The Bad Guys 2 (2025)

​“The Bad Guys 2” stars Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Maria Bakalova, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, and Alex Borstein.  Released on August 1, 2025, the film has the Bad Guys performing a heist with an all-female squad of criminals.

The film is directed by Pierre Perifel, who also directed the short films “Le Building” and “Bilby”.  It is a sequel to Perifel’s 2022 animated heist comedy “The Bad Guys”.  DreamWorks Animation’s adaptation of Aaron Blabey’s “The Bad Guys” highlighted that being bad is as fun as it sounds, especially when one is part of a group of anthropomorphic criminals navigating the human world.  However, trying to start anew after a life of crime is an entirely different story altogether since nobody is willing to give them a chance to do so.  It also doesn’t help that they’re drawn back into their criminal past for the sake of doing good.  This sums up the continuation of one of the studio’s visually appealing and unexpectedly humorous hits that benefited from its unique animation style and endearing characters.  Following DreamWorks’ first foray into live-action with the “How to Train Your Dragon” remake, the studio reverts to its animation ways, reuniting audiences with the dangerous yet comically charming “Bad Guys” as they embark on one final heist to seek redemption.  Was it able to provide a late-summer hit worth stealing, or is it time to retire from a life of crime for good?  Let’s find out.

The story takes place after the events of the first film.  The “Bad Guys”, a band of animal criminals comprising Mr. Wolf (Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Maron), Mr. Shark (Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina), have recently been released from prison due to their exemplary behavior.  They now strive to rebuild their lives as reformed individuals.  Unfortunately, no one was eager to accept their redeemed selves, given the crew’s infamous reputation.  To gain the respect they seek, they team up with police commissioner Misty Luggins (Borstein) to expose the enigmatic Phantom Bandit.  Their latest mission gets problematic when the “Bad Guys” are framed for the Phantom Bandit’s crime, leading them to encounter a trio of female criminals: Kitty Kat (Brooks), Doom (Lyonne), and Pigtail Petrova (Bakalova).  Kitty forcefully enlists the Bad Guys to assist in a perilous heist involving the theft of the experimental MOON-X rocket, leveraging footage that exposes Diane Foxington's (Beetz) identity as blackmail.  Wolf and his crew must rely on their criminal minds to execute this final heist while simultaneously working to clear their names.   

While I wasn’t previously familiar with the source material, I was genuinely surprised at how good “The Bad Guys” turned out.  Although it followed the familiar “villain turning good” trope seen in “Megamind” and “Despicable Me”, the execution was strong enough to showcase DreamWorks Animation’s ability to craft entertaining and engaging stories within its experimental animation style.  I also managed to watch the holiday television specials based on “The Bad Guys” on Netflix, which weren’t as visually impressive as the movie, as they seemed more like pilots for a potential series.  Thankfully, the chemistry among the characters still shone through, even without the original cast.  To be honest, I actually wouldn’t mind watching a “Bad Guys” television show if it gets the green light.  While I wouldn’t categorize “The Bad Guys” as the next “Shrek” or “How to Train Your Dragon,” it definitely stands alongside other DreamWorks films, such as “Madagascar,” that succeed in being both chaotically fun and heartfelt for families.  This makes “The Bad Guys 2” a crucial test to determine if “The Bad Guys” truly deserves its own franchise, potentially replicating the success of Aaron Blabey’s book series.

When it comes to DreamWorks Animation’s sequels, “The Bad Guys 2” had the potential to go in either direction regarding its execution.  On the one hand, it could wind up being just as good, if not superior to its predecessor, much like “Shrek 2”, “Kung Fu Panda 2”, and “How to Train Your Dragon 2”.  On the other hand, it could become another piece of needless quantity designed to grab our cash, reminiscent of “Trolls Band Together” and “The Boss Baby: Family Business”, despite the commendable animation quality.  After watching the film, I’m pleased to say that it has done enough good to be placed among the more successful DreamWorks sequels.  Similar to the original, “The Bad Guys 2” is an entertaining, creatively stylized, and fast-paced caper that showcases the charming chemistry of the anthropomorphic criminals and the brilliance of its animation.  More importantly, the film introduced enough stakes in character development to inject interest into its seemingly familiar plot elements, even if some of them don’t quite hit the mark in their emotional depth.

The screenplay by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen delivered exactly what we expected out of its straightforward plot: heists, unexpected turns, redemption arcs, and a snake making out with a raven.  Does it revolutionize the genre or lend emotional weight with its ambition?  Of course not, but it’s one of the occasions where its predictable narrative is often reformed by its meaningful messages, endearing characters, and sharp humor.  “The Bad Guys 2” offers a tried-and-true tale of redemption, where the once notorious “Bad Guys” strive to perform good deeds, despite still being judged by their appearances and past actions.  The first film effectively conveyed that appearances can be misleading and that being virtuous is more fulfilling than being villainous, highlighting Wolf’s transformation from becoming the “big bad wolf” feared by everyone to being the admirable “big good wolf”.  This evolution continues in “The Bad Guys 2”, where Wolf’s new life is challenged by Kitty Kat, who resembles a mirror of who Wolf used to be due to her backstory.  

While its predecessor emphasized themes of virtue and perception, “The Bad Guys 2” shifts focus to redemption and the significance of respect, with the latter showcasing Wolf and Kitty’s contrasting views on how it is earned.  The script expertly captured the essence of these vibrant and heartfelt characters, providing not only valuable lessons for young audiences but also enhancing Wolf’s journey as he grapples with his determination to be a “good guy” for real.  The film was also packed with plenty of clever and consistently hilarious jokes, some of which were surprisingly adult-friendly.  If an adult like me has as much fun with its humor as the kids, especially when some of the jokes I chuckled at involve Piranha’s farts, that’s how I know the film is doing something right with its comedy.  Despite the lack of narrative surprises in this latest heist, the screenplay excelled in highlighting the characters’ witty interactions and the story’s heart.

In terms of direction, “The Bad Guys 2” was another testament to Pierre Perifel’s expertise in animation, showcasing his promising capabilities within the animation industry.  Building upon his experience with his short films, Perifel accomplished the impossible in directing not one, but two outstanding feature films in the same franchise consecutively.  The sequel, as in its predecessor, showcased Perifel continuing to embrace the essence of chaotic energy while also ensuring that the quieter moments in between are just as visually appealing as the action.  However, it’s also his approach to expanding the movie’s scale that further highlights Perifel’s impressive vision.  Usually, when sequels, animated or otherwise, attempt to amplify their set pieces and premises, they risk overshadowing their qualities, reducing them to pointless, cash-grabbing spectacles.  Thankfully, Perifel managed to help “The Bad Guys 2” avoid this common issue.  The director drew inspiration from other successful DreamWorks Animation sequels by balancing the grand set pieces with a narrative that was worthy of the characters’ growth, humor, and emotion.  Although it may not reach the emotional heights of films like “Kung Fu Panda 2” and “Shrek 2”, the film managed to accomplish its mission of providing a chaotically fun heist led by Pierre Perifel’s keen eye for dynamic animation.

But, of course, it wasn’t just Pierre Perifel that did all the hard work in stealing the audience’s hearts once more.  The voice cast also contributed immensely to the film’s success through their outstanding performances.  Sam Rockwell, for instance, remained as charming as ever, skillfully portraying Wolf’s irresistibly charismatic nature, while also revealing a heartwarming side that balanced his character’s “big bad wolf” vibes.  Craig Robinson continued to excel as one of the franchise’s top sources of comic relief with his performance as Shark, particularly with his running gag involving his panics.  Anthony Ramos also impressed me with his vocal range as Piranha, so much so that it’s easy to forget it’s actually him behind the voice.  As for the antagonistic “Bad Girls”, they certainly are good at being bad, thanks to the talented actors behind them.  Danielle Brooks, in particular, delivered a sublimely engaging performance as Kitty Kat, capturing the character’s fierce aggressiveness and obsession with earning respect through her grand heist.  I would even say that Kitty Kat draws parallels to Tai Lung from “Kung Fu Panda”.  It’s not just because they’re both snow leopards but also due to their shared traits as vicious antagonists who won’t hesitate to retaliate if you rough up their whiskers the wrong way.  Kitty Kat stood out as a formidable villain because she embodied traits opposite to those of Wolf, a dynamic effectively conveyed through Brooks’s performance and the film’s screenplay.

The animation played an integral role in the first film’s success, drawing inspiration from the Spider-Verse films to create a visually distinctive and vibrantly stylized caper reminiscent of classics as “Pulp Fiction”, “Ocean’s Eleven”, and even “Lupin III”.  This remarkable fusion of influences contributed to the fun, intense, and cartoony chaos delivered by the Bad Guys themselves.  So, it’s no surprise that “The Bad Guys 2” successfully maintained this similar style, featuring numerous moments of visual splendor that demand to be experienced on the biggest screens available.  It not only showcased the incredible efforts behind its influential presentation and art designs but also made the movie consistently entertaining and awe-inspiring with its fast-paced action, anime-influenced gags, and expertly crafted set pieces.  Among the standout scenes that complemented this sublime art style were the opening sequence and the rocket boarding escapade.  Both scenes were profoundly enhanced by the superb cinematography and Perifel’s direction, which blended tension and entertainment, highlighting the film’s thrilling stakes and keeping children and even adults on their toes.  In short, the animation team never lost a beat in making the “Bad Guys” films distinctive and visually captivating, perfectly complementing their dynamic heist narratives.

Overall, “The Bad Guys 2” accomplishes enough good deeds to offer a visually stunning and delightfully chaotic sequel that has once again stolen my heart in the best way possible.  While some narrative shortcomings related to the characters prevented it from standing alongside other great sequels from DreamWorks Animation, the film easily redeems itself by delivering a sequel that’s equally fun, hilarious, heartfelt, and vibrantly engaging as its predecessor.  The voice cast was terrific in their roles, Pierre Perifel’s direction established a worthy balance between high-stakes thrills and humor, and the animation was appropriately chaotic and stylishly executed, highlighting its impressive art designs and fast-paced action.  DreamWorks Animation has its fair share of hits and misses regarding its sequels, but “The Bad Guys 2” is undoubtedly one of the good ones, emphasizing the studio’s commitment to creativity and storytelling.  If you loved the first “Bad Guys” film, you’ll definitely want to be part of this latest heist.

B+