The Bad Guys 2 Review
The Bad Guys 2 (2025) Film Review, a movie directed by Pierre Perifel and JP Sans, written by Yoni Brenner, Etan Cohen and Aaron Blabey and starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Maria Bakalova, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Alex Borstein, Monia Ayachi, Anthony Batarse, Jaime Camil, Omid Djalili and Michael Godere.
The Bad Guys 2, an animated sequel directed by Pierre Perifel and JP Sans, is the flat-out funniest movie of the summer so far. Sam Rockwell steps back into his voice-over role from the first picture as Mr. Wolf, a bank robber and criminal trying to go straight after the events of the first movie. Wolf and his title character buddies, Snake (Mark Maron), Shark (Craig Robinson), Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Tarantula (Awkwafina, always a hoot), are job hunting when we meet them 5 years after a prologue where our crew get in trouble with a key character (who you can bet will return later in the picture).This is that rare sequel that far exceeds the original in terms of cleverness and entertainment value.
Our antagonist this time out is Kitty Kat (voice of Danielle Brooks) and her crew, Doom (Natasha Lyonne) and Pigtail Petroya (Maria Bakalova). They’re out to steal a rocket in order to get control of a magnetic force which would steal the world’s gold. When they frame the original Bad Guys for a crime, it will be up to the Governor, Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) to help them clear their names. However, Kitty Kat has evidence that Diane committed a crime for which another, Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), sits in prison. In the interim, Diane plays hard to get with Mr. Wolf even though the two are probably made for one another. Also, as Mr. Wolf decides to become bad again to help Kitty Kat with her wicked schemes, there’s a twist as Mr. Wolf pulls off a surprise at a highly guarded wedding our characters infiltrate and oh so much more.
What can I say here? Rockwell is, once again, hysterical as the cool Mr. Wolf and his friends are all more memorable this time around than the last time we saw them in a feature on the big screen back in 2022. If any supporting character steals the movie, it’s Commissioner Misty Luggins (a terrifically humorous Alex Borstein) who has a love/hate relationship with Mr. Wolf and his pals. She wants to see them get in trouble until she figures out maybe they’re not responsible for the wrongdoings going on. Luggins is so by the book at times and so not by the book at others that the results are downright hysterical.
Zazie Beetz and Sam Rockwell capture the voice chemistry between Wolf and Diane, the heroic fox Governor. This is such a strong relationship in the movie because viewers will want to see them get together by the time the end credits roll. There are a number of hysterical scenes with Mr. Wolf such as a job interview with Wolf at a bank he robbed in the past. That scene comes early on and sets the stage for the rip-roaring comedy that is sprinkled into this totally enjoyable caper movie. The Shark gets his moments to shine as well and so does the hacker, Tarantula, who is played by Awkwafina with zest and perfect comic timing.
When the movie gets to space, it is highly original. This is no longer just a movie about would-be criminals, but rather a movie about former bad guys trying to go straight and triumph over new bad guys. When Mr. Wolf says he’ll never drive another car again after driving a luxury vehicle, he is soon seen driving a jalopy which makes for a hilariously funny contrast.
Every character gets plenty of moments to shine. One of these animals has flatulence in space which I felt was the only time the movie sidestepped the confines of total fun. This sequence went on a bit too long, but the twists that happen as Diane finds herself in space while being proved guilty for a crime back on Earth are nothing short of unique and totally enjoyable to watch.
Everything about The Bad Guys 2 is a significant improvement over the original. There are better bad guys, there is better animation, a better story line and so much more in terms of zingy barbs that the Bad Guys trade all in the name of fun. Though I liked the first movie, the sequel works as a standalone so the first is not necessary to understand and enjoy the sequel to the max.
The Bad Guys 2 has very little in terms of major or minor flaws. Perhaps save for a fart joke or two I could have done without, the picture is guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of the little ones and make the big ones have a great time as well. Brooks plays a fine new addition to the franchise with her very memorable villain turn. When Kitty Kat is pitted against Mr. Wolf as she tries to frame him and his crew for a major crime, it makes for one of the best movie rivalries in theaters this summer.
The Bad Guys 2 is the most fun you’ll have at an animated movie this summer. That’s the bottom line. Rockwell is the definitive Mr. Cool and, once again, reminds us why he’s an Oscar-winner we love to love whether he’s in a live-action movie or doing the voice for a character in an animated movie. Don’t miss this one!
Rating: 8/10
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