The Bad Guys 2

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 is a highly entertaining sequel that successfully builds on the fun and charm of the first film. It brings back the same group of lovable misfit characters, each with their own unique personality, and adds some fresh twists to keep the story engaging. The movie is full of fast-paced action, clever humor, and heartwarming moments that remind us why we loved these characters in the first place.

One of the film's strongest points is its animation style-vibrant, stylish, and full of energy. The visuals feel like a mix of comic book flair and classic heist-movie cool, which makes it stand out from other animated films. The pacing is snappy, the action scenes are creative without being overwhelming, and the soundtrack adds a lot of flair.

What really makes the movie work, though, is the chemistry between the characters. Their teamwork, banter, and development feel genuine and fun to watch. There's also a nice balance between comedy and deeper themes like trust, redemption, and finding your place in the world. These moments give the film emotional depth without slowing it down.

It's not a perfect film-it doesn't take many risks, and some parts feel a bit familiar if you've seen the first one. But for a sequel, it holds up impressively well and keeps the spirit of the original alive while offering enough new content to feel fresh.

Overall, The Bad Guys 2 is a fun, smart, and well-animated adventure that works for all ages. I'd give it a strong 8 out of 10. It may not break new ground, but it delivers exactly what it promises-and does it with style and heart.

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!

The biggest problem with high-concept films like Bad Guys is that they rely entirely on their initial premise. And just like Despicable Me, once the "bad guys" stop being bad, the title-and the whole concept-starts to fall apart. The screenplay here is stuck from the very beginning, trying to make the good guys bad without actually making them bad, because they're supposed to be good-but were kind of already good to begin with. Confused? Yep, exactly. Now imagine trying to write that.

The first Bad Guys didn't exactly blow anyone away, but it got by on novelty. The only real way to make a sequel work is if the characters were memorable or endearing enough to survive beyond the original's gimmick. Think Toy Story, which pulled it off four times, or Shrek, who still manages to get kids lining up for photos despite some truly rough sequels. Unfortunately, the Bad Guys just don't have that same unique appeal. It's not that they're unlikeable-they just don't stand out enough to make you care once the novelty wears off.

That brings us to Bad Guys 2 itself. Does it work as a film? Unsurprisingly, it struggles under the weight of its conceptual flaws. You can't really root for the "bad guys" in a story where their problems are self-inflicted and their moral arc is basically a loop. The film is so busy trying to twist the narrative-making the good guys bad again so they can become good again-that it becomes exhausting to follow. It's overloaded (ironically) with MacGuffins and diversions, and by the end, nothing feels satisfying or earned.

What's frustrating is that a more daring concept could've saved this. Imagine a version where society refuses to accept the bad guys' reform, pushing them back into villainy. That could've asked deeper questions about redemption and the system's role in change. It would've been a tighter, more meaningful story. But that idea is dropped almost immediately, leaving us with a safe, forgettable mishmash of spy clichés and heist movie leftovers.

Visually, the animation suffers from the same identity crisis. During the fast-paced, Looney Tunes-style action sequences, the film comes alive-but everything in between feels flat. The half-3D, half-2D aesthetic never commits to either direction, so it ends up feeling more like a compromise than a bold creative choice.

In truth, Bad Guys 2 isn't unwatchable. But nothing here is going to set your world on fire either. The franchise might still have potential-but only if it embraces what makes it fun: letting the bad guys actually be bad. Push the animation style further, ditch the redemption loop, and lean into the chaos. That's the movie people might actually want to see.

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.