THE STORY – Everyone’s favorite felons are back, and this time, they’ve got company. In the new action-packed caper, our 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.
THE CAST – Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Maria Bakalova, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Alex Borstein & Lilly Singh
THE TEAM – Pierre Perifel (Director), Etan Cohen & Yoni Brenner (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 104 Minutes
After leaving their life of crime behind in “The Bad Guys,” the slick-talking crew of reformed criminals is struggling to adjust to their new roles as, well, Good Guys. In “The Bad Guys 2,” director Pierre Perifel returns to find Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) trying (and mostly failing) to live the straight life. Between soul-crushing corporate gigs and a stack of unpaid bills, it’s clear that going legit doesn’t suit them. So when they’re framed for a crime they didn’t commit, it doesn’t take much to pull them back into their old ways. Soon, they’re globe-trotting in an epic heist to steal gold and clear their names.
Not only does “The Bad Guys 2” raise the stakes, but it also ups the style, energy, and laughs from the already phenomenal first film. It’s a criminally good sequel, making it one of the best animated action-comedies in years. From Daniel Pemberton’s irresistibly jazzy score to the slick, dynamic camera work, the film proudly riffs on classic heist cinema. Perifel once again proves he has a flawless eye for kinetic action, staging set pieces that feel playful and inventive in every frame. A thrilling car chase through Cairo, a flashback to the crew’s glory days, sees their car barrel through crowds, soar across rooftops, and drift through alleys in a breathtaking ballet of chaos, all while being chased by swarms of police.
The animation looks stunning, too. The 3D designs are enhanced with hand-drawn flourishes that inject each punch, peel-out, or explosion with vibrant energy. That blend of styles gives the film a bold, expressive look that few other animated features match. One standout sequence, teased in the trailers, takes place on the exterior of a rocket mid-launch and features long takes, sweeping angles, and exhilarating choreography that genuinely stuns.
But it’s not all flash and style. There’s real substance beneath the spectacle. The introduction of a new group of villains, the Bad Girls, adds pressure and personality to the story. Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), Susan (Natasha Lyonne), and Pigtail (Maria Bakalova) blackmail the Bad Guys into pulling off one final job, threatening to leak damaging info about Governor Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz). Even with a crowded ensemble, the sharp screenplay by Etan Cohen and Yoni Brenner lets the characters breathe and evolve. Romantic sparks fly between Snake and Susan, while Wolf wrestles with loyalty and love as he tries to protect Diane. These moments give the action emotional heft, all anchored by standout voice work, particularly from the ever-charismatic Rockwell.
The humor, too, is delightfully wide-ranging. Kids will cackle at Piranha’s endless stream of fart jokes, even if they wear a little thin, while adults will appreciate more pointed references, like the reveal that the rare substance the villains are after is called “Macguffinite.” And just when you think the film can’t get any weirder, it throws in an unexpected (and hilariously bizarre) makeout session between a snake and a raven that is awkward, absurd, and surprisingly on-brand.
While Pixar has long been the gold standard for emotional storytelling in animation, DreamWorks is currently undergoing a creative renaissance. With “The Bad Guys 2,” they continue to push the boundaries of style and storytelling, crafting something that feels fresh, bold, and unafraid to take risks. It might not plumb the emotional depths of Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out” or “Up,” but it more than makes up for it with its dazzling design, inventive action, and infectious sense of fun. “The Bad Guys 2” is a near-perfect sequel that’s fast, funny, and full of flair, resulting in a wickedly good time at the movies.
