What’s It About

Reformed criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are trying very hard to be good. However, they soon find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes heist that’s masterminded by a new team of delinquents they never saw coming — the Bad Girls.

 MOVIESinMO REVIEW

DreamWorks just dropped another winner, and honestly, it’s pretty amazing how they keep pulling this off. The Bad Guys 2 takes everything that worked in the first movie and cranks it up to eleven. This isn’t just another lazy sequel thrown together to make quick cash. Nope, nope, nope. This movie actually tries, and boy, does it succeed. Right from the opening scene, you know you’re in for something special. The gang pulls off this crazy heist in Cairo that looks like it jumped straight out of a James Bond movie, except with talking animals and way more laughs. Mr. Wolf, voiced perfectly by Sam Rockwell, sounds exactly like George Clooney would if he decided to become a cartoon criminal. The whole chase scene feels wild and exciting, setting up the story’s main theme right away. Here’s the thing about redemption stories—they’re everywhere, but most of them stink. The Bad Guys 2 doesn’t stink. Actually, it smells pretty good. The movie asks a simple question that hits hard: Can bad people really change? Mr. Wolf and his crew, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Mr. Piranha, and Ms. Tarantula, are trying their absolute best to go straight after their criminal past. Problem is, nobody wants to hire ex-criminals, even if they’re really, truly sorry. Then boom! Enter the Bad Girls. These three female villains, led by Kitty Kat, shake everything up. Kitty isn’t just mean—she’s smart, dangerous, and has a plan that involves stealing all the gold on Earth using a spaceship. Yeah, you read that right. A spaceship. The plot gets wild fast, but somehow it all makes sense in this cartoon world where animals wear clothes and crack safes. What makes this sequel shine bright, bright, is how it handles its comedy. Sure, there are fart jokes—plenty of them—but there’s also clever writing that adults will totally get. The movie throws references to classic heist films like confetti at a party. You’ll spot nods to movies like The Italian Job and Reservoir Dogs, but done with such style that even kids who don’t catch the references will laugh at the action. The animation deserves serious praise. Every single frame looks incredible, like someone took a graphic novel and brought it to life. Colors pop off the screen, and the character movements feel smooth and natural. When the gang blasts off into space—and trust me, that sequence will blow your mind—the visuals become absolutely stunning. DreamWorks clearly spent serious money and time making this movie look fantastic. Voice acting hits all the right notes, too. Sam Rockwell returns as Mr. Wolf with that perfect mix of charm and attitude. Marc Maron brings his dry humor to Mr. Snake, while Awkwafina makes Ms. Tarantula the coolest character in the whole movie. The new additions work great, too. Danielle Brooks voices Kitty Kat with just the right amount of threat and sass, and Natasha Lyonne brings her unique style to Doom, one of the Bad Girls. But let’s talk about the real heart of this movie. Underneath all the explosions, car chases, and comedy beats, The Bad Guys 2 cares about friendship and second chances. These characters genuinely want to be better, even when the world keeps pushing them back toward crime. That struggle feels real, even in a cartoon about talking animals. The pacing moves fast—maybe too fast sometimes. Kids might struggle to keep up with all the plot twists and turns. The story jumps between double-crosses, secret identities, and complicated schemes that even adults might find confusing. Some dialogue tries too hard to be clever and ends up feeling forced. But these problems don’t ruin the overall experience. Director Pierre Perifel clearly knows his stuff. He takes inspiration from everywhere—anime, heist movies, action films—and blends them into something that feels fresh and exciting. The movie never takes itself too seriously, which keeps everything fun and light even when the stakes get high. One thing that really stands out is how the movie treats its female characters. The Bad Girls aren’t just evil versions of the Bad Guys. They have their own personalities, motivations, and styles. Kitty Kat especially feels like a fully developed character with her own agenda, not just an obstacle for the heroes to overcome. The movie also explores themes about judgment and prejudice in ways that kids can understand. People see these characters as monsters because of how they look and what they’ve done before. Sound familiar? The movie doesn’t beat you over the head with its message, but it’s definitely there for those paying attention. Technical stuff aside, The Bad Guys 2 just works as entertainment. It moves fast, looks great, and keeps you laughing throughout its runtime. Adults won’t feel like they’re suffering through a kids’ movie, and children will love the colorful characters and silly humor. That balance is harder to achieve than it looks. The ending sets up another sequel, which honestly sounds pretty exciting after watching this one. If DreamWorks keeps improving like this, The Bad Guys could become one of their major franchises alongside Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon. Bottom line? The Bad Guys 2 delivers exactly what it promises—a fun, fast, funny adventure that respects both its characters and its audience. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely good enough to recommend. Sometimes that’s all you need from a sequel: proof that the creators still care about telling a good story instead of just cashing checks. This movie earns its spot as a solid 8 out of 10. It’s entertaining, well-made, and actually has something to say. What more could you want from an animated sequel?

OUR RATING – A STILL SOLID 8

MEDIA

• Genre – Family
• Street date
• Digital – August 19, 2025
• DVD/BluRay/4K  – October 7, 2025
• Video – 1080p
• Screen size – 2.39:1
• Sound – English: Dolby Atmos, English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1, French: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
• Subtitles – English SDH, French, Spanish

Extras

• LITTLE LIES AND ALIBIS: In this animated short, the Bad Guys recount their chaotic day to their parole officer after arriving 10 minutes late to their hearing.
• Deleted Scenes with Introductions by Director Pierre Perifel and Co-Director JP Sans:
• Lowrider Chase
• Crime Sisters
• BAD GUYS: Out of Line: Step into the studio with the cast as they record some of their silliest lines in this hilarious montage of recording booth moments!
• Double Jeopardy: The Making of THE BAD GUYS 2: Cast and filmmakers unveil their master plan to bring the Bad Guys back together for another epic heist!
• Meet the Gang: The gang is back together! Catch up with the all-star cast behind your favorite Bad Guys and meet the Bad Girls!
• Double Trouble: The Animals Behind THE BAD GUYS 2: The cast of THE BAD GUYS 2 meet the real-life animal versions of their characters!
• Causing a Scene: Learn how the film’s adrenaline pumping action sequences came to life!
• Planning the Heist: Director Pierre Perifel and Co-Director JP Sans break down how they devised the elaborate Lucha Heist in this hilarious show and tell!
• Sketching the Bad Girls: A crime has been committed and the suspects are…the Bad Girls! Co-Director JP Sans (witness to the incident) gives a description of each of the suspects to the detective, Producer Damon Ross, and the sketch artist, Director Pierre Perifel, who shows how to draw them yourself!
• Kitty
• Doom
• Pigtail
• Feature Commentary with Director Pierre Perifel, Co-Director JP Sans, Head of Character Animation Benjamin Willis, Head of Story Katherine de Vries, and Head of Cinematography, Layout Théophile Bondoux