The Bad Guys 2 * Doubling Down On The Charm And Intrigue Of The First!
The Bad Guys 2 is a 2025 American animated heist comedy film loosely based on the children’s book series The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey, produced by DreamWorks Animation. The sequel to The Bad Guys (2022), it was directed by Pierre Perifel, co-directed by JP Sans, and written by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, and Alex Borstein, reprising their roles from the first film, with Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne joining the cast. The film sees the Bad Guys come out of retirement and join forces with an all-female criminal squad to perform one last heist.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Arjun N. comments, “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.” See his full review below.
The Bad Guys 2
By Arjun N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 23
Wolf (Sam Rockwell) in DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2, directed by Pierre Perifel.
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.
(from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina), Chief Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) n DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2, directed by Pierre Perifel.
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.
(from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron) and Doom (Natasha Lyonne) in DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2, directed by Pierre Perifel.
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.
Snake (Marc Maron) in DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2, directed by Pierre Perifel.
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.
