Les Bad Guys 2

Rating - 8.0: Overall, a surprisingly good animated heist movie that is carried by great animation and strong characters, especially Sam Rockwell's Mr Wolf, as the movie is an entertaining ride that makes you really care about what happens next to this cast; I never watched the first movie, but seeing this made me sad that I missed something really special.

Direction - Good: The direction on a macroscale creates a fun, fast-paced aesthetic in a visually appealing world that memorable characters have to navigate; The direction on a microscale is good as the banter makes you really care about the characters; Storytelling is pretty simple as, at the end of the day, this is just a children's movie; It builds tension naturally through its action sequences and does keep you on your toes as it is not as formulaic as you would think a children's movie would be

Story - Pretty Good to Good: The concept is a sequel to *The Bad Guys*, with them coming out of retirement for one "last job" to save their name; the plot structure is pretty straightforward, but not as formulaic as you think; character writing is very strong as it helps personify these characters and make you really care about them, especially Wolf, as you see his struggle with whether or not he should become good

Screenplay - Good: The dialogue is surprisingly strong for a kids' movie as it is pretty well written and entertaining; The humor is fun for all ages; The symbolism is surprisingly well done as it deals with the morality of wanting to be good, despite everyone thinking you can't change; The foreshadowing is actually not present as this movie is more about subverting your expectations

Acting - Good: Sam Rockwell - Good to Very Good (His natural charisma and experienced acting really fits this character as he really brings to life this leader of the group, the Big Bad Wolf; He has good chemistry with the cast), Marc Maron - Pretty Good to Good (Plays his role well and has good chemistry with the cast), Awkwafina - Pretty Good to Good (Plays her role well and has good chemistry with the cast), Craig Robinson - Pretty Good to Good (More of a comedic relief character, but he has good chemistry with the cast and plays his role well), Anthony Ramos - Pretty Good to Good (Plays his role well, and he has good chemistry with the cast), Zazie Beetz - Good (Has really strong chemistry with Rockwell and really brings this Fox character to life), Danielle Brooks - Pretty Good (Plays her villainous role well), Natasha Lyonne - Pretty Good (Plays her villainous role well and has good chemistry with Snake), Maria Bakalova - Decent to Pretty Good (Plays her villainous role decently well), Alex Borstein - Pretty Good to Good (Lois;), Rest of the cast - Pretty Good to Good (There is strong chemistry in the cast, and this helps make the movie enjoyable, as you really care for these characters)

Score - Pretty Good: Help set this heist mood and make the movie feel entertaining and exhilarating

Soundtrack - Pretty Bad: Your typical out-of-touch studio is forcing five-year-old pop music into a movie just to make audiences think you're 'hip'

Editing - Good to Very Good: Well edited as it helped make the movie feel unique and fast-paced, especially when coupled with the changes in animation style

Sound - Good: Well executed and helped make the action sequences really entertaining

Animation - Great: I actually really enjoyed this animation style, as it effectively shows the power this new hybrid 2D-3D style animation can have in building a world and telling a story

Pacing - Pacing is about right as the movie has a short runtime but still feels pretty fast

Climax - Climax is very entertaining, despite it stumbling on the landing a little bit

Tone - Tone is very much an animated heist movie for all ages

Final Notes - Saw an early screening; have not seen the first movie.

I just got done watching The Bad Guys 2 the sequel to the 2022 The Bad Guys i watched the premiere movie of this and... honestly this sequel is actually really good!

Even know it's have its flaws, but seeing the bad guys returning is really happy to me and the bad girls are really good in this.

8/10!

'The Bad Guys 2 (2025)' is, first and foremost, a ton of fun. It's energetic, it's enjoyable, it's exactly what you expect it to be but no worse for it. This propulsive, well-paced sequel is brought to life with expressive, high-octane animation that consistently drops your jaw with its gorgeous storybook-meets-Saturday-morning-cartoon aesthetic. Some of it is undeniably inspired by anime, with exaggerated 2D shock reactions and unmistakable sound effects, and it feels really distinct amongst its peers who strive for cartoon realism. It's stylish, it's slick, its visuals totally compliment its tone and atmosphere. It's a joy to look at from its first frame to its last, and it absolutely sprints through its generic but entertaining narrative without feeling rushed or missing a single step. It's a total blast that sweeps you off your feet, packed full of exciting set-pieces, humourous interactions, and satisfying in-the-moment subversions that often lead to some effortlessly - and genuinely - cool moments (not a lot of movies can pull off being cool without seeming like they're trying too hard to do so) that recall silky smooth heist films like 'Ocean's Eleven (2001)' and often scratch the itch left by the cancellation of the 'Sly Cooper' feature. It's arguably not quite as good as its predecessor, but it isn't far off. It's certainly a worthy sequel and it's one of Dreamworks' better animated efforts (it isn't in the top ten, I'd say, but it's pretty close). It isn't deep, but it is entertaining and that's all you really need it to be. Besides, its story is still really solid. Its characters are well-rounded (even if their arcs aren't as big this time around), its relationships are believable, its messages are (very) subtle but important, and its plot is incredibly efficient. There are some superb action scenes sprinkled throughout, and the cast all do a brilliant job at bringing their characters to life (Sam Rockwell is a phenomenal lead, his acting acumen clearly coming across even when he's playing an animated wolf). It's all just really fun, and it looks as good as it feels. This is a really strong follow-up to one of Dreamworks' most successful new efforts. I'd definitely welcome a third entry.

The Bad Guys 2 is an absolute triumph, a sequel that not only lives up to the original but surpasses it in every possible way. Pierre Perifel proves once again that he's a master of animated storytelling, blending style, emotion, and wit into a film that is as fun as it is heartfelt.

The story is sharp, fresh, and full of heart. It dives deeper into the emotional lives of the characters while delivering fast-paced thrills and clever twists. The balance between action, comedy, and character development is perfectly tuned.

The returning cast of lovable antiheroes is even more endearing this time around. Mr. Wolf continues to charm with his charisma and conflict, and his connection with Diane gives the film an emotional weight that feels genuine and powerful. Their bond is the soul of the movie.

New characters like the Bad Girls add a whole new layer of energy and intrigue. They're complex, fun, and absolutely electric on screen. You can't help but enjoy every moment they're involved.

Visually, the film is a masterpiece. The animation style remains slick and vibrant, and the action sequences are exhilarating without ever being overwhelming. The musical score is punchy and dynamic, elevating each scene to cinematic brilliance.

At its core, The Bad Guys 2 is about redemption, trust, and what it means to choose who you want to be - and it delivers those themes with sincerity and heart.

This sequel is everything fans hoped for and more - clever, bold, and bursting with personality. DreamWorks has struck gold again.

26/7/2025 - Odeon Middlesbrough 12:45

A pretty solid sequel compared to the first, which I only found okay. The animation is top-notch, the story is familiar but still a blast, and I loved the fun nods to Mission: Impossible, Lethal Weapon, and even Silence of the Lambs?!? And yes-the fart jokes actually hit!

Definitely recommended!