Back in 2022, DreamWorks delivered their first animated heist flick with The Bad Guys, which had mixed results but featured enough fun for franchise potential. Now, the titular batch of animal thieves return for another caper that’s surprisingly improves upon the original in nearly every facet.
The Bad Guys 2 kicks things off on a thrilling high that’s just a pleasant taste of what’s to come. A glimpse back to one of the group’s early jobs acts as a great reintroduction to the characters’ skills and personalities. The fun banter and slick nature of the group’s thievery sets the right tone and leads into an excellently animated chase scene. The distinct art style of The Bad Guys continues to show DreamWorks evolving their craft and this opening escape sequence is a visual delight. The seemingly never-ending army of cops keeping this group on the run are a comical treat, and there’s some eye-dazzling, high-speed chaos that hooks you into the action.
Although the last film saw the group officially turning to a life of good, things haven’t been smooth sailing. Countless job rejections and a lack of acceptance currently make their bad reputation seem inescapable. Almost everyone continues to see them as just bad guys, leaving them simply hoping for a chance at redemption. It’s a tender thematic thread that audiences will connect with and is actually fairly relevant in the real world. Those universal concerns of always being defined by bad choices and mistakes are a big part of what the group is dealing with, and it culminates in a strong arc about inner triumph. This group’s journey is all about moving past a general consensus and creating inner change for themselves, which is an effective message for younger viewers. Plus, it’s a far better, more compelling narrative than the original’s stock-standard “villains turning into heroes” arc. It’s a big reason why The Bad Guys 2 leaves a lasting impact as well and it’s got good comedic bits and story direction to match.
There are plenty of running gags, like Snake (Marc Maron) being in love or these tonal jump cuts, that constantly get big laughs. Each member’s wacky talents are always a blast to see on the job, and their ability to adapt on the fly leads to plenty of funny twists and turns. Whether it’s a wedding heist that goes wrong or Piranha’s (Anthony Ramos) nerves creating noxious obstacles, there’s tons of hilarity for viewers of all ages to enjoy. Plus, DreamWorks takes a page from their recent work with Dog Man and litters the background with plenty of visual jokes that result in sneaky laughs. The narrative also sees some big improvements that tend to overshadow some of the flaws. It’s great that The Bad Guys 2 is a sequel that goes above and beyond its predecessor with its set pieces and situations. There are plenty of actiony brawls and escapes that keep the energy high, and the finale is an ambitious joy ride. Seriously, it takes the titular thieves to cosmic new heights and is full of amazing animation that shows DreamWorks is at the top of their game.
Now, there are some shortcomings that can’t be looked past. The new trio of thieves the group encounters aren’t as interesting because of thin writing and weaker voice acting than the main cast. Danielle Brooks doesn’t bring the vocal, emotional range to make her character, Kitty Kat, interesting and her cohorts lean too much on big personalities to get by. Although there’s a great twist that introduces these new thieves and changes the story direction nicely, the energy they initially bring fades fast as they become a bigger part of the plot. There’s just no depth to their motivations or personas, so they feel like a weak part of the film. Not to mention, the film can be overly concerned with a B-plot involving Diane that tries to tie things back to the first film, but just clogs up the pacing too much.
Yet, The Bad Guys 2 never gets tripped up by its lackluster parts and ends up being a superior sequel that takes its fans on an incredibly fun adventure. The animation, antics of its main cast and story trappings all step up in the right ways and combine for an eye-catching caper from DreamWorks that makes you want to see the titular band of thieves return for another escapade.
