The Bad Guys (2022) Review

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

The balance of good and bad can be a complicated thing because it’s all about finding the difference of them both as each day goes by. As long as you know which is which, you’re doing just fine. 


PLOT


Based on Aaron Blabley’s book series written for children, The Bad Guys follows a titular gang of talking animals that are skilled criminals. The group includes: master pickpocket Mister Wolf, safecracker Mister Snake, expert hacker Miss Tarantula aka Webs, master of disguise Mister Shark and loose cannon Mister Piranha. With Governor Diane Foxington calling out their predictability after another brazen robbery, the gang intends to top themselves by stealing the Golden Dolphin award. During an escape however, Wolf felt conflicted in assisting an elderly woman, which gets the gang caught and arrested. Guinea pig philanthropist Professor Rupert Marmalade IV, the award’s recipient convinces Foxington to give them a chance to change their ways, which Wolf takes advantage of hoping to steal the award again. They seem to prove their inner good when rescuing guinea pigs from a research lab and Wolf genuinely saving a cat from the tree, but Snake worries his friend is losing sight of the plan. At a charity gala is where the Bad Guys try stealing the award again, but Wolf actually considers committing to reform. Instead, a meteorite is stolen and they are blamed for it. Out of guilt, Wolf gives the governor the location of past stolen loot. On the way to prison, Marmalade reveals he orchestrated everything from posing as an elderly woman, stealing the meteorite and framing them all for it. In prison, Wolf & Snake debate on if their lives could be ever become better if they commit to being good. They don’t come to a resolution due to being saved by Foxington herself, who happens to former criminal mastermind, the Crimson Paw. Wolf agrees to help get back the meteorite, but the others prefer going back to the hideout, leaving them devastated that their loot is taken. Snake would then show kindness to Shark by giving him the Push Pop, only to walk away in denial that they can have a better life being good. Wolf & Foxington try getting the meteorite back before being foiled by Snake who reveals to be Marmalade’s double agent, planning to use it against the rescue guinea pigs for mind control and have them rob charity funds throughout the city. The rest of Wolf’s team catches up to help them take it back to the police, but Wolf surrenders when Maramlade selfishly pushes Snake off the helicopter. Before Diane can defend the others, Snake reveals to have faked defection and swapped the meteorite with a replica lamp, which he quickly destroys to expose the guinea pig, also framing him as Crimson Paw. Back on the same page with Marmalade arrested and Diane on their side, the film ends with Wolf revealing he left  the Push Pop to prove there was good in Snake, which they intend to embrace together from now on.


THOUGHTS


It’s fair to compare Dreamworks to Walt Disney because most of their animated flicks are based on kids books that become just as popular as what came out before the new century. The only difference is that they do a better job capitalizing a new IP until they milk the cow too much. For the first of new trends of the decade, Director Pierre Perifel is able to make something so fun that it fits into the mold because the animation is quite dazzling. It’s so different from the studio has done before because it gives the right designs for a lifelike setting from what the kids expected from the book series. It knows when to get wacky and once those sessions start, you’re in for a blast. I mean you know you can’t take it serious when a shark fools everyone with disguises, a snake having a big appetite or a piranha being gassier than a pig. Heck, even a swarm of guinea pigs can be a shot that’s either intimidating or just plain crazy you respect it anyway. Puttting aside the few laughs that kicked in very well, the whole point of this movie really brings a fair case of teaching kids how important it is to give chances to those you wouldn’t expect because there is no point to judge those you presume/stereotype. Yes, the Bad Guys come off not the brightest, but that’s just because others told them that is all they’ll amount to when that’s not true. The way these characters have the chance to do more than what they intended is moving and each one was a standout in their own way. From the top, Sam Rockwell makes Wolf is the first of individuals that leaves a better impression because behind his wit is one who was waiting for a change after years of embracing a reputation that never needed to be. Marmalade may have manipulated the face turn, but he definitely didn’t expect it to work the way it would since Wolf committed to doing right from then on. In the midst of it, he found an ally he never thought to be an equal. Zazie Beetz was cool as Diane because she matches the fearlessness and she helps Wolf out because she saw herself in him wanting to make an appropriate change. Being Crimson Paw was fun for her, but she knew there was more to life than living one sided. Had she not revealed her past, it’s hard to know if commitment to change would’ve been possible for the others. What I enjoyed most of Shark is that despite being sensitive, Craig Robinson makes him a gentle giant when not taking action. Anthony Ramos was a delight as Piranha because he matches that facade due to having such innocence when the job is done. And Awkwafina makes Webs likable due to being the most focused compared to the others, especially when she’s got all resources at hand. However, Marc Meron shook things up for real with Snake because he was skeptical into thinking they can change for the better. While mostly skeptical, he shares the loyalty they all embrace despite playing things close to the chest, which is something hard to cherish when surrounded by chaos everyday. I also got to give a shoutout to Alex Borstein who made Chief of Police Misty Luggins hilarious due to being too fiery for her own good that she constantly lets her temper get the best of her compared to the Bad Guys. At least she got her moment arresting the true enemy. Last but not least, the theme to not judge a book by the cover is quite essential when revealing the betrayal of Marmalade because although he appeared, Richard Ayoade voices the character to be most manipulative within that he’s willing to use his own kind to do his bidding after taking advantage of those who actually had temptations of doing better before committing to it. Had he not reveled his true intentions, it’s a given he would’ve gotten away with it. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t stop him from being a recurring threat. This movie is quite fun, but good stuff like this leads to a handful of confusing moments upon rewatching. For instance, how sure was Piranha gonna know which stall the waiter was gonna use before subduing him? That was way too much luck on his side to figure out let alone logical compare to the rest of the story. Moving on, I don't understand how the security system detects the ring that lands on the award, but doesn't even alert anyone what happened. I mean the Bad Guys would've been stopped way sooner if that had happened. There was also no point for Wolf to be allowed to plea for a chance of redemption just when Misty is about to rightfully send him to prison. I know the whole point of this is about redemption and there needs to be a excuse for the Bad Guys to have that chance, but it would've been more believable if Marmalade bailed them out the next day before setting up the intent to frame them. While I know Misty is determined to stop them all, it is too dumb of a visual gag for her to put Snake in a handcuff necklace rather than instantly put him in a cage of some sort. And there was no reason for a guard to not be present when the Bad Guys are sat together when they plan pretending to be good. I mean Misty could've been there if she wants to take them down so bad. I can put up with most of the comedy on how dimwitted humans are, but it's kinda crazy no one hears Marmalade instructing the Bad Guys how they'll save the other guinea pigs. The same can be said on how Snake & Marmalade are still able to hear the gang begging the former to come back to the fold for good. Also, how come only guinea pigs are affected by the mind control? If Marmalade wanted a great army to do his bidding, he could've gotten more than one animal species involved to control. Other than that, this movie is still worthwhile. In short, The Bad Guys deserves the same amount of respect as past animated Dreamworks hits due to having the new batch of spice to keep new generations of audiences to tune in. If animation is your jam, check this out.