Films for Breakfast

The first Bad Guys film from 2022 was a surprise hit, blending stylish animation with a family-friendly crime caper – feeling like a true return to form for Dreamworks Animation. This sequel, set five years later, finds the original crew – Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marcon Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) – trying to go straight. But when a rival crew, the Bad Girls, begins a string of global heists using a mysterious substance called “MacGuffinite,” the Bad Guys must return to action – not to steal, but to stop them and clear their names for good.

One of the most impressive aspects of the original film was its distinctive animation style, which perfectly complemented the scrappy, satirical tone aimed at poking fun at heist and crime movies. The Bad Guys 2 takes things even further, boasting an even grander scale that allows for more dynamic and adventurous animation. From clever homages to The Silence of the Lambs to a bombastic outer space set piece to simple character details that add so much to their expressions, the film raises the stakes and delivers an even more visually stunning experience.

The voice cast is uniformly strong across the board. The returning actors are once again excellent – Marc Maron, in particular, continues to crack me up as Mr. Snake. That said, I found Sam Rockwell especially impressive this time around as Mr. Wolf. At this point, he feels completely synonymous with the character, and every nuance of the animation is elevated by his performance. The new additions are mostly serviceable, but both Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Brooks stand out, fitting seamlessly into the story and ensemble.

The film stays light on its feet, moving at a brisk pace with an impressive joke-per-minute ratio; I was laughing pretty consistently. While the story can feel a bit predictable and occasionally redundant, making it slightly less fresh than its predecessor, it makes up for that with stronger character work. This time around, the themes go a bit deeper, exploring what it truly means to be “good” and the complexities of redemption – both personal and in the eyes of others; and if others don’t forgive you for your mistakes, does that make your own redemption any less valid? Surprisingly compelling stuff for a family film.

Ultimately, The Bad Guys 2 proves there’s still plenty of charm left in this franchise. It may not hit with the same element of surprise as the first, but it builds meaningfully on what came before – visually, emotionally, and comedically. With its slick animation, bombastic action, elaborate heists, sharp humor, and surprisingly reflective themes, it’s a sequel that doesn’t just rehash the original but expands its world in fun and satisfying ways. If this crew returns for a third outing, I’ll be more than happy to tag along.