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BAD GUYS 2, THE

DreamWorks continue their hot streak with a caper that doubles down on the charm and intrigue of the first. I loved the humor, heart, and high-octane thrills in The Bad Guys. Even if the film doesn't completely transcend the first, it's enjoyable to watch.

The Bad Guys have become the newly reformed Good Guys and they meet their greatest challenge yet, making it through job interviews with their reputation preceding them. After failure repeatedly dawns upon the group, the leader, Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) suggests that they use their skills to stop a squad of criminals, dubbed the Bad Girls, from stealing a prized wrestling belt. What should have been a simple job quickly turns into an orchestrated cat-and-mouse game with the Bad Girls that has immense repercussions - fortunately, this is just the job for the Good Guys.

The animation is on another level compared to the first - the fast-paced action feels electrifying while the emotions on the characters look real. It's a testament to the gold standard of animation that DreamWorks offers. Notably, a sequence involving a space station is tastefully over-the-top with breathtaking visuals that had me in awe. One shortcoming is that some of the jokes didn't land as well as others. The fart jokes felt excessive, and there's a heap of self-referential humor that broke my immersion. But, most of the humor is thoughtfully hilarious. The cast delivers unique vocal performances that will join the roster of memorable DreamWorks' characters. Sam Rockwell, as Mr. Wolf, is the heart of the film. You root for him to not only get a job with the crew, but also to get together with Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) with whom he shares chemistry. This time, Foxington has a kick to her as the governor of Los Angeles, while maintaining her elusive identity as the Crimson Paw when it comes to fighting the Bad Girls. The other "Bad" Guys join Mr. Wolf on the path for redemption with Anthony Ramos, as Mr. Piranha, being a comedic standout. Awkwafina, as Ms. Tarantula, offers the brains of the operation. Unfortunately, Mark Maron, as Mr. Snake, takes a back seat with his love life, although he still cracks some safes. Fans might be disappointed by the lack of camaraderie between Mr. Wolf and Mr. Snake - after all, the franchise started with them. On the flip side, the Bad Girls offer complementary foils to the protagonists. Danielle Brookes, as Kitty Kat, is a compelling antagonist whose motives aren't generically evil, but ultimately you understand why she must stop. The other Bad Girls are well performed and offer surprises that I can't spoil.

The film's message is about change. The reformation of the Bad Guys proves that, with the right attitude and people, anyone can genuinely become their best self. The film contains some mild violence and profanity.

The Bad Guys 2 gets 4 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. The film releases in theaters on August 1, 2025.

I enjoyed The Bad Guys 2 because it has funny moments, non-stop action, and terrific animation.

The storyline follows the same group of "bad guys" from the first movie - Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Snake (Marc Maron), Shark (Craig Robinson), Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Tarantula (Awkwafina). The team is trying to be good but are framed and thrust into an evil plan because of their history as bad guys.

The opening scene of The Bad Guys 2 drew me in with an exhilarating flash back to one of the group's past heists. This scene sets the tone for the film with its very artistic animation style that has a comic book feel. Watching this movie is like watching fun art, plus it's exciting. The characters are trying to live a law-abiding life but are forced to do bad things to get out of a difficult situation and prove their innocence. It is fast-paced with constant excitement for the viewer. Not only is the animation amazing, there are lots of funny moments. For example, Shark and Piranha dress as matching chicken-themed luchador fighters. Also there is a high-speed chase in a hot dog truck, and the villain from the first Bad Guys movie is the captain of his prison pickle ball team.

The film's message is that it is hard to be good, but it is even harder to be good after you have been bad because people judge you based on your past.

The Bad Guys 2 gets 4.5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. It releases on digital on August 19 and on DVD/Blu-ray October 7, 2025.