The Bad Guys 2
The first instalment of The Bad Guys (2022) was a slick departure for DreamWorks. Zany antics were eschewed in favour of an Oceans Eleven-esque homage. Though Sam Rockwell continues to do his best Danny Ocean impersonation as Mr Wolf, The Bad Guys 2 is a more farcical adventure for the titular anthropomorphic gang.
The first film ended with the crew – comprised of the aforementioned Mr Wolf, Mr Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr Snake (Marc Maron), Ms Tarantula (Awkwafina) and Mr Piranha (Anthony Ramos) – resolving to become good guys. Now, they’re forced to find jobs in the real world. The gang’s struggles serve as pertinent commentary on the employment struggles faced by ex-convicts. In a risible moment, Wolf goes for a job interview at a bank he had previously attempted to rob. His protestations that he has changed have little effect on the suited human who interviews him (his résumé is swiftly fed through the shredder).
It works as a clever parable for the dehumanisation of the outsider. Rejected by society, constantly hounded by police commissioner Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein), and their attempts at good deeds failing spectacularly, the quintet is left with no choice but to return to criminality. In turn, they’re recruited by a trio of female bandits headed by Kitty (Danielle Brooks) for a classic “one last job”.
There’s no faulting the voice cast, with Rockwell, Robinson, Maron, Awkwafina and Ramos giving it their all as the criminal critters. Maron, in particular, sounds near-unrecognisable from that famous, amiable podcast voice as the erratic Snake. It’s great to see (or rather, hear) a return from Maria Bakalova of Borat 2 fame, who lends her comedic talents to the role of Pigtail Petrova, a wild boar and one of Kitty’s accomplices. Meanwhile, seasoned voice actor Borstein is flawless as the perpetually grumpy commissioner.
That said, the laughs are few and far between, with an over-reliance on slapstick and toilet humour without any of the witty wordplay we have come to expect from DreamWorks. And so much of the pacing is at breakneck speed that there’s very little opportunity to develop and explore interpersonal relationships further.
However, the film is well-meaning and amplifies an important message: the need for people to be given opportunities to redeem themselves. A roller coaster journey with a stellar cast, The Bad Guys 2 offers both entertainment value and food for thought for youngsters.
Antonia Georgiou
The Bad Guys 2 is released nationwide on 25th July 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Bad Guys 2 here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
RSS