Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
The slick criminal crew is back! Universal had a sleeper hit with “The Bad Guys” in 2022. Here, we see the crew turning a new leaf. Each member is trying to live an honest life but struggles to find much success. No one is willing to trust them due to their past. But after they are framed for a crime they didn’t commit, they are forced to work with a mysterious group of criminals to clear their name. Will The Bad Guys manage to stay clean? Or will they be tempted to rejoin the criminal world?
Positives:
Much like the original film, “The Bad Guys 2” captures some thrilling animation matched with a zany heist driven plot. The animation style pops right off the screen, where the textures of the characters and unique color schemes treat audiences to some nice eye candy. The film is enhanced even more in a 3D format. The characters are thrown into a very different scenario this time, where they are instead giving up their criminal ways and attempting to do things the right way. But a plot twist makes for a fresh story that manages to feel different enough from the first to make it worth watching. The characters are all in a different phase of life now, where each of them faces unique struggles in their new lives. But instead of a message reminding us to not judge a book by its cover, the film instead explores the idea of second chances. The franchise continues to elevate itself from being a simple kids movie and chooses to make content that both kids and adults can enjoy.
What I enjoyed most about the first film is how the characters interacted with one another. They each have their unique skill set that make these heist adventures entertaining. The voice acting from the entire crew captures their personalities well. We are introduced to more characters this time around in the all girl squad. They challenge our characters while managing to carve out a unique story for themselves. The action in the film is quite strong too. Whether it be a car chase through Egypt or climbing a rocket taking off into space, “The Bad Guys 2” manages to amp up the exciting chase sequences while building another fun mystery. I’ll admit the film takes some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. This is a good excuse to get the family out to the theaters and treat them to another adventure with these characters.
Negatives:
I was actually enjoying “The Bad Guys 2” more than the original for most of the film. But the third act gets overstuffed and brings the rest of the film down a bit. Despite a thrilling finale with high stakes, the film forgets that its best moments are in its character driven moments. I enjoyed when the film was more of a mystery, focusing on the theme of making the most of second chances. I also found the message of the first film to be more potent. It had surprising depth to it and used its emotional moments to highlight the many layers of the team. This story has so much going on and a few too many characters that it loses a bit of focus in the final act.
Conclusion:
“The Bad Guys 2” is a welcome sequel to the franchise. It manages to raise the stakes and create a bigger, bolder story. While its themes don’t resonate as much, there is still plenty of material that families will enjoy. I also appreciate the different story this time, managing to avoid too much repetition and giving these characters a new mission to complete. The third act gets a bit too busy for its own good, but the charming characters make up for its shortcomings. This is a great matinee movie to take the whole family to see, especially in 3D. The colorful animation and fast paced story are sure to entertain.
