'The Bad Guys 2' Review: Furry Felons Are Back and Still Hilariously Misunderstood

The Bad Guys 2

In theaters

Voice Cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Zazzie Beatz, Craig Robinson & more

Directed by: Pierre Perifel

Rating - ***1/2 (3.5/5)

It has been a surprisingly rewarding week at the movies. When you find yourself laughing out loud while watching a film, and for all the right reasons, that feeling becomes cinema's most gratifying reward. That is exactly the kind of payoff The Bad Guys 2 delivers. A sequel to the 2022 surprise hit The Bad Guys, this film may be a major DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures release on paper, but it doesn’t quite fall into the same polished cabinet where legacy animated titles like Inside Out, Toy Story, or Shrek are routinely dusted off and placed on pedestals.

But honestly, none of that matters when you are watching the film unfold. This is not the kind of animated sequel that is padded with heavy dollars or over-calculated creative strategy. What it is, however, is proof that even without an exorbitant budget in the range of 150 to 200 million dollars, you can still whip up imaginative storytelling that carves out a world worth visiting again and again. Studios love nothing more than creating franchises and universes these days. And The Bad Guys 2 is a franchise that seems to have comfortably found its groove.

Legends on the Sidelines: The Great Retirement Phase

Right from the opening minutes, we are reintroduced to the iconic and hilariously flawed crew. The lovable "bad guys" are in full action mode, now regarded as legends in the world of slick, stylish heists. The missions? Not necessarily to loot or score riches, but to make a statement. They plan heists that feel more like power plays than criminal endeavours. However, all of this is quickly revealed to be five years in the past.

We jump forward and land in a rather unexpected zone. The once-dashing crew is now retired. Yes, fully retired. Not on a beach sipping coconuts, but attempting the mundane civilian life. They are desperately searching for stable jobs, grappling with a reality that, frankly, they are quite unfit for. Whether it is their not-so-clean rap sheet or just their larger-than-life personalities, finding employment proves to be a disaster. Eviction notices, unpaid bills, final warnings and deadlines loom, but somehow they still hold out on returning to their wicked ways.

Identity Theft Meets Existential Crisis

At least, until a copycat gang arrives and starts impersonating their signature heist style. And suddenly, the world begins whispering again. Are the bad guys back? Are they behind this new wave of clever crimes? The original crew is forced to confront their retired status, not because they miss the thrill, but because someone is stealing their thunder. That’s when the inevitable happens. They become bad again, but this time, for noble reasons. If that sounds familiar, well, that’s the point. This film isn’t trying to hide its predictability. Instead, it leans into it, makes a joke of it, and then owns it with a level of self-awareness that becomes part of the fun.

The trajectory from good to bad to somewhere in-between is not just a character arc. It is a full-blown existential crisis wrapped in comic timing and propelled by ludicrous situations. The new crew of villains they must face off against are not just any antagonists. They are stylish, formidable and carry an air of menace that makes the confrontation genuinely exciting. And naturally, the stakes grow exponentially larger as the plot veers into global threat territory. Cue the ridiculous gadgets, high-speed chases, mistaken identities and a few jaw-dropping moments that are part action-movie parody, part heartfelt tribute.

Voice Cast That Packs a Punch

Like always, the soul of any animated adventure lies heavily in the strength of its voice cast. And this is where The Bad Guys 2 truly roars. Sam Rockwell brings effortless charisma and emotional depth to the Wolf, his baritone voice practically dripping with swagger. Marc Maron’s Snake is as grizzly and dry-humored as ever, while Craig Robinson infuses Shark with boundless playfulness and a touch of heart that feels surprisingly endearing. Zazie Beetz adds a layer of poise and quiet intensity as Governor Diane, while Danielle Brooks is absolutely delightful as Kitty Kat, offering a devilish turn that makes her a memorable addition. And of course, there is Awkwafina, who once again turns Webs into a wonderfully eccentric hacker whose frantic energy somehow always lands right.

You can feel the commitment of the actors through the screen. They are not merely reading lines. They are breathing personality into creatures that otherwise would have risked becoming one-note caricatures. The work they put in ensures that every quirk, every reaction and every punchline hits its mark.

Writing That Winks, Direction That Dares

Credit also goes to the writing team of Yoni Brenner and the ever-reliable Etan Cohen. The screenplay builds on the absurdity of the world with just the right touch of heart. The duo weaves moments of genuine emotion into a plot that is often as bonkers as it is brilliant. There is chaos everywhere, but the kind that is finely choreographed to feel organic. The humor lands more often than not, and the jokes are crafted to work for both kids and the parents dragged along with them. There is even a running gag about motivational podcasts and online therapy sessions that ends up being funnier than it has any right to be.

What elevates this sequel further is the direction of Pierre Perifel. Having delivered a sensational first installment, Perifel returns with even more confidence this time. He is not here to reintroduce characters or build foundations all over again. He knows the audience is already on board. That allows him to go bigger, both in scale and in ideas. He takes the liberty to get weirder, to move faster, and to embrace the zany chaos that animated films often try too hard to avoid. Here, that chaos is the charm.

A Messy but Earned Send-off

The emotional beats are cleverly positioned, never too heavy-handed but just sincere enough to make you invest. There is something oddly touching about watching these so-called villains trying to fit into a world they once rebelled against. You begin to root for them, not just as underdogs, but as sincere misfits. They mess up, they learn, and they mess up again, but you are with them every step of the way.

That said, not everything works. The film loses some steam in its final act. The last half-hour tilts into indulgence. There is a noticeable sense of overstuffing, as if the makers wanted to wrap up three different endings at once. The message, about moral greyness and finding purpose beyond labels, becomes a little too loud, too soon. And because you already sense how things might unfold, the final stretch does not land with the same impact. The twists feel more obligatory than earned, and the stakes, while visually impressive, feel emotionally thin.

A Finale That Feels Like a Beginning

But these are minor blemishes on an otherwise shiny coat. The Bad Guys 2 delivers what few sequels manage to do. It maintains the essence of what made the original work, and then builds something even more playful on top of it. It is laugh-out-loud funny in parts, charming throughout, and sneakily insightful when you least expect it.

And then there is the way it sets up a third installment. No tacky cliffhangers or post-credit bait. Instead, it cleverly sows the seeds of a new chapter within the actual story, in a way that feels earned and exciting. The final few moments are a lesson in how to build anticipation without compromising the closure of the current story. It is refreshing to see a sequel that doesn’t just tease the next film, but genuinely earns the audience's curiosity for more.

All in all, The Bad Guys 2 is a sequel that comfortably escapes the curse of mediocrity. It brings its A-game not through inflated spectacle but through smart choices, impeccable voice work and a director who is clearly having the time of his life. Whether you are five or fifty, you are likely to walk out smiling, quoting lines and maybe even wondering if being bad is really that bad after all.

And if this crew does return for round three, you know what, count us in.