The Bad Guys 2

Rating 6/10

The original was a surprise hit when it premiered in the spring of 2022. That fast-paced animated caper was based on the popular children’s books by Aaron Blabey. With its slick visuals, snappy dialogue, and a charismatic cast of anthropomorphic criminals, it captivated audiences. So, it was only a matter of time before a sequel was foisted upon us. Enter a follow-up that brings back the lovable rogues for another round of chaos. Pierre Perifel returns to direct The Bad Guys 2 from a screenplay by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen.

Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) are still the “bad” guys. Except this go-around, they’re doing their best to live on the right side of the law. Fresh out of prison and trying to turn over a new leaf, they aim to earn society’s trust with encouragement from Governor Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz). Mr. Wolf, in particular, is determined to repair their public image by assisting gruff police commissioner Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein) in catching a mysterious new thief known as the Phantom Bandit. But just as the team starts making progress, things take a turn. The evidence begins to point back at them, and suddenly, our would-be heroes are the prime suspects in the very crimes they’ve been trying to stop. Clearing their names becomes the new mission, and a chance to prove once and for all that they have changed.

The Bad Guys 2 is a silly sequel that delivers short-lived enjoyment. In this adventure, everyone’s chasing a rare element called MacGuffinite—a playful nod to the classic Hitchcockian “MacGuffin,” which movie buffs will appreciate. The plot plays out like a kid-friendly version of The Fast and the Furious by way of Ocean’s Eleven.  Mr. Wolf is channeling the smooth-talking charm that George Clooney brought to Danny Ocean.  A new crew called the Bad Girls is introduced, which includes group leader Kitty (Danielle Brooks), a snow leopard, Doom (Natasha Lyonne), a raven, and Pigtail (Maria Bakalova), a wild boar. Their clunky insertion complicates an already convoluted story.

The funniest returning character is the evil guinea pig, Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), now locked away in a maximum-security prison. He’s still as pompous as ever, but he’s become absurdly buff, covered in tattoos, and looks hilarious. I could’ve used more of him. Every scene in which Professor Marmalade appears got a laugh out of me.

Not all the humor lands, though. A recurring gag involving bodily functions is the nadir. It’s designed to amuse the juice box demographic. The breakneck pace, zippy animation, and bold, bright colors should tickle younger viewers as well. The saga rarely slows to take a breath. While that makes for an energetic experience, it also means there’s not much room for sense or character development.

The Bad Guys 2 isn’t my cup of tea, but I can understand the appeal. Fans of the first picture should enjoy seeing these characters again. It offers enough action and visual flair to keep young minds engaged. If your expectations are ready for fart jokes and not sparkling repartee, you will have a blast.

07-31-25