The Bad Guys (2022) Movie Review

“The Bad Guys” is an animated comedy film that begins with easy and breezy laughs, radiating Southern California cool. In a retro L.A. diner, a wolf named Wolf and a snake named Snake engage in snappy banter that we quickly become enthralled with. They push and pull, jostle and tug, all in good-natured fashion. The duo has probably had countless conversations like this over their years of friendship. But then, they do something unexpected - 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, drawing us into the characters and the world that they inhabit. 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 furry, scaly version of Quentin Tarantino or Elmore Leonard, aspires to be clever, but the film also brings something new to the table. It tells the story of charming criminals who thrive on their reputation as the villains of the animal kingdom for thrills and profit. Based on the kids’ graphic novel series by Aaron Blabey, “The Bad Guys” boasts a star-studded voice cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Zazie Beetz, and Awkwafina.

Wolf, the charismatic leader of the group, is voiced by a smooth Rockwell, with unmistakable shades of Danny Ocean. 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.)

The story takes a turn when the group gets 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) 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, and also happens to share a playful flirtation with Wolf. However, Wolf’s scheme is for the Bad Guys to pretend they’ve become good guys to trick everyone and remain bad.

The animation is colorful and lively, with almost incessant physical comedy. The most inspired physical comedy is when it subtly toys with the natural instincts of these anthropomorphized creatures. For example, the way Snake sheds his skin mid-heist or how Tarantula walks across a fingerprinting pad when the gang gets booked into jail. For a big chunk of the film, we 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.

As the story progresses, the audience sees the Bad Guys try to clean up their act, but not without complications. The group faces a series of obstacles and setbacks as they attempt to turn their lives around. One particularly hilarious scene involves Shark trying to disguise himself as a human, complete with a fake mustache, only to be caught by a little girl who identifies him as a shark.

The film's humor often relies on silly gags and puns, but it's the performances of the talented voice cast that elevate the material. Sam Rockwell delivers a smooth and charismatic performance as Wolf, bringing a sense of coolness and charm to the character. Marc Maron's gravelly voice adds a touch of world-weariness to Snake, while Awkwafina brings her trademark sass and quick wit to the role of Tarantula. Richard Ayoade's perky performance as Professor Marmalade provides a nice contrast to the more cynical Bad Guys.

Despite its flaws, "The Bad Guys" has some interesting things to say about the nature of redemption and the importance of not judging others based on their appearances. The film also has a surprisingly dark edge, with some intense action scenes and a few moments that might be too scary for younger viewers.

Overall, "The Bad Guys" is a fun and entertaining animated comedy with a talented voice cast and a sun-baked Southern California vibe. While the film's humor can be hit or miss, it has enough energy and charm to keep audiences engaged. The animation is colorful and lively, and the physical comedy is at its most inspired when it plays with the natural instincts of the animal characters. While it may not reach the heights of some of the classic heist movies it pays homage to, "The Bad Guys" is a fun and enjoyable ride for kids and adults alike.