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Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Movie Review: The Bad Guys

Swan Hill Showbiz Cinemas have a stack of films opening from March 31 and the next family film to mark in your calendars is "The Bad Guys".

Based on the NY Times bestselling book series by Australia children's book author Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys is an action-packed heist caper comedy for families.

The story centres on five notorious bad guys - Wolf, Snake, Piranha, Shark and Tarantula - who a...

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The laughs are easy and breezy at the beginning of “The Bad Guys,” and the animated comedy’s sun-baked vibe radiates Southern California cool.

A wolf named Wolf and a snake named Snake enjoy snappy banter at a retro L.A. diner, having the kind of conversation they’ve probably had countless times over their years of friendship. They push and pull, jostle and tug, all in good-natured fashion. Then they get up, stroll casually across the street, and rob a bank. Pierre Perifel , making his feature directing debut, lays all of this out in one long, single take, instantly drawing us in to these characters and this world. It's an extremely familiar set-up, a subgenre unto itself: hyper-verbal thieves charm us into coming along for the ride and rooting for them to pull off their biggest heist yet. This is a furry, scaly version of Quentin Tarantino or Elmore Leonard —or at least, that’s what it aspires to be. But it’s a clever change to see such a story told in animated form with a star-studded voice cast including Sam Rockwell , Marc Maron , Zazie Beetz , and Awkwafina.

This opening scene of “The Bad Guys” is its strongest, and it offers great promise. But the wise-cracking, fast-talking energy that was once so buoyant grows increasingly strained as the story evolves and reaches its frenzied conclusion.

Based on the kids’ graphic novel series by Aaron Blabey , “The Bad Guys” follows a group of fun-loving criminals who lean into their rap as the villains of the animal kingdom for thrills and profit. Wolf (voiced by a smooth Rockwell) is their charismatic leader, with unmistakable shades of Danny Ocean. (In case the similarities weren’t obvious, he repeatedly gets compared to George Clooney .) Snake (a gravelly, earthy Marc Maron) is the cranky but loyal safecracker. Shark ( Craig Robinson ) is the enthusiastic master of disguise, but the amusing running bit is that it’s always totally obvious he’s a shark. Tarantula (Awkwafina) is the speedy and resourceful hacker, an assignment where it would indeed be useful to have eight arms. And the main skill the quick-tempered Piranha ( Anthony Ramos ) seems to bring is toxic flatulence, which at first seems like a gratuitous gag to make kids in the audience giggle, but it ends up being a surprisingly cohesive through-line in the script from Etan Cohen (“ Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ”). (It’s still gross, though.)

After they get caught trying to steal a valuable statue from a swanky gala, the notorious Bad Guys agree to clean up their act with the help of the celebrated, philanthropic guinea pig Professor Marmalade (a perky Richard Ayoade ) in order to avoid jail time. The tiny, prissy rodent lives in a gargantuan, cliffside mansion made for a Bond villain, our first clue that perhaps not everything is as simple as it seems. The team gets some cover from the governor, Diane Foxington (Beetz), who wants to see them go straight; she also happens to share a playful flirtation with Wolf. But Wolf’s scheme is for the Bad Guys to pretend they’ve become good guys in order to trick everyone and remain ... bad. Sound good?

The animation is colorful and lively—almost incessant, really—and the physical comedy is at its most inspired when it subtly toys with the natural instincts of these anthropomorphized creatures: the way Snake sheds his skin mid-heist, for example, or how Tarantula walks across a fingerprinting pad when the gang gets booked into jail. For a big chunk of the film, we literally have a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as the group’s leader is forced to dress in a cuddly lamb onesie as part of his rehabilitation. It’s good for a chuckle, at first.

But the midsection feels saggy and the early zip and swagger wear thin. Still, there are some useful notions here about second chances and redemption, as well as upending people’s perceptions to emerge as the best possible version of yourself. Sounds facile, but the script handles these themes with some intelligence. At the very least, “The Bad Guys” encourages kids not to judge a book by its cover—and maybe even read an actual book about these characters afterward.

Now playing in theaters.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Film credits.

The Bad Guys (2022)

Rated PG for action and rude humor.

100 minutes

Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf (voice)

Marc Maron as Mr. Snake (voice)

Craig Robinson as Mr. Shark (voice)

Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha (voice)

Awkwafina as Ms. Tarantula (voice)

Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade (voice)

Zazie Beetz as Diane Foxington (voice)

Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit (voice)

Alex Borstein as Police Chief Misty Luggins (voice)

Walt Dohrn as Scientist / Gala Guest 3 (voice)

Pierre Perifel

Writer (based on the books by)

Aaron Blabey
Hilary Winston
Yoni Brenner
John Venzon
Daniel Pemberton

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The bad guys, common sense media reviewers.

Book-based animated heist is so fun, it's criminal.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Learning to share is a subplot.

Doing good makes you feel good, and you may receiv

Most of the primary characters are "bad guys" of s

While main characters are all animals, they're voi

Cartoon violence with no permanent outcome include

Two characters seem to have a low-level attraction

Vulgar language includes "butt," "fart," and "what

Main characters are thieves who steal jewelry and

Champagne and martini glasses are seen at parties;

Educational Value

Positive messages.

Doing good makes you feel good, and you may receive positive attention for positive actions. Also makes point that stereotypes are harmful, and that if someone is labeled "bad," they may choose to lean into the label rather than fight it. Even those who have appearance of being "good" may need extra scrutiny before receiving our trust.

Positive Role Models

Most of the primary characters are "bad guys" of some sort, but by the end they've made a conscious choice to change their ways. They work as a team.

Diverse Representations

While main characters are all animals, they're voiced by a diverse cast, and viewers are intended to take away the idea that we need to be conscious of the impact of implicit bias and the way that attributes like race, religion, and more can be depicted as villainous by and in the media. Female characters are in traditionally male-dominated careers, such as a police chief, governor, and tech hacker.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Cartoon violence with no permanent outcome includes characters being hit by a car, eating other animals, tussling, performing martial arts in self-defense, explosions, and a car crash. Some peril is played with a comical tone; one moment of worry is quickly alleviated.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Two characters seem to have a low-level attraction that involves dancing and the very lightest of flirting.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Vulgar language includes "butt," "fart," and "what the hell."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Main characters are thieves who steal jewelry and gold objects, even though they appear to have plenty.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Champagne and martini glasses are seen at parties; one character accepts what appears to be a martini. However, a character at a party later orders "a tonic water in a fancy glass," and it looks like the same drink.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Bad Guys is a fun animated comedy heist based on a popular graphic novel series . Delivering a memorable message about the harmful impact of stereotypes, it follows a wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell ), shark ( Craig Robinson ), piranha ( Anthony Ramos ), snake ( Marc Maron ), and tarantula ( Awkwafina ) who've formed an infamous crime ring. There's cartoon violence -- characters being hit by a car, fighting in self-defense, explosions, etc. -- and momentary peril, but it's largely delivered with a light tone. Characters drink from glasses that look like they might have cocktails in them, and friends exchange insults and use potty words ("butt," "fart," etc.). Over the course of the story, the characters learn that being good means putting others' needs before your own and that positive recognition may follow good deeds; a subplot about sharing is as clear and shiny as a diamond. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Community Reviews

Parents say (38)
Kids say (50)

Based on 38 parent reviews

A pleasant surprise

Really good family movie, even dad laughed, what's the story.

Notorious crime squad THE BAD GUYS have avoided capture for years, becoming the world's most wanted villains in the process. When they're finally caught, Mr. Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell ) brokers a deal: the Bad Guys will go good in exchange for their freedom. But the crew will have to convince everyone (and themselves) that they really are "good guys," just as a new villain comes to town.

Is It Any Good?

This animated adaptation of Aaron Blabey 's beloved Scholastic books revels in bringing a charming, modern take to a very specific idiom: "A wolf in sheep's clothing." Taking an empathetic approach to a crew of thieves who only pretend to "go good," this lighthearted and amusing heist comedy shows that when someone is labeled as "bad," they're likely at some point to start believing it. It's perfect fodder to help explain implicit bias, as well as why labels and stereotypes are problematic. And writer-producer Etan Cohen goes beyond the source material to show that even those who have the appearance of being "good" may need extra scrutiny before receiving our trust -- an equally valuable lesson.

The script has a few issues that may nag at parents, but overall, The Bad Guys is an enjoyable romp that's like Ocean's Eleven for children, and kids won't be hung up on the tiny details. That said, while the ending is responsible and shows that crime doesn't pay, it sure makes crime look cool along the way. This band of thieves doesn't steal out of need but because they're good at it, and it all looks legitimately fun (gentleman thief Mr. Wolf is super cool, so don't be surprised if your kiddo tries to lift something from your purse or pocket to be funny). Let's just hope the message about fighting bias is the movie's lasting influence.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about why it's harmful to label people. What is a stereotype ? Which ones do you think The Bad Guys is trying to show are problematic?

Describe what the terms "bad guy" and "good guy" mean to you. Why did you use those attributes? How do entertainment and media inform the way we think of others?

How do you feel when you help someone or put their needs before your own? Why do you think it feels good to do good?

How do the characters in the movie work as a team ?

What is a wolf in sheep's clothing? How is that idea explored in The Bad Guys ?

Movie Details

In theaters : April 22, 2022
On DVD or streaming : June 21, 2022
Cast : Sam Rockwell , Awkwafina , Anthony Ramos , Marc Maron , Craig Robinson , Zazie Beetz
Director : Pierre Perifel
Inclusion Information : Female actors, Asian actors, Latino actors, Black actors
Studios : DreamWorks Animation , Universal Pictures
Genre : Family and Kids
Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship , Wild Animals
Character Strengths : Teamwork
Run time : 100 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : action and rude humor
Award : Common Sense Selection
Last updated : May 8, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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The Bad Guys Reviews

The humor is sometimes quite juvenile, but who doesn’t enjoy well executed fart jokes?

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 5, 2023

A thrilling amount of fun! I laughed, I smiled, & I even got that warm fuzzy feeling the bad guys got! A fantastic message about not judging a book by its cover & even why we should be good!

Full Review | Jul 25, 2023

…the notion of rejecting societal labelling and finding your own way through experience is thoughtfully developed here, and there’s enough humour to keep the kids engaged…

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 3, 2022

It looks really good. It's got a really good visual style... the story is serviceable but uninteresting and incredibly predictable, and the characters are fine... And if it matters to anybody, my 10 year old had basically the same assessment as me.

Full Review | Sep 11, 2022

The brilliant heist storyline makes for a fun action flick, it's easily my favorite animated crime caper I've seen so far. The terrific voice cast and delightful characters make this one a real winner.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 2, 2022

There’s nothing particularly innovative here and it’s not as funny as I had hoped. But there’s a good chemistry between our reluctant heroes that makes them fun to spend time with. And the animation style is inspired and more often than not quite good.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 16, 2022

An adaptation of the children’s novels by Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys is a return to form for DreamWorks Animation, yet also the promise of a bold new direction for the prolific studio.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Jul 26, 2022

Like a kiddie 'Ocean's Eleven' (the villains are the protagonists) it's frantic but for the most part it's also unfunny so it winds up being a starter heist movie for grade schoolers.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 21, 2022

...a breezy if overblown adaptation of the Aaron Blabey children’s book series.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 7, 2022

As a whole, this is medium-functioning family entertainment that’s content to amuse without exerting too much creative ambition. It’s not always memorable, but it works for the most part.

Full Review | Jul 1, 2022

I’m in; the cleverness of the script keeps the audience entertained.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 30, 2022

It’ll get the kids thinking about why we don’t always give people who have gotten in trouble with the law the benefit of the doubt to change, which is a nice little filter to grow them up on. After that, it’s just a fun heist riff, a furry Ocean’s 11.

Full Review | Jun 28, 2022

Pierre Perifel's feature directorial debut, "The Bad Guys," manages to take all the things you love about Steven Soderbergh, Guy Ritchie, and Quentin Tarantino's crime movies and puts them in animated form.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 27, 2022

With unique animation and a punchy story, this is a fun family adventure.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 24, 2022

It develops a fun story in a stylised and accelerated way, introducing us to a charismatic group of characters, and conveying messages related to friendship and redemption. Full review in Spanish.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 11, 2022

The Bad Guys is a good time for its slick style, solid characters, and stealing from the best heist films. The strong ingredients make for a pleasing if not light animated affair.

Full Review | Jun 11, 2022

Fun for the whole family, The Bad Guys easily wins you over with its heart and humour.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 10, 2022

Younger viewers will likely be hooked on the sizzle of the film...

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 5, 2022

Among the voice actors, the revelation is Maron, who’s note-perfect as Snake, the most cynical member of the gang — a gruff, cantankerous voice that keeps “The Bad Guys” from slipping into phony melodramatics.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 29, 2022

The strength of the film... is how it uses negative stereotypes to build a positive story, showing that change is possible and that we don’t have to accept the cards we are dealt in life.

Full Review | May 26, 2022

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‘The Bad Guys’ Review: Criminals Go Straight — In a Roundabout Way — in a Fun, Frenetic Kids’ Caper

Jazzily designed and scored, Pierre Perifel's cartoon romp may be a trifle, but it's still DreamWorks Animation's most appealing offering in several years.

By Guy Lodge

Film Critic

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It’s a problem that has plagued countless kids’ movies — and more than a few grownup ones — over the course of film history: The villain is conceived and performed with such lip-smacking relish that the nominal hero seems a simpering drag to be around by comparison. Conscious of that perennial imbalance, “ The Bad Guys ” takes a simple solution and multiplies it, making a sympathetic protagonist of not just one supposedly dastardly antagonist, but several. Taking five anthropomorphised animals generally portrayed as violent terrors in the cartoon world — led by a big bad wolf, no less — and centering them as a chummy, lovable criminal collective, this bouncy debut feature from French animator Pierre Perifel gets a lot of value out of that neat high concept. As it steers them to the right side of the law, however, it still can’t convince us that good guys have more fun.

Popular on Variety

Though Blabey’s witty, sketchy illustration style has been given a sleeker makeover in its digitally animated transfer to the big screen, “The Bad Guys” nonetheless benefits from a spikier, more overtly cartoonish aesthetic than many of its more smoothly contoured DreamWorks brethren. Lively character design does as much work as the writing in warming us to a core crew of critters who — dashing silver-pelted ringleader Mr. Wolf aside — get somewhat short shrift in a busy, breakneck screenplay by Etan Cohen (returning to animation 14 years after “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”).

The key players are mostly introduced over the course of a frantic introductory car chase, as Wolf (slickly voiced by Sam Rockwell , though repeatedly likened to George Clooney) and his accomplices make a clean getaway from a successful Los Angeles bank heist. Together with cranky safe-cracker Snake (Marc Maron), snarky tech whiz Tarantula (Awkwafina), goofy, disguise-inclined Shark (Craig Robinson) and hot-headed Piranha (Anthony Ramos), Wolf has pulled off enough such robberies to make him the number-one target of canny fox governor Diane (Zazie Beetz) and eternally foiled human police chief Luggins (Alex Borstein).

The thieves’ luck finally runs out, however, during a plot to steal a prize trinket at a swanky charity gala. Caught red-handed, they face jail time until wealthy guinea-pig philanthropist Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade) proposes a more experimental course of reform: Under his tutelage, the bad guys must learn to use their sly skills for good. And that’s merely the opening gambit of a happily chaotic, highly involved narrative that proceeds to race through assorted twists both predictable — to anyone familiar with the general implications of posh English accents in children’s adventures, at least — and pleasingly left-field.

Very small fry might not follow each and every one of the story’s various turns and reversals, though it hardly matters. On a scene-to-scene basis, there’s so much going on — further car chases, adorable kitten rescue missions, a zombie apocalypse of fluorescent-eyed Guinea Pigs of the Damned — that it’s easy enough to enjoy the small picture, separate from the big one. Cohen’s writing isn’t quite as nifty or quippy as it could be (“Let’s make like a wolf and get the pack out of here,” a character says, in a limp attempt to engage accompanying adult viewers), but the sight gags are sharper, while a running gag on the debilitating effects of piranha flatulence (who knew?) should slay every time with the little ones.

For anyone attentive to such details, meanwhile, the chief incidental pleasures of “The Bad Guys” are craft-based, from its disciplined, suitably Californian palette of burnt oranges and canine tans, to the brassy exuberance of Daniel Pemberton’s working-overtime score, full of sonic callbacks to ’70s heist-movie funk. There’s even a killer original musical number, performed with full-throated swagger by “In the Heights” star Ramos, in which the bad guys pledge, at least for the moment, that they’re “gonna be good tonight.” For the sake of any future outings with these morally flexible furballs, one hopes such promises are merely temporary.

Reviewed at Hackney Picturehouse, London, March 27, 2022. Running time: 100 MIN.

Production: (Animated) A Universal Pictures presentation of a DreamWorks Animation production. Producers: Rebecca Huntley, Damon Ross. Executive producers: Aaron Blabey, Etan Cohen, Patrick Hughes.
Crew: Director: Pierre Perifel. Screenplay: Etan Cohen, based on the graphic novel series by Aaron Blabey. Editor: John Venzon. Music: Daniel Pemberton.
With: Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Alex Borstein, Lilly Singh.

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Movie Review: Kevin Costner sets the table with overstuffed first take on epic ‘Horizon’

Kevin Costner’s long-awaited passion project ‘Horizon:An American Saga” is now in theaters across the United States. The Academy-award winning director tells the story of western expansion in North America and the tensions between Indigenous communities and the settlers. (28 June) Interview and Production by: Leslie Ambriz

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Kevin Costner in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

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This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Jamie Campbell Bower, left, and Kevin Costner in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Luke Wilson in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Michael Rooker in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Owen Crow Shoe, left, and Tatanka Means in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Sienna Miller in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Sam Worthington in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Jena Malone in a scene from “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter I.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

There’s a scene deep into Kevin Costner’s new Western when he and a woman are fleeing bad guys on horseback. They pause at a jaw-dropping vista and he turns to her: “You just gotta keep going,” he tells her.

That should be the slogan of “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1,” the initial three-hour salvo in what could morph into a four-part epic about the West that could tax even the biggest cowboy fan.

Give Costner — co-writer, director, producer — his due. This is a labor of love he’s been thinking about since the 1980s and he has skin in the game: He took out a mortgage on his 10-acre home in Santa Barbara, California. Well, one of his homes, at least. He’s not a total idiot.

“Chapter 1” — “Chapter 2” is to be released in August and parts three and four depend on if folks keep going — is a sprawling, often unwieldy placesetter, introducing dozens of characters in different parts of the West who, one has to assume, will interact at some point. If they survive, that is.

It’s a spectacularly unsubtle movie, from the opening moment when a group of ants on a hill of dirt are crushed by a surveyor’s wooden stake. If there’s any doubt what we must feel, listen to John Debney’s ponderous, pretentious score, with its criminal overuse of cellos.

Costner scrambles the plot — crafted by him and Jon Baird — almost immediately by offering a climactic battle scene within the first half hour, one in which a small white settlement in Arizona’s San Pedro Valley (thanks, southern Utah!) is sneak-attacked by Apaches during an innocent dance.

It’s a slaughter and it lasts way too long — savagery on one side, noble victims on the other. Mothers are struck by arrows while carrying their babes, unarmed musicians killed without a thought. “Ready son?” asks a dad to his teenage son, handing him a rifle and facing certain death. ”I think so, dad,” comes the plucky reply. In the aftermath, a mother cradles the corpse of her son and talks to it.

This slaughter shoots off a few story strands — some survivors (like spunky new widow Sienna Miller and her daughter) find shelter at a U.S. Army camp led by an achingly honorable lieutenant, played by Sam Worthington. Another story arc sees bounty hunters go in search of the Apaches who attacked the settlement, seeking profit and revenge.

“Horizon” also shows the internal divisions within the Apaches, with the chief’s hothead son and new father (Owen Crow Shoe) ready to keep fighting. “Their sons will hunt you,” the chief warns. “I won’t sing for your victory today.” We learn that the white settlement violated agreements meant to calm the West.

Costner’s universe is both fatalistic and inevitable. Both sides may be right and wrong, but there will always be another round of savagery. “There’s no one on Earth going to stop these wagons from coming,” an exasperated Army officer says at one point.

After an hour, Costner himself arrives, a quiet, strong loner who enters a Wyoming Territory settlement with the hope of a nice drink and some lady company and yet who leaves on the run, protecting a sex worker (Abbey Lee) and a boy in her care from psychotic horsemen who wish them harm.

Two hours into the movie comes another whole set of characters, with Costner’s menu now completely out of whack. It’s a wagon train led by Luke Wilson (never a cowboy, ever) who is facing some class issues — a well-off, oblivious couple are among the working-class muscle — and some Peeping Toms. It’s all too much, but add to it a dash of anti-Chinese xenophobia, some budding romances and horrific scalping.

Director of photography J. Michael Muro doesn’t romanticize anything, grinding the action in the smoke, heat and chicken-pecked dust of the West, so much so that you might taste grit in your teeth at some points. It helps that Costner has positioned everyone on the top of a picturesque hillside, showing off their profiles.

Part of the problem of “Chapter 1” is that in addition to overstuffing it with too many characters, the editing is pretty bad. Viewers will struggle with some violent cuts in which Costner has jumped the action forward months within the same chapter without any clues.

Yet Costner is still an impressive director with a eye for the natural beauty of the American West and a soft spot for loners. Yes, “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1” is a huge swing that cannot really stand on its own. But we owe it to him to ride beside him a little more. Let’s see if he can stick the landing.

“Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1,” a Warner Bros. release in theaters Friday, is rated R for “violence and some nudity and sexuality.” Running time: 180 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

MPAA definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Online: https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-1

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

The Bad Guys Delivers a Deceptively Layered Story With Beautiful Animation

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Dreamworks Animation's The Bad Guys initially presents itself primarily as a slick and silly riff on heist films, mining the genre while showcasing some very impressive animation. The film's secret weapon -- a surprisingly soulful script that delves into friendship in a blunt but loving way -- is elevated by a game cast . The Bad Guys is a blast and deserves attention.

The titular Bad Guys are a group of best friends and criminal conspirators living in a clear pastiche of Los Angeles. The group is all fearsome animals in their own right, who've embraced the fear the rest of the world seems to have for them. Led by the smooth Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), the group includes the selfish safe-cracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), the tech expert Ms. Spider ( Awkwafina ), the master of disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), and the wildcard muscle Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos). After they're baited into attempting an impossible crime and get themselves caught by the Chief of Police (Alex Borstein), a desperate Wolf earns them one last chance by playing on the sympathies of the wealthy Prof. Rupert Marmalade IV (Richard Ayoade). Wolf convinces him and Mayor Diane Foxington ( Zazie Beetz ) to let them prove they can become good if given the chance.

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The overarching plot builds from there, with multiple red herrings, double-crosses, and secret histories. Luckily, the story remains focused on the five criminals -- specifically Wolf and Snake, who form something of an emotional linchpin for the film. Depicted as longtime best friends who are coming to terms with some changing elements of their life, Sam Rockwell and Marc Maron give the pair a sense of history that leaves them genuinely uneasy with the changes happening right in front of them. Screenwriter Etan Cohen, who's had something of a mixed bag in terms of screenplays over the years, crafts genuine laughs out of the goofy premise, but strikes gold with the cast's interplay and emotional rapport. Snake and Wolf especially get some great material, and the rest of the cast proves just as game, mining real pathos out of their characters.

The film's visuals can't be understated, either. The movie is gorgeous . Director Pierre Perifel, an animation veteran who made his feature directorial debut with the film, and his team deliver a great deal of sleek movement and distinct character acting. There's a fluidity to the motion that at times is reminiscent of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , which is a true compliment for a film that mimics the CGI/Hand-Drawn fusion style that defined that movie. The opening car chase with the police that introduces the tender, over-the-top Chief of Police and a revelation regarding a former criminal known as the Crimson Paw showcase this. Especially when the film can embrace a quick slew of action, it juggles a confident sense of style with solid comedy.

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The action in The Bad Guys is quick, tight, and, more than anything, entertaining. The movie isn't necessarily perfect, leaning into some cheap gags on occasion and glossing over some of the narrative beats for characters like Marmalade, who could have benefited from the same surprising depth afforded to the rest of the cast. However, at a relatively lean 100-hundred minutes, The Bad Guys uses its time wisely and carves out a surprisingly mature exploration of friendship, redemption, and purpose. Any additional bloat might hamper the film's largely strong sense of pacing, so it proves to be a worthwhile sacrifice for the film's overall effectiveness.

The Bad Guys works wonderfully well and is one of the most consistently enjoyable films yet released this year. Other additions to the medium like Belle and Turning Red show that 2022 is quickly proving to be a banner year for feature-length animation, and The Bad Guys keeps that trend going.

The Bad Guys comes to theaters April 22.

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Review: The Bad Guys (2022)

Wesley Lovell

The Bad Guys

Pierre Perifel

Etan Cohen, Yoni Brenner, Hilary Winston

Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, Lilly Singh

MPAA Rating

Original preview.

Unlike Disney’s Zootopia , the anthropomorphized animals of DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys coexist in a world filled with humans. Like Disney’s film, the audience is asked to look beyond the natures of its animal stars and see something beyond the stereotypes. Its success is in finding a strong vocal cast who can embody both the negative and positive aspects of each character’s personality and present them to the viewer as deep, flawed individuals hemmed in by prejudice and expectations.

Sam Rockwell voices the leader of the pack. As Wolf, it’s his job as the head of the team to plan the heists they will execute. He employs his vicious personality to connive and convince his victims. Snake (Marc Maron) is his best friend and the stealth expert of the group whose ability to slither into and through any situation is almost as unrivaled as that of Tarantula (Awkwafina). She is the team’s hacker and is equally adept at getting into places covertly so that she can control the electronic devices that would otherwise be the team’s undoing. Shark (Craig Robinson) is somehow the team’s master of disguise who can take on any role and shockingly dupe his targets despite the obviousness of his appearance. Rounding out the team is Anthony Ramos as Piranha, the blood-thirsty muscle of the group who takes the reins when things require brute force rather than subtlety.

This team is one of the most notorious groups of bad guys in the city and their opening sequence, pursued by Police Chief Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein), is a cross-city chase that leaves destruction in its wake, infuriating the Chief and ensuring the team’s escape. Their next goal is to attempt to steal the Golden Dolphin Award that will be presented to philanthropist guinea pig Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade) by the state’s governor Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz), a literal Fox who has managed to overcome her species’ reputation and become a pinnacle to the human citizens of the state.

As a heist film, there aren’t a lot of expectations to subvert and that built-in familiarity helps sell the incidents in the film. The Bad Guys (their actual team name) attempt to turn their reputations around as a ploy to steal the Golden Dolphin at a later date. The animation is computer generated, but employs the blackened outlines common to cell-based animation, creating an interesting and nostalgic mix that defines and embellishes the art of the film. Not dissimilar to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ‘s successful blend of 3D animation and comic book coloration styles, The Bad Guys ‘ use isn’t as effective, but it sets the film apart from its contemporaries well enough.

It’s an enjoyable film with plenty for young kids to be entertained by and providing adults just enough surface level intrigue to keep them engaged. The humor is sometimes quite juvenile, but who doesn’t enjoy well executed fart jokes? The Bad Guys is a satisfying and engaging animated picture that won’t advance the idea that animation can be used for more than just amusing kids.

Review Written

May 29, 2023

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DVD & Streaming

The Bad Guys

Action/Adventure , Animation , Comedy , Crime , Kids

Content Caution

In Theaters

April 22, 2022
Sam Rockwell as Wolf; Marc Maron as Snake; Awkwafina as Tarantula; Craig Robinson as Shark; Anthony Ramos as Piranha; Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade; Zazie Beetz as Diane Foxington; Alex Borstein as Police Chief Misty Luggins; Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit

Home Release Date

May 12, 2022
Pierre Perifel

Distributor

Universal Pictures

Movie Review

If there’s one thing that Wolf, Snake, Tarantula, Shark and Piranha have in common, it’s that you don’t want to encounter any of them in the wild. But as far as they’re concerned, that’s OK.

“Do I wish people didn’t see us as monsters?” Wolf quips. “Sure, I do. But these are the cards we’ve been dealt, so we might as well play them.”

Society never gave these five a chance, so they decided to take on a life of crime and mischief. And they’ve gotten pretty good at it. They relish news reports labeling them dastardly and diabolical . And those news outlets ain’t seen nothin’ yet: The Bad Guys are about to pull off a heist that no other criminal crew has ever accomplished.

What’s the target? Well, they hope to steal the Golden Dolphin, the award given to the year’s “goodest” citizen. It’s the epitome of good for the best of the best. Looting it from under everyone’s noses is sure to cement them asnot just any bad guys, but the Bad Guys.

But then something unexpected happens: After Wolf accidentally does a good deed for another person, he finds that he actually likes it. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to try being, dare he say it, the Good Guys ? And though it’s hard enough to convince himself and his crew to try it out, there’s still that societal problem that caused them to go bad to begin with.

“I’m the villain of every story,” Wolf says. “Guilty until proven innocent. Even if by some miracle, we did change, who’s gonna believe us?”

Positive Elements

The Bad Guys , at its core, mixes the nature vs. nurture debate with the problem of societal stereotyping. Most people in the city, the Bad Guys included, subscribe to a generally universal acceptance of the nature side of the debate, leading to the Bad Guys being stereotyped as the villains of the story. Whether it’s as the Big Bad Wolf in the story Three Little Pigs , or movies like Jaws or Piranha , the Bad Guys have been typecast since before they were born. The prejudices of the general public are so extreme that a reporter says, “You should always judge a book by its cover, and all stereotypes have been affirmed.”

But not everyone in the city feels that real character change is impossible. If the last name didn’t give it away, Governor Diane Foxington is a fox—if you’ve seen Zootopia , you know the bad rap foxes get for being sneaky and sly self-seekers. As someone who had to prove herself to society and overcome her own stereotypes, Diane is in the business of helping people realize that they don’t have to play by the script society has assigned them.

This is most prominently explored in how Wolf and Diane discuss a piece of art outside the Good Samaritan Awards. Wolf takes a single glance at the rust-covered statue, calling it “trashy, pointless and pretentious.” But Diane doesn’t see it that way. “I think it’s about perspective,” she says, pointing Wolf toward the shadow of a swan the sculpture is making. “If you look closely enough, even trash can be recycled into something beautiful.” As Wolf begins to embrace making good choices, he realizes exactly what Diane meant.

Wolf feels good when he does selfless actions. Indeed, another character named Professor Marmalade teaches the Bad Guys that being good feels good, and it includes paying attention to other peoples’ needs before your own and paying attention to the needs of others in the first place. And while this is all true, the movie still warns us that just because something feels good doesn’t mean that it is good.

Throughout the movie, the Bad Guys feel tingly when they do good, causing their respective tails, fins or abdomens to wiggle. However, one character exclaims that he gets the s ame tingly feeling whenever he does bad, selfish actions, too.

This scene warns viewers not to base objective moral good on fickle emotions, which can be misleading. And its inclusion could also serve as a great discussion starter for parents and kids regarding what it means to be good, as well as how to discern personal feelings and desires from objective morality.

Spiritual Elements

An annual awards ceremony is called the “Good Samaritan Awards,” referencing the biblical story found in Luke 10.

Sexual Content

Various male characters have their pants pulled down or torn from them for comedic effect, exposing their boxers. Wolf mentions that grappling hooks have a propensity to tear off your pants accidentally. A criminal known as Crimson Paw tells Wolf to wear clean underwear just in case.

Professor Marmalade, the recipient of the Golden Dolphin award, owns a stone statue whose private area is covered by an etched leaf. Many characters say that a meteorite, which is in the shape of a heart, looks like a rear end, and they refer to it as the “butt rock.” An alias on Piranha’s rap sheet calls him the “Butt Biter.” In one scene, Wolf dances with Diane, and the two share a romantic glance. Wolf kisses Diane’s paw when he introduces himself.

During a heist, Shark dresses as a woman, wearing a dress, pearls, lipstick and heels. Shark also throws his drink on the ground to simulate a woman’s water breaking and pretends to start having contractions in order to distract security guards.

Violent Content

The movie’s nonstop, slapstick violence imposes little visible injury on anyone involved. The Bad Guys rob a bank and flee the police, many of whom crash their cars in the pursuit. During a heist, the Bad Guys incapacitate various guards or workers by tying them up or knocking them unconscious. A laser gun destroys a statue.

A meteor crashed into the city a year prior, leaving a massive crater. Snake and Shark fight over a popsicle on a couple occasions, and Shark eats Snake (though Snake is unbothered by this and appears fine in the next scene). Snake eats a massive quantity of guinea pigs, and he is forced to spit them out as Wolf twirls him like a lasso, sending the guinea pigs flying. Police Chief Misty Luggins accidently slams Snake’s tail into a briefcase. Snake gets kicked in the face. His rap sheet explains that he ate all the animals in a man’s pet store.

Piranha accidently knocks Shark out with a grappling hook. Wolf is hit by a semi-truck. A scared cat claws at Wolf’s face. Wolf is electrocuted. In a moment of anger, Wolf yells that he will kill Professor Marmalade. Snake and Wolf fight. The Crimson Paw defeats prison guards with martial arts and causes a large explosion.

A truck runs over a guinea pig (the guinea pig briefly appears as roadkill, but it springs up unaffected). A tsunami that’s comprised of thousands of guinea pigs destroys parts of the city.

Crude or Profane Language

The acronym “OMG” is used once. Wolf uses “pack” to substitute a cruder word: “Let’s make like a wolf and get the pack out of here.” Professor Marmalade calls the Bad Guys “walking garbage.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Shark takes two alcoholic beverages from a man, and he uses one to splash onto the ground. A gala contains a bar with alcoholic drinks. Wolf sprays cops with champagne to impede their pursuit.

Other Negative Elements

There’s plenty of general toilet humor here, of course. Piranha passes gas throughout the film, and the gas causes people to pass out. Piranha makes a reference to Wolf drinking out of a toilet.

The Bad Guys pickpocket items from the general public. They’re also sent to break into an animal testing lab (which conducts tests on regular, non-anthropomorphic animals). Professor Marmalade mentions evolution as the reason why the Bad Guys are pegged as the bad guys.

Snake swallows items to carry them inside himself, and he vomits them to get them out. Snake says guinea pigs are his favorite meal and that a guinea pig’s cuteness is what makes them taste so good. “You’re eating pure goodness,” Snake says. “It’s not about the pig, it’s about what it symbolizes on a deeper level.” Snake spits on the ground.

Rumors indicated that a sequel to Zootopia would arrive in late 2021. While those rumors didn’t pan out, The Bad Guys could definitely serve as a sister film to the animated hit.

Unlike Zootopia ’s heroic protagonist, Judy Hopps, The Bad Guys follows the less savory members of society: the Wolf, the Tarantula, the Snake, the Piranha and the Shark. They’re the villains of the story and they serve as a warning in fables: They’re not just bad guys, but the Bad Guys.

But the film suggests that their criminal past isn’t entirely their fault. They live in a society that struggles with some prejudices—ones that have declared them to be villains even before they were born; it’s hard to convince people that you’re friendly when all they can think of is the Big Bad Wolf.

So how do Wolf, Tarantula, Snake, Piranha and Shark feel about this typecasting? Well, having society calling them monsters from birth certainly isn’t the nicest thing to hear. But they figure that they can take a lesson from Catch- 22 ’s Doc Daneeka: If everyone describes you as such and treats you as such, then perhaps that’s who you really are. As they’ve accepted that truism, the Bad Guys have unwittingly fulfilled the stereotypes everyone’s lumped them into. In fact, those prejudices are so deeply rooted within themselves that they take insults as compliments—as if they’re being acknowledged for perfecting their predetermined craft.

But just how predetermined is their craft? It’s the culture which has told them to be bad because that’s how animals of their type are. What if Wolf doesn’t want to be the bad guy anymore? What if he was able to change and be a good guy? Even after that, would anyone in the city believe him, or would they just continue assuming that he’s up to no good because that’s simply what wolves do?

The Bad Guys doesn’t break any new ground when contrasted with Zootopia ’s similar look into societal stereotyping and the nature vs. nurture debate. But it does introduce a new perspective into this ongoing conversation via an entertaining, family-friendly experience. While the slapstick violence and toilet humor remind us that the movie is for children, it provides a refreshing breath of air for parents who simply want a new movie with a good message that’s appropriate for their kids.

Who’d have thought that movie would center on five master thieves?

Kennedy Unthank

Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”

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The Bad Guys (2022) Review

GO BAD OR GO HOME!

DreamWorks Animation Studios has had their ups and downs in their releases, finding their cartoon endeavors of a mixed variety from the highest highs to the mediocre lows. The studio has produced some of the finest (and most memorable) animated films such as Shrek , Kung Fu Panda and, How to Train Your Dragon ; finding each one to have their own unique personal visual aesthetics between cinematic storytelling and lovable characters. Even some of their own “stand alone” endeavors such as Shark’s Tale , Over the Hedge , and Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie have had celebration of garnishing praise from critics, moviegoers, and box office results. However, DreamWorks has had its fair share of unfavorable releases, with some of the most forgetful features such as Home , Bee Movie , and Turbo . Perhaps the instability of their releases rest upon the decision of this comes down to its overall studio distribution, with DreamWorks Animation being handled by several studios, including DreamWorks Pictures (from inception to 2005), then Paramount Pictures from 2006-2012, then 20 th Century Fox from 2013-2017, and now (currently) under Universal Pictures. Regardless, it looks like DreamWorks is struggling to find a proper footing with its “hit or miss” releases. Now, after 2021 release of The Boss Baby: Family Business , DreamWorks Animation Studios and director Pierre Perifel prepare to release the latest animated feature film with the movie Bad Guys ; loosely based off the books of the same name by author Aaron Blabey. Does this cartoon motion picture rides high or is it time for the animated studio to call it quits?

Living the good life by being bad, the Bad Guys are a gang of criminals who enjoying their reputations and relish the crime spree around the big city. The team, who includes Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina), and Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and, while they deal with their differences of opinions and personalities, they’re united in their special skills in thievery. Learning that the coveted Gold Dolphin award is about to be presented to famed Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), the Bad Guys make a play to take the valuable prize during the ceremony, hoping to humiliate Police Chief Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein) and the newly appointed Governor Foxington (Zazie Beetz) in the process. When the heist goes sour, Marmalade proposes something unique rehabilitation for the gang, offering the thieving ragtag team lessons on how to be good, hoping to reach their hearts and prove that fundamental change is possible…no matter the person. While Wolf is initially dismissive of the situation and playing along with Marmalade gimmick, he learns that the positive ways actually work, putting him at odds with his fellow team, who show less interest in this particular training. So, the question remains…. can a bad guy become good?

THE GOOD / THE BAD

Much like what I said in my opening paragraph, I believe that DreamWorks Animation has been going through a series of ups and downs. When it was first beginning, I believe it to be an animated powerhouse, with the company rivaling Pixar and other Disney movies, especially after the “House of Mouse’s” second renaissance era of the 90s. Movie releases like Shrek , Kung Fu Panda , Shark’s Tale , and How to Train Your Dragon I would deem to be some of the top-tier releases that the studio had to offer from the late 90s to the late 2000s era, with some branching out to deliver solid sequels (i.e. Shrek 2 , Kung Fu Panda 2 and How to Train Your Dragon 2 ). Heck, even some of its non-3D animated cartoon features (more traditional style 2D animation) like The Road to El Dorado and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas proved to be quite effective endeavors that barred fruit and popularity amongst its viewers. That being said, DreamWorks did start to show signs of decline sometime after early 2010s, with several releases that I found either poorly done and / or mediocre endeavors. Films like Bee Movie , Home , and Turbo (the ones I mention above) are just terrible in my opinion and are just pretty “meh”. As stated, it was probably due to the studio’s distribution handling several times over that caused this influx of popular movies releases. And don’t get me started on all the various spin-off TV shows that were done with such “blech” animation. Yet, despite those ups and downs, DreamWorks still has managed (as of late) delivered some good animated features in the late 2010s / early 2020s era, with releases like How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World , Abominable , and Croods: A New Age . To that end, I say that DreamWorks Animation Studios has had a bumpy road through the past two decades, but has endured and produced a good decent number of animated features and doesn’t show to be stopping any time soon.

Naturally, this brings me back to talking about The Bad Guys , a 2022 animated film and the latest offering from DreamWorks Animation Studios. To be honest, I really didn’t give this film any particular hype or anything like that. I think I do remember hearing that a movie was going to be made out of popular children’s series, for I used to work in a bookstore and do remember seeing the title of these books from author Aaron Blabey (though I never picked them up and read them). That was pretty much it. I think I briefly saw the film’s movie trailer and it looked pretty straightforward, with the feature’s main cast of characters (who are bad guys) trying a hand at being good. This particular scenario has been played out many times over, especially in children’s entertainment, so I really didn’t give much credence, or any look over as much as should. Basically, I thought that the movie was going to be a generic “run-of-the-mill” endeavor….and nothing less. So, that’s probably why I didn’t post the film’s movie trailer up on my blog. Thus, I remember when The Bad Guys got released in theaters on April 22 nd , 2022, but I held back from seeing it right away, especially because my work schedule got a little bit as well as my backlog catalogue of doing delayed movie reviews, which (of course) this particular falls into. However, after word of mouth about this movie and seeing a lot of positive reviews about it, I decided to check out The Bad Guys several weeks after its initial release. Unfortunately, with my workload taking a bit more elongated and heavy, my review for The Bad Guys got delayed and I kept on pushing it back for some time. Now, with finally a moment to catch my breath and play “catch up”, I have the time to share my personal thoughts and opinions on this animated film. And what did I think of it? Well, I was surprised how much I liked this movie. Despite a few formulaic and predictable nuances, The Bad Guys is slick and hilarious animated endeavor that plays to the strengths of its voice cast as well as being a entertaining cartoon heist escapades that’s well worth it. It may not beat out DreamWorks upper echelon of popular / memorable releases, but it certainly comes close to doing so…..and that’s a good thing!

The Bad Guys is directed by Pierre Perifel, who makes his theatrical feature length directorial debut with the film. Given his background as an animator for several DreamWorks projects such as Monsters vs. Aliens , Rise of the Guardians , and Shrek Forever After , Perifel seems like a suitable choice to helm the studio’s latest film project, especially since he has an understanding of how a DreamWorks movie is to be put together and executed. In this regard, I definitely believe that Perifel did a fantastic job in establishing (and almost leaving his mark) on the studio’s theatrical cartoon releases in The Bad Guys . How so? Well, while I can’t speak for Blabey’s work, I feel that Perifel has a great understanding of the basic premise and definitely runs with it…in the right direction. The movie (as a whole) feels like a callback to classic Hollywood iteration of heist movies…. almost like a “rolodex” of some of the heist films like Ocean’s Eleven , which heavily utilizes a select group of people with various traits and talents to pull off heist jobs and make a shift family / team in doing so. This, of course, is the primary setup for when The Bad Guys begins, with the initial first act introducing us (the viewers) to this viewpoint from Mr. Wolf as he has other “bad guy” associates pull off a caper that would set them up for life.

Perifel also plays into this notion by introducing some of the themes that are surrounded by the coin phrase “never judge a book by its cover”. This, of course, plays into the feature’s narrative quite a lot, but it’s done with a more tactful approach, thanks to the script handling by Etan Cohen as well as Yoni Brenner and Hillary Winston. Naturally, the themes of exploring stereotypes and perception are well-founded in the narrative structure of the movie, which definitely made me think of the main theme of Disney’s Zootopia , but rather than making a “carbon copy”, the script for The Bad Guys takes that prose of thematic messaging and makes it’s own and never pulls an “overkill” button when trying to get the point across. The script shapers as well as Perifel’s direction for the film keeps The Bad Guys from falling prey to heavy-handedness of drama and strikes a proper medium of cartoon fun and excitement with moments of reflections and understanding.

Looking beyond those points of narrative writing and thematic messages, Perifel makes The Bad Guys have an all-around great cartoon experience that has all the required and necessary moments to make it accessible for all ages. Even better, the film’s targeted age range will be able to understand (and digest) some of the more meaningful moments by getting its point across in a very straightforward and simplistic way. That’s not to say that The Bad Guys is too “kid-ish” for older viewers to enjoy as Perifel sets the tone for the film right the opening minute of the feature by letting its talented voice cast (more on that below) play to their strengths as well as having a plenty of action sequences and comedy. Oh, yes…the comedy is another big plus for the film, which utilizes a lot of verbal jokes as well as physical comedy gags that are actually pretty good and hit more of their intended levity target rather than missing it. Perifel keeps the feature light on its toes by offering a very breezy animated film that has a greater understanding of balances of action and comedy more so than other cartoon flicks nowadays. There are a few bumps here and there that I notice, but as a first attempt in doing a project like this…. I believe that Perifel gives more right than he does get wrong. Overall, I’m quite impressed with what Perifel was able to accomplish with his first full-length animated film, making The Bad Guys have such energetic and wonderfully tactful narrative that boasts plenty of laugh-out loud moments and a terrific animated endeavor for lighthearted entertainment.

In the presentation category, The Bad Guys looks quite amazing and definitely has a unique swagger that makes it stand out from its other animated feature film competition. Rather using the standard / straight approach style of computer generated rendering for this animated project, Perifel and his team make the film have a visual aesthetic and character design with an interesting twist of soft, art-like styles without being entirely two-dimensional…. something that (in my opinion) kind of reminded me of Netflix’s animated movie Klaus . Additionally, the art style that the animated endeavor produce takes a few cues and nuances from Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , with a large emphasis on the comic book-like visual flair through its rendering and movements of characters / objects. Like Into Spider-Verse, it can be a bit jarring and getting use to it, but it definitely is a huge positive in my opinion, with the animation style of its presentation feeling refreshingly creative and has a keen sense of colorful palette that speaks for itself. Thus, the feature’s “behind the scenes” team, including Devan Key and Floriane Marchix (art direction), Luc Desmarchelier (production designs), Courtney Hoffman (costume designs), and all the movie’s CGI visual artists, should be commended for their efforts in making The Bad Guys have a wonderful and fantastic animation presentation that can (quite literally) trump any animated feature film that has been produced of late…. for its sheer brilliance of style and design. Lastly, the movie’s score, which was composed by Daniel Pemberton, is a great musical composition that has all the usual fanfare one would expect from animated children’s film, but also has the classic usage of the somewhat jazz-infused heist flick, which compliments the thieving heist format that the movie has to offer. All in all, it’s a great piece from Pemberton.

There are a few parts of The Bad Guys that I felt that could’ve been ironed out a little bit better, which caused the feature to have its fair share of criticisms. Perhaps the most apparent one that’s the easiest one to spot is in the overall predictable nature of the movie’s story and how everything plays out throughout the course of its runtime. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy watching the movie and I loved it for what it is…. a kid’s movie. That being said, I felt that the story for the film was way too simplistic. Yes, as I mentioned above, the movie is quite easy to digest and can be accessible to the younger juice box in way that they can follow along, with everything drawn out in a crystal clear way. This, of course, means that most (if not all) of the film has a real predictable nature from start to finish, with a formulaic plot that plays out like one would expect. The morals are translucent, and the roles are clear to what needs to happen and what will happen, despite the movie trying to lather its narrative in a few moments of surprises and twists. Thus, The Bad Guys is pretty formulaic to the touch and could’ve utilized a few more creative and innovate ways to bolster its narrative shortcomings.

In hindsight, I also believe that the movie could’ve utilized a bit more finesse within the heist / crime attempts. Of course, the film heavily emphasizes the various character traits and usage of the actual “bad guys” characters to make their job cohesive and part of the team aspect of pulling off a job together. That being said, the effect is only use in a few sparse areas and I, for one, would’ve liked to see more of this…. pulling off more elaborate heist that what was showing. Even the film’s ending, which pulls all the stops and punches in its showcases, runs the gambit of being a bit too long and tedious for its own good and could’ve benefited with a bit more restructuring of the feature’s themes and characters. In addition (and I’ll mention more on this below), I felt that the movie could’ve done a better job in fully fleshing out some of the main characters of the feature a bit more, especially some of the other “bad guys” characters. It’s not a complete deal-breaker as I felt like this was going to be a problem with the movie from first five minutes, but it would seem that a lot of emphasis is placed on Mr. Wolf and not so much on his other companions, which are there throughout the movie, but it becomes crystal clear where the script is going and who it favors the most.

What definitely helps overlook these points of criticism is the voice talents that The Bad Guys , which are top-notch and full of charismatic energy to bring these animated characters to life. Leading the charge in the film’s endeavor is actor Sam Rockwell, who plays the main protagonist of the movie of Mr. Wolf. Rockwell, who is known for his roles in Iron Man 2 , Moon , and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has always been a gifted actor, spanning a good career that’s a mixture of mainstream releases, indie projects, and award-winning. While not a complete stranger to doing voiceover, Rockwell involvement in the movie is spot-on and makes for a great and believable performance in playing Wolf, with the actor’s laidback and easy-going attitude / bravado seeping into the character, who’s supposed to be sly and easy-going. As mentioned, the story arc for his character is quite well-represented in the movie (easy to follow and to digest), with Rockwell up to chance to give the classic “big, bad wolf” a run for his money and makes the character have a compelling arc. Thus, it goes without saying that Rockwell is almost the perfect match for voicing the character of Mr. Wolf in the film and makes for standout performance in the animated endeavor.

Likewise, actress Zazie Beetz is terrific as the character of Diane Foxington, the newly appointed governor of the city. Known for her roles in Deadpool 2 , The Joker , and Atlanta , Beetz, while not entirely a mainstream talent, has certainly made a name for herself over the past few years; slowly amassing a career catalogue that hones-in on her craft. Thus, her involvement in The Bad Guys is indeed a welcomed one, with Beetz having a lot of playful lines throughout the movie, which are great and makes Foxington an likeable character right from the get-go. Plus, Beetz is a fantastic foil for Rockwell’s easy-going voice, which makes the interactions between Diane and Wolf all the more worthwhile. To be quite honest, I was actually surprised by Beetz’s voice as Governor Foxington, which sounded a bit like actress Maya Rudolph, who I believe the voiced the character when I watch the film. That being said, Beetz certainly is great in the role, and I welcomed sight she brings with her character of Diane into the mix of the whole “bad guys” gang.

The other Bad Guys characters, including actor Marc Maron ( Maron and GLOW ) as the cynical Mr. Snake, actress Awkwafina ( The Farewell and Raya and the Last Dragon ) as the sharp-tongue Ms. Tarantula, actor Craig Robinson ( This is the End and Pineapple Express ) as the childish Mr. Shark, and actor Anthony Ramos ( A Star is Born and In the Heights ) as the short-fused Mr. Piranha, play more the secondary main characters in the movie, yet still shine through with their exuberant / larger-than-life voices. Each one is given their own unique heist skill set and distinct personalities that perfectly match the voice performer behind them, which are equally fun and amusing to watch whenever they are on-screen. That being said, what kind of lessened that impact is that the characters, especially during the middle portion of the film, gets pushed aside as Wolf’s personal narrative story arc takes center stage. As I mentioned above, it wasn’t too much of a problem for me, but I would’ve liked to see more of these characters have their own personal little story arcs a bit more or (at the very least) have a bit more characteristic development rather than the one personality trait. Still, for better or worse, these particular characters in the film are hilarious and their voice talents are solid across the board.

Additionally, actor Richard Ayoade ( The IT Crowd and The Watch ) is terrific as the voice for the pompous and good-natured Professor Rupert Marmalade IV, while the voice talents of actress Alex Borstein ( Family Guy and The Marvelous Ms. Maisel ) as the hot-headed chief of police Misty Luggins and actress Lilly Singh ( Ice Age: Collision Course and The Tube’s Hautest ) provided more minor supporting characters in the film, which are great in their limited, yet colorful screen time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It’s good to be bad….is the sentiment feeling tagged in a movie where the commonplace bad guys get themselves mixed up in a situation where they must learn to be good guys to save their skins in the film appropriately titled The Bad Guys . Director Pierre Perifel’s first directorial feature-length debut film is surefire homerun win from DreamWorks Animation Studios; producing a wonderfully enjoyable animated heist capper flick that has wit, zip, and slick styles and swaggers throughout its runtime. While the movie has a few snags of predictable and formulaic natures within its narrative builds (as well as a few characters moments), the film raise to challenge and overcomes those points and presenting a creative cartoon feature thanks to Perifel’s direction, it’s play on the heist genre, the comedy, the animation style, the score, and the entire voice cast. Personally, I liked this movie. It was definitely something that I wasn’t expecting (as I mentioned that I had low expectations for this film) and I had a great time watching. It was fun twist on the classic “bad guy” stereotype and, although some elements were a bit predictable, the animation style was unique and the voice talents involved were solid across the board. All in all, an entertaining and hilarious animated endeavor from DreamWorks. Thus, my recommendation for this film is a very favorable “highly recommended” as the movie can be enjoyed all everyone of all ages and perfect choice for a family friendly movie night. Given the film’s ending is left open-ended, the general positive reviews that the movie has received, and how that Blabey has written an entire novel series surrounding these particular characters, it would seem like a Bad Guys 2 might be on the horizon in the near future and I, for one, would love to see sequel to this movie. Even if one doesn’t materialize, DreamWorks’s The Bad Guys is a cheeky, fun, and widely entertaining animated film that delivers on its premise and rises above the standard fanfare of animated endeavors by producing something uniquely creative and amusing within a heist format as well as its “never judge a book by its cover” theme.

4.3 Out of 5 (Highly Recommended)

Released on: april 22nd, 2022, reviewed on: june 26th, 2022.

The Bad Guys is 100 minutes long and is rated PG for action and rude humor

The Bad Guys

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A Fumbling Performance, and a Panicking Party

President Biden’s shaky, halting debate performance has Democrats talking about replacing him on the ticket.

A raspy-voiced President Biden struggled to deliver his lines and counter former President Donald J. Trump during the debate on Thursday. Credit... Kenny Holston/The New York Times

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By Peter Baker

Peter Baker has covered the past five presidents, including Donald J. Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr.

June 27, 2024

President Biden hoped to build fresh momentum for his re-election bid by agreeing to debate nearly two months before he is to be formally nominated. Instead, his halting and disjointed performance on Thursday night prompted a wave of panic among Democrats and reopened discussion of whether he should be the nominee at all.

Over the course of 90 minutes, a raspy-voiced Mr. Biden struggled to deliver his lines and counter a sharp though deeply dishonest former President Donald J. Trump, raising doubts about the incumbent president’s ability to wage a vigorous and competitive campaign four months before the election. Rather than dispel concerns about his age , Mr. Biden, 81, made it the central issue.

Democrats who have defended the president for months against his doubters — including members of his own administration — traded frenzied phone calls and text messages within minutes of the start of the debate as it became clear that Mr. Biden was not at his sharpest. Practically in despair, some took to social media to express shock, while others privately discussed among themselves whether it was too late to persuade the president to bow out in favor of a younger candidate.

“Biden is about to face a crescendo of calls to step aside,” said a veteran Democratic strategist who has staunchly backed Mr. Biden publicly. “Joe had a deep well of affection among Democrats. It has run dry.”

“Parties exist to win,” this Democrat continued. “The man on the stage with Trump cannot win. The fear of Trump stifled criticism of Biden. Now that same fear is going to fuel calls for him to step down.”

A group of House Democrats said they were watching the debate together, and one, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged that it was a “disaster” for Mr. Biden. The person said the group was discussing the need for a new presidential nominee.

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In Theaters and Digital

The bad guys - movie review.

Hold onto your seats! Dreamworks Animation goes full speed ahead into its new chapter with The Bad Guys , a high octane animated thriller that steals from the heist films of the ‘60s and leans into the company’s new direction with an energy we’ve not seen from the studio in quite some time.

With the animation house’s first film following its purchase by Universal , the company hits the ground running with a bold, refreshing new artistic direction. Though not quite Pixar in any respect – particularly with regards to emotional oomph, there’s no denying that the film’s fun, playful attitude and eye-popping animation is certain to entertain the entire family.

Originating as a Scholastic graphic novel series from Australian author Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys series looks at hurtful stereotypes and the constant struggle to change society's perception of past performance as a gauge of one’s future. Sure, that’s pretty heavy stuff – especially for a kid’s movie, and if handled incorrectly might step all over the film’s fun atmosphere and breezy pacing, but screenwriter Etan Cohen and director Pierre Perifel never let the message muddy up the fun.

Playing into the film’s themes of misperception, these bad guys are not just animals, but rather animals that everyone is afraid of. There’s the head of the gang, dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell ), world-wise safecracker Mr. Snake ( Marc Maron ), master-of-disguise Mr. Shark ( Craig Robinson ), hot-headed Mr. Piranha ( Anthony Ramos ), and smart-aleck computer hacker Ms. Tarantula ( Awkafina ). They figure that since everyone is going to hate them for the bodies they are in, they might as well make the most of it and live up to the hate they receive.

Collectively they make up the infamous gang behind many of the city’s countless heists. But when finally caught by the city’s gung-ho police chief Misty Luggins ( Alex Borstein ), Mr. Wolf forges a deal with law enforcement to save them all from going to prison. In other words, these bad guys will go good.

But nobody has ever failed so hard at trying to be good as these bad guys. Mr. Wolf, et al., are actually working a long con. Under the guidance of Professor Marmalade ( Richard Ayoade ), the gang sets out to fool the world that they’ve been transformed.

Riffing on caper movies and other animated films, The Bad Guys blends technical heist gags, car chase scenes, comedic bits, and buddy road trip elements into the wild and crazy experience. While some of those pieces don’t quite work, there’s always the fast-paced action, funny quips, and goofy animal behavior to bring you around.

Dreamworks has done a masterful job with the animation that makes Blabey ’s characters leap to life right before our eyes. Though not what we’re used to seeing from Pixar , in many ways it might be better. With deeper shadows, a mix of 3-D and 2-D handlings, and a color palette that makes more bold choices than Pixar might, this is something we’ve not seen before. It’s actually quite fresh and absolutely gorgeous.

By no means should The Bad Guys be considered a top-level animated film. Despite its well-intentioned and deftly-handled themes, there are simply too many clumsy sequences and missed opportunities to reach those heights. Not every animated film can be a Shrek or Toy Story . However, as a broad swath of family entertainment, The Bad Guys may very well steal your heart.

MPAA Rating: PG for action and rude humor. Runtime: 100 mins Director : Pierre Perifel Writer: Etan Cohen Cast: Sam Rockwell (voice); Marc Maron (voice); Awkwafina (voice) Genre : Animation | Action | Adventure | Crime Tagline: Good is No Fun at All. Memorable Movie Quote: "Do I wish people didn't see us as monsters? Sure, I do. But these are the cards we've been dealt, so we might as well play 'em." Theatrical Distributor: Dreamworks Animation Official Site: https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/the-bad-guys Release Date: April 22, 2022 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: Synopsis : Several reformed yet misunderstood criminal animals attempt to become good, with some disastrous results along the way.

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The Bad Guardian

A woman tries to save her father from a corrupt and greedy court-appointed guardian. A woman tries to save her father from a corrupt and greedy court-appointed guardian. A woman tries to save her father from a corrupt and greedy court-appointed guardian.

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Melissa Joan Hart in The Bad Guardian (2024)

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The Bad Guys Review: So Good It's Criminal

For all the talk amongst critics that the studio's films have ruined cinema, there's one Marvel film that has inspired studios to take bolder risks: 2018's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." A critical darling that web-slinged its way to the Best Animated Feature Oscar, the origin story of Miles Morales felt like a breath of fresh air in a landscape of CGI animation that often feels increasingly lifeless as it strives for absolute photorealism. Hollywood's biggest animation houses had become so preoccupied with making their fantastical characters feel lifelike that they'd forgotten this was a medium with few restrictions — why opt for lifelike when you could make a comic book come to life?

Four years later, the effects the film has had on the industry are only just taking effect. Pixar recently incorporated the visual stylings of hand-drawn anime (such as character facial expressions getting pushed to their absolute emotional extremes) for the charming "Turning Red" and delivered their best film in years. Now it's DreamWorks' turn to shake up their standard approach to CGI animation with "The Bad Guys," a delightful crime comedy whose visual style is also directly inspired by comic books, its character designs created to look like illustrations who have just leapt off the page.

Like nothing DreamWorks has done before

First-time director Pierre Perifel has spoken in depth about how happy he was when "Spider-Verse" shook up the status quo of CGI animation and he cites it as a key influence on his style — although the comic books he's pulling from to bring to life are the French and Belgian ones he grew up with (everything from Tintin to Asterix), not superhero adventures. It's part of the reason "The Bad Guys" never feels like a rival studio's attempt to imitate a groundbreaking choice that paid off for someone else; its visuals feel every bit as fresh and innovative as the film it's taking the lead from.

Adapted from Aaron Blabey's series of children's books, the film is self-described by the director as "Tarantino for kids," and opens with a "Pulp Fiction" homage to prove it. We're introduced to Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) the ringleader of the titular crime gang, who have terrorized Los Angeles by pulling off a string of successful bank heists — if it's still screening in a theater near you, this would indeed make a great double bill with Michael Bay's "Ambulance." Wolf and his associates Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), and Ms. Tarantula ( Awkwafina ) are in the midst of plotting their biggest heist yet, stealing the Golden Dolphin award given to the person named the city's most model citizen. After news articles stating that they've lost their edge, seizing the award during the ceremony would prove they're still at the top of their game.

But the mission doesn't go as planned, and in a desperate bid to avoid jail time, Wolf agrees to a plan put forward by the award's recipient, Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade): they will learn how to become good. Although this story has all the twists and turns you'd expect from a child-friendly riff on the "Ocean's" movies, its obvious, kid-friendly moral about becoming a responsible person is always in clear sight. But even this feels slightly anarchic when placed next to your typical Disney moral, instructing kids of the all important message of not trusting anybody who presents themselves as holier-than-thou, because basic kindness isn't something to be weaponized. The way it highlights which characters are actually a force for good despite their appearances might be the ultimate takedown of Paddington Bear's "if you're kind and polite, the world will be right" worldview.

A heist homage that doesn't rob all of its ideas

The film does, however, suffer from the same problem that has plagued DreamWorks films since the studio made its debut with "Antz" in 1998. Whereas a studio like Pixar tailors their screenplays so audiences of all ages can enjoy the humor, DreamWorks movies often fall back on the lazy technique of balancing lowbrow gags for the kids with random pop culture references the parents dragged along with them can enjoy. Despite opening with a "Pulp Fiction" homage and wearing its heist movie influences on its sleeve, this isn't as much of a problem here as usual; but every now and again, a reference to (for example) George Clooney will come up and feel entirely awkward in its placement in a child-friendly adventure. It's particularly distracting because this could easily be enjoyed by audiences of all ages without having to resort to cheap throwaway gags to satisfy any adults in the audience.

But this is a minor distraction in what is otherwise the studio's best effort since its first "How to Train Your Dragon" sequel in 2014. This in itself is a surprise, considering that the films and directors it's paying homage to (from Tarantino and Soderbergh to Guy Ritchie) have been imitated so much that even the parodies of their films are frequently obvious and insufferable. It's hard not to groan a little at the initial "Pulp Fiction" homage, and the fact the character names feel designed to recall those of the ill-fated bank robbers in "Reservoir Dogs." It is no small feat that the film manages to overcome these significant limitations — in very few moments was I actually thinking about the live-action films which inspired it, or the countless terrible films that have tried to pay tribute to them across the last 30 years.

Could this all be down to the vibrant animation style? Many of the crime movie inspirations are noted for their mix of gritty violence and dark comedy, whereas "The Bad Guys" subverts genre expectations only in terms of sheer playfulness. If you showed this to a lover of those '90s and early noughts heist movies, they likely wouldn't dismiss it out of hand; it never feels like a parody so much as it feels like an attempt to do something new with a type of crime story that's grown increasingly stale. It's not just the animation style that feels fresh here.

"The Bad Guys" is much more than just a new generation's introduction to the heist movie. Pierre Perifel's directorial debut signals the arrival of a talented new voice in animation, who has helped create something that truly stands apart from the rest of DreamWorks' output. I can't wait to see what he does next.

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The bad guys: 10 major differences between the movie and the books.

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I'm Still Disappointed Tom Holland's $30 Million Box Office Bomb Didn't Amount To More

Next monsterverse movie after godzilla x kong gets release date, forget robert eggers' 2024 remake - there is already a nosferatu movie better than the 102-year-old original.

The Bad Guys , released April 22, 2022, remained a family box-office favorite for several weeks after opening. The animated feature film has something for everyone as it brings together elements of humor, deception, light romance, and fun.

Viewers may not realize DreamWork’s latest project is based on a children’s book series. Written by Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys books follow the intimidating animals as they work to improve their image and encounter several obstacles along the way. Like with every book-to-film adaptation, there are many changes made to the original story.

No Significant Cop Character

Police Chief Luggins points forward accusingly in The Bad Guys

The Bad Guys movie introduces Police Chief Misty Luggins, a cop who makes it her goal to catch the bad guys. In the books, there was no significant cop character. The public as a whole doesn’t like the men and this creates enough conflict as is until Marmalade’s introduction in the third book.

Related: Everything The Firestarter Remake Changed From The Stephen King Book

This movie is all about deception. Given Marmalade’s true intentions aren’t known in the first half of the film, the Police Chief offers audiences an antagonist to root against. The inclusion of the character also helps bring an extra layer of humor to the film, as the Chief has a loud and spunky personality.

Tiffany Fluffit Is A Cat

Tiffany from The Bad Guys movie holds a microphone in an image of Tiffany from the books

The film brings Tiffany Fluffit, a character from the original series, to life. She is very similar to her character in the books, except for one obvious detail: In The Bad Guys , Tiffany is a cat. In fact, there are seldom any human characters in the book, whereas almost everyone besides the main gang is human in the movie.

There are several amazing animal movies out there , but adding humans to the cast may have been DreamWorks’ way to guarantee audiences see themselves in the film. It’s also possible they opted for this species change so that the main characters would stand out from others. As for Tiffany Fluffit, she becomes a main character in the books later on. For the movie, however, she remains a supporting character.

Webs Is Legs

Webs has her headset on in The Bad Guys next to an image of Legs from the books scaring Shark

Webs is a tarantula and the tech master of the group. She has great hacking skills that she admittedly learned from watching YouTube. The spider’s purpose in the book is the same as in the film adaptation, however, the source material presents a tarantula who’s a male and goes by the name Legs.

Related: Awkwafina’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked According To IMDb

Legs isn’t introduced until the second book, but his presence isn’t any less important to the series. The movie changes his name and gender, likely in an effort to promote diversity and avoid the negative connotations which may come with a character named Legs. It was also fun to see Ms. Tarantula and Diane Foxington connect during the final chase scene.

Fox Stays Out Of The Public Eye

A sketch of Agent Fox from The Bad Guys Books is next to an image of Diane Foxington in the movie

In the movie, Governor Foxington is a strong and clever woman with a secret past as a thief by the name of the Crimson Paw. She’s one of the most likable characters in The Bad Guys . In the books, the fox does not hold any public position of authority and her name isn’t Diane but Ellen. She is a reformed criminal and a part of a female group of super spies.

For one brief scene in the books, a Supreme Court justice named Diane is introduced, but her character is a chicken. It almost seems like the writers of the movie merged Diane and Ellen into one character. The decision to give the fox a position of power may have been made to make for a cool plot twist later on when the Crimson Paw’s identity is revealed.

Zombie Kittens, Not Guinea Pigs

Snake stands at an open door with a belly stuffed with guinea pigs next to a sketch of zittens from The Bad Guys books

The animated film sees an evil Marmalade use his latest invention, made with the power of a space rock, to gain control of all the guinea pigs in the city. In the books, Marmalade chooses to possess kittens instead, ordering them to attack and devour everyone in their path. He does this to distract the Good Guys Club while he escapes.

In both instances, Marmalade controls the minds of creatures usually associated with cuteness. The change from kittens to guinea pigs in the movie may have occurred to give Snake one of his most iconic scenes from the book, in which he excitedly volunteers to save chickens from captivity. He only agrees to do it because he wants to eat the chickens, rather than let them go.

Wolf Needs No Help Wanting To Be Good

A sketch of the Wolf from the books is next to an image of the Wolf from The Bad Guys movie

In the movie, Wolf and his friends start as villains with zero intent to change their ways. It isn’t until he stops an old lady from falling, that he gets a taste of the good life. In the books, however, his reasoning for wanting to be a good guy isn’t given. From the very first page, his mind is made up. All he has to do is convince his pals.

Related: 10 Movie Villains That Were Actually Good

This change was most likely necessary to the film’s success. Because of it, the cinematic Wolf is given more internal conflict and the opportunity for great character development. It also sets up the plot of deception orchestrated by Marmalade, as his plans to frame the bad guys led to Wolf’s idea to fake being good and all the manipulation that comes afterward.

Marmalade Was Never A “Good Guy”

A sketch of Marmalade from the books overlays an image of Marmade stepping out of a limo in The Bad Guys movie

The film introduces Marmalade as a good guy. About halfway through the movie, unsuspecting viewers witness a major plot twist when his villainy is revealed. In the books, the gang meets Marmalade after freeing chickens from captivity, not knowing that he was the owner of the facility. He quickly shows his true colors, enacting revenge on the group.

As already mentioned, this film is all about deception. Because Marmalade is a cute guinea pig, the public plays into stereotypes and assumes he is a good guy. Unfortunately, their assumptions here couldn’t be more wrong. The books also have twists and turns that surprise readers, but this isn’t one of them. Marmalade is introduced as and remains a bad guy throughout the whole series.

Marmalade stands in front of his space rock lamp in The Bad Guys Movie next to an image of Marmalade as an alien on the back cover of one of The Bad Guys books

While Marmalade never hides his villainy in the comics, he does have a deep secret that comes to light at the end of the fifth book. Simply speaking, Marmalade is not a guinea pig. He’s an alien disguised as a guinea pig to blend in on Earth.

Everyone who has seen the movie knows there was never even a hint that Marmalade was an alien. There were nods to space with the heart-shaped meteor, but it seems clear that the version of the character depicted in the movie isn’t of extra-terrestrial background.

No Heart-Shaped Space Rock

An sketch of an alien with “butt hands” from The Bad Guys book next to an image of the heart-shaped meteor lamp in the movie

In the movie, Marmalade uses the energy from a heart-shaped space rock to power his evil invention that controls all the guinea pigs in the world. He possesses them to steal money raised at his own fundraising gala. In the book, there is no space rock. Marmalade uses a separate invention to take control of the kittens.

The rock in the film, as well as its lamp replica, is an important plot device. Many authors despise movies based on their books , but Blabey seems to enjoy it, admitting that the film is based loosely on the first four books . Even so, the shape of the rock may be a nod to the sixth book where Piranha questions the hands of Marmalade’s true form, which appear to be butt-shaped.

Time Travel And Super Powers

The Bad Guys main characters driving a car in a chase at the beginning of the movie

Anyone who thinks aliens are a silly addition to the comics may be even more bewildered to learn that time travel and superhero abilities become a part of later books. Neither of these science fiction elements is present in the film.

It’s most likely a good thing DreamWorks omitted these extra plot points. The film is already complex and full of great storylines. Adding another subplot could have ruined the story the film is trying to tell. Anything could happen in the future though, especially since DreamWorks loves to keep their popular franchises going as long as possible.

NEXT: 10 Exciting Upcoming DreamWorks Projects To Look Out For After The Bad Guys

The Bad Guys (2022)

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The Bad Guys Review, Animal Criminals Galore

Posted by sabrina192000 | May 5, 2024 | Movies

The Bad Guys (2022) is an animated comedy movie by Dreamworks and directed by Pierre Perifel. It features five criminals, Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mrs. Tarantula (Awkwafina), and Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos).

They perform robberies and heists and call themselves The Bad Guys. However, things change when they’re caught during the Golden Dolphin heist, one every criminal before them failed to do. They’re about to be taken to prison when Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade) approaches them and the governor, Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz), and makes a deal. Marmalade, the guinea pig named the best person of the year, proposes that he’ll rehabilitate the bad guys to become good. Diane allows this chance for the bad guys to change their ways,

However, the crew is only pretending as a means to get out of trouble. Things change when Wolf goes along with the plan, but decides he wants to genuinely become good. The bad guys, after some time, attend a show with Marmalade declaring them good guys, but the plan is to steal the Golden Dolphin Award. At the last minute, Wolf doesn’t go through with the plan, but another object of importance is stolen, the love meteor. They get framed for this heist and thrown into prison.

Diane then shows up at the prison, dressed as the notorious criminal whose identity has never been revealed, The Crimson Paw. Wolf sides with her once they break out, planning to retrieve the meteor from Marmalade, who was the mastermind behind the heist. The others go against Wolf, not understanding why he wants to be good, and part ways.

Most of the gang has a change of heart, but Snake goes to team up with Marmalade. It’s revealed later that Snake was tricking Marmalade in order to foil his plans. The gang stops Marmalade but still goes to prison to honestly rehabilitate and come out as better people. Marmalade tries to expose Diane as the Crimson Paw but is implicated as the infamous criminal himself and taken away to prison.

The gang spends a year in prison and comes out making an honest change to their lives. Diane picks them up and they ride off into the sunset.

Thoughts on the Film

I had meant to get around to this movie, seeing how much praise it received when it first came out. I thoroughly enjoyed it once I finally did! It’s a funny family-friendly film that anyone can enjoy. It even has a thoughtful message about preconceived notions about people. It’s a good ol’ ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ type of tale. It reminded me of Disney’s Zootopia in 2016. Even so, it’s a great standalone movie despite some plot similarities with Zootopia , like the bad guy turned good, a usually docile animal turned into the main villain.

The animation is also fun and eye-catching. While not as stylized as another Dreamworks movie that came out the same year, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish , it still stands out. The fight and heist scenes are fun, the characters are interesting enough to follow and display real growth. The soundtrack and music are a great time as well.

My one complaint and it’s simply a nitpick, but I don’t find fart jokes to be very funny. They’re an outdated comedy crutch that some family-friendly movies still cling to. However, it’s only a few and doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the film.

The Bad Guys is a fun movie that any family can sit down and enjoy together, with good messages for children to take away and good action. I recommend you check it out with your family or even by yourself. It reminds me of movies I enjoyed as a kid where it’s good fun, and I think we need more of those in the media again.

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About The Author

sabrina192000

I'm an aspiring writer with a Bachelor of Arts in English! I love books, anime, and my cat, Sprout!

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The Bad Guys Parent Guide

This is a fun, clever, exciting heist movie with a surprising message about the intrinsic rewards of making good moral choices..

Theaters: In this animated comedy, a group of criminals try to become good, but things don't work out quite the way they expect.

Release date April 22, 2022

Run Time: 100 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by savannah sillito.

The Bad Guys are a notorious gang of criminals with a knack for pulling off successful heists. One day their luck turns and Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Snake (Marc Maron), Shark (Craig Robinson), Tarantula (Awkwafina), and Piranha (Anthony Ramos), get caught in a heist gone wrong. To stay out of prison, they must convince the leaders of their city that they can turn over a new leaf and become good. With no intention of actually reforming, the gang start taking “goodness lessons” from the altruistic Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), but they soon discover that doing good might actually feel better than being bad.

I worked at my city’s public library for a little while, and I can tell you that it was impossible to keep The Bad Guys graphic novels on the shelves. I don’t think I ever worked a shift without at least one child asking me if we had any copies left. When an incredibly popular book series gets turned into a movie, I get nervous. I grew up in the age of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and those horrible live-action Dr. Seuss adaptations, so I know first-hand how badly these cinematic ventures can turn out. Even though I haven’t read the source material for this film, I can tell that it is a fantastic adaptation. My theater was packed full of kids, and I overheard many of them talking about how much they enjoyed the film.

Outside of that, The Bad Guys is a fun, clever, exciting heist movie. My love of heist films is well documented, so I was very excited to find a kid-friendly take on the genre that is worth watching. I laughed, I was surprised by the twists, and I got emotionally invested in the character arcs. There are lots of fun set pieces, clever jokes, and some deeper messages about biases, stereotypes, and the intrinsic value of doing good things. My five-year-old told me on the drive home that it is “good to be good”, which is worth the price of admission.

For a heist story, The Bad Guys is as close to being free of objectionable content as I think it’s possible to be. Of course, there’s some fighting and a bit of peril, but it’s all done with a comedic tone that prevents any real scariness or aggression. I will point out that there are a lot of fart and butt jokes, which got a few eye rolls from me but a lot of laughs from the kids. The fantastic performances and positive messages more than made up for that potty humor, in my opinion. For a film all about being bad, it sure ends up being good.

About author

Savannah sillito, watch the trailer for the bad guys.

The Bad Guys Rating & Content Info

Why is The Bad Guys rated PG? The Bad Guys is rated PG by the MPAA for action and rude humor

Violence: There is comedic heist-related slapstick violence throughout including car chases, explosions, and martial arts fights. A character is hit by a car but is not injured. A character is hit on the head with a heavy object and knocked unconscious. Two characters are briefly dangled over sharp spinning blades. An animal tries to eat some other animals. Sexual Content: None. Profanity: There is a single mild expletive and some insults such as “weirdo” and “sucker”. Alcohol / Drug Use: At fancy galas, characters are seen holding champagne and martini glasses, although it is never specified that the drinks are alcoholic.

Page last updated January 13, 2024

The Bad Guys Parents' Guide

How does Wolf feel when he does good things for other people? Have you ever felt like that? Why do The Bad Guys feel like they have to be bad? How do other people see them? What are some ways that that stereotyping happens in real life?

Loved this movie? Try these books…

This movie is based on the graphic novel series of the same name, The Bad Guys, by Aaron Blabey. With well over a dozen books in print, there’s plenty for your kids to savor.

Elementary school aged readers looking for silly fun can try Cyndi Marko’s Kung Pow Chicken series. It begins with Let’s Get Cracking!

Dav Pilkey, best known for his Captain Underpants series, is also the creator of Dog Man . Designed to make kids laugh, the books feature a canine/human hybrid who works as a police officer, trying to keep his community safe from comic mayhem.

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