this sequel and progress further from the 2022 franchise starter. Starting with the power move notion from Lesson #1 and the aptly named MacGuffinite prize, this jumpy jaunt adds progression to the steps of “bait the hook,” “the turn,” and “the payoff” with plenty of “don’t trust anyone” warnings, double crosses, and well-scripted plot twists along the way.
The voice cast is clearly having a blast in The Bad Guys 2. Sam Rockwell is a smoothie of the highest order, even in a voice role, and leads the wave of charm. All energy goes through him. The addition of the three ladies reduces the male-dominated banter from Robinson, Ramos, and Maron from the first entry slightly. Yet, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova, and especially Natasha Lyonne add an edgy, confident, and even sultry dynamic that classes up the joint and opens the door for extra oomph from Zazie Beetz as a returning equal to the other heavies and heroes. The plot, directed by Pierre Perifel, is admittedly wacky, crowded, and tumbling at a million miles an hour with a second beat-blasting electronic score from Spider-Verse composer Daniel Pemberton, but that’s precisely the suggested speed on the expressway signs for caper films. Buckle up and keep up.
LESSON #3: THEY HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE— Maybe I’m giving The Bad Guys and The Bad Guys 2 too much credit, but these two animated roller coasters really do play out crime movie cliches in refreshingly clever and sanitized ways. The fun preposterousness of it all shows that simpler, proper morals win out while winking at and appreciating the less-than-legal chances to still show off. Rest assured, no kid is going to go home and rob a bank after watching these movies, but they will learn some storytelling savvy that will serve them well when they watch a great heist flick down the road, filled with next-level misdirection, bigger violence, and darker shades of noir. Call The Bad Guys a gateway drug if you must. They have to start somewhere. It might as well be here with a blast like this.
LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED (#1326)
