The Bad Guys 2 – review
disclosure: I was invited to a special screening of The Bad Guys 2 in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.
Back in April 2022, THE BAD GUYS, based off the New York Times best-selling book series by Aaron Blabey, leapt off library bookshelves and hit the theaters running full speed. It was a fun animated adaptation that entertained the entire family. Having a teenager, we were not familiar with the series, but really enjoyed the film and hoped for a sequel. Fast forward to now, THE BAD GUYS 2 is here and I am mixed on how I feel about this movie. So let’s dive in and chat.
About THE BAD GUYS 2
THE BAD GUYS 2 – IN THEATERS AUGUST 1
Official Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | #TheBadGuys2
In the new action-packed chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, 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 original movie ended with The Bad Guys turning themselves in to start a life as good guys. THE BAD GUYS 2 picks up right where the first left off. It opens with a flash back five years prior to one of their heists. It was basically an animated Oceans 11 meets Fast & Furious scene with a ridiculous car chase in a super fancy car. This scene in particular raised a red flag for me that we can chat about in the “Safe for All” section. The movie then returns to the current day, which features the Bad Guys looking for jobs and failing because no one can look past their previous lives of crime(this leads to red flag number 2).
The movie progresses and the Bad Guys are faced with moral dilemma after moral dilemma. Slowly, the movie feels less like an adaptation of a children’s graphic novel as it faces more mature decisions.
🚩 Safe for all?
I feel like I am the bad guy here. Within the first five minutes of this movie, my jaw dropped not once, but twice. If you are not into spoilers, scroll past this part. Remember when I mentioned red flags? Let’s discuss.
As I stated above, the beginning is a flash back to a prior heist. In this scene, the item to acquire is a super-fancy, much coveted car. They steal the car(obviously) and while driving like they are in a Fast & Furious movie, Snake says something to Wolf that elicits the response “you say the naughtiest things…” I’m sorry – WHAT? Here – just watch it in this promotional clip, just 10 seconds in.
That really threw me off. But, parents need jokes too, right? I’m all prepared to shrug it off as Wolf, still driving the fancy car announces, “I’ll never drive another car again” and we return to the present day. Wolf is driving a car that is basically held together with duct tape, moving at what seems to be a mere 5mph. In this scene, cars are passing him like crazy, but one car with a visibly angry driver passes Wolf, calling him a “jacka$$.” Something tells me that word was not used in the children’s book which leaves me SO confused as to why it was in the movie.
As far as words go, besides the obvious potty humor that these stories abuse(farting, etc), that was the worst. But more mature lines continue. Snake is in a relationship with Doom, a raven, and they are, let’s say, as affectionate as a snake and a bird could get. In one scene, they are kissing, but not like you think. Snake opens his mouth wide, and Doom basically puts her whole head in his mouth. Again – WHY? He is very infatuated with this bird and reminds everyone around him constantly.
THE BAD GUYS 2 is rated PG for action/mild violence, rude humor and language. I think older elementary age kids will be fine watching this movie, but I still feel that these scenes were wholly unnecessary.
The Cast
The Bad Guys 2 stars the stellar original cast, led by Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, SAG award nominee Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, SAG award nominee Craig Robinson as master-of disguise Mr. Shark, Grammy winner Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha and Emmy winner Awkwafina as hacker Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs.”
The returning voice cast is joined by a new trio of comedic powerhouses as The Bad Girls: Oscar® nominee Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) as Bad Girls leader Kitty Kat, a dangerously clever snow leopard; Oscar® nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Movie Film) as Pigtail, a brilliant Bulgarian wild boar engineer; and Emmy nominee and comedy icon Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll, Poker Face) as Doom, a wry raven with a knack for deception.
Overall
Overall, THE BAD GUYS 2 was a fun movie. I felt that the runtime was a bit long(1h 44min), but the movie is constant action. Even though the red flags I talked about earlier really bothered me, I do think that the movie is good for older children.
Do the Bad Guys turn good? You’ll have to grab tickets and find out for yourselves. Be sure to stay seated once the movie is over. There is a fun mid-credit scene you won’t want to miss. THE BAD GUYS 2 is in theaters now!
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
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