The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday

The Bad Guys are eagerly waiting for Christmas. Everybody will be at home and all the stores are ready to be robbed. The guys are casing various places when they accidentally destroy the beloved Santa Claus balloon. The city is heartbroken and Christmas is canceled. The Bad Guys need to fix the problem before they can go on their robbery spree.

It's a Christmas special for this second tier animated franchise. I liked Bad Guys well enough. They have some potential and this is sort of the material that I'm expecting. I doubt this is going to become a classic. Maybe it will convince a few more to see the movie.

The Bad Guys : A very Bad Holiday (2023)

The Bad guys movie is one of the Best movies by dreamworks , it made dreamworks even better , the animation style the character design the story that took from the book the movie was So Good

Now after the movie came two shorts one titled The Maraschino Ruby which was Really good .

And the other one is this one , and its kinda alright it delivers what promised but the animation style is kinda on a low budget which is understandable and i respect that they still gave us the movie with the budget cost

The story of it is great too and some scenes are well made , some jokes even landed which is good too Overall this Short is sweet and worth your time IF you loved The Bad Guys Movie.

The Bad Guys movie was really enjoyable and charming, plus the beautiful animation but what happens if you take the fun heist antics of the bad guys and take away the great animation? Your left with what feels like the cutscenes of a 2000s licensed bad guys video game.

The holiday special itself is a basic but enjoyable time that still has those characters and the heist fun that came from the original film. I do think that the limited animation definitely hinders the special as the original film had a unique and fun visual style that they try to emulate in this special, for the most part all the character designs do look good and match the films style but the rigid movement and somewhat choppy animation makes it a bit disappointing as a follow up/prequel to the movie. I do think this was do to the special having a lower budget which is something out of the control of the animators.

Overall I think it's a fine enough special that kids and adults can get some enjoyment out of during the holiday season, but not an instant classic like Charlie Brown or Garfield's Christmas specials.

The quality of animation, physics, details, the atmosphere, the "lived-in" feeling of the world, the details of the fur, the dialogues, and almost everything about this movie took a trip to the "budget" lane.

It's surprising to see the director and the studio destroy something that could have been treated better, but maybe it's also a good thing, seeing that there are too many franchise-sequel-prequel-reboot movies around.

This looks graphics-and-world-building-wise comparable to 90ies Crazy Taxi videogame but unlike it or the Star Wars Holiday special won't leave fond memories due to being terribly boring even for the children!

If you loved the slick, stylish chaos of The Bad Guys, its holiday spin-off, The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday, is like a mischievous Christmas cookie. Small, sweet, and full of trouble.

Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, this DreamWorks short doesn't have time for a full heist... but it manages to cram in the same charm, energy, and quick-fire wit that made the original film such a hit.

It's a festive caper filled with explosions, stolen decorations, and shockingly genuine holiday spirit.

Fast, funny, and full of swagger. The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday is a snappy seasonal treat that proves even criminals can have a little Christmas cheer.

✅ What Worked

1. The Heist-Twist Holiday Setup: Instead of robbing a bank, the gang's mission this time is to save Christmas but not out of kindness. They need the city's holiday festival to happen so they can pull off their latest caper. It's a classic Bad Guys setup: selfish intentions leading to accidentally wholesome results.

2. Faithful to the Original's Energy: Even without the original voice cast (Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, etc.), the new actors capture the same snappy banter and cool confidence. The tone stays perfectly aligned with the movie's slick, crime-comedy style.

3. Stylish Animation & Direction: The unique comic-book-meets-anime art style returns in full holiday color. The glowing city lights, snow-dusted skylines, and dynamic chase scenes make this one of the best-looking DreamWorks holiday shorts.

4. Humor That Lands for All Ages: There's a perfect balance of kid-friendly slapstick and clever dialogue for adults. It pokes fun at Christmas clichés while still celebrating the joy underneath them.

5. Heart Without Sap: Unlike some overly sentimental holiday specials, A Very Bad Holiday keeps things breezy. The characters don't suddenly turn perfect. They just stumble into doing the right thing. That's what makes it charming.

❌ What Didn't Work

1. Too Short for Its Own Good: At around half an hour, it feels like a fun appetizer rather than a full course. A few more minutes could've given more time for emotional payoff or bigger laughs.

2. Missing Original Cast Magic: The replacement voices do a solid job, but there's no denying the chemistry of the original film's ensemble is missed.

3. Predictable Plot: The story follows a familiar "grinch-to-giver" structure. It's executed well but doesn't surprise much.

💬 Favorite Moments & Quotes The Holiday Heist Montage: "Operation Save Christmas": a series of ridiculous disguises, gadgets, and snow-fueled stunts.

Snake's gift meltdown: "You know what's better than presents? Presents you didn't have to buy!" Wolf's reluctant sincerity: "We're not good guys... we're just having a good day." The final fireworks over the city: a perfect, sparkly bow on a chaotic caper.

🎄 If You Liked This, You Might Also Enjoy:

1. The Bad Guys: the original stylish action-comedy about a gang of animal criminals learning to be heroes.

2. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish: another DreamWorks gem blending humor, style, and surprising heart.

3. Trolls Holiday: colorful, musical chaos with a festive twist.

4. The Grinch: a polished, modern retelling of redemption through Christmas.

5. The Boss Baby: Christmas Bonus: if you enjoy corporate chaos with tinsel.

💭 Final Thoughts

The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday may not be a full-blown sequel, but it perfectly captures the franchise's cool confidence in a cozy Christmas package. It's clever enough for adults, fun enough for kids, and quick enough to become an annual rewatch.

It's not about "being good". It's about finding that spark of decency between explosions, gadgets, and sarcastic banter.

Final Verdict: 6.8/10. Stylish, silly, and unexpectedly warm. The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday proves even the worst can have a good Christmas.