DreamWorks Pictures has always had an odd animation history. It's flittered between genuinely interesting endeavours – the groundbreaking nature of Shrek, as well as the seriousness with which they treat biblical stories – to the relatively goofy. Unlike their rivals, they've often failed to find a hook beyond standard-issue stories told with animals. Shark Tale, Bee Movie, and The Bad Guys all felt like victims of this. That's not to say those films don't have charm, but in particular, Bee Movie and The Bad Guys don't have an internal logic.
For The Bad Guys, the standard-issue story of some crooks going straight, was boosted into family territory by making those crooks animals – Mr Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr Snake (Marc Maron), Mr Piranha (Anthony Ramos), Mr Shark (Craig Robinson) and Ms Tarantula (Awkwafina). But, the actual story never did a thing with the talking animals gimmick, and was made more confusing by the fact they they, and two other characters, appear to be the only talking human sized animals around – yet no one addresses it.
In spite of all of this the original film was good fun, having a gorgeous 2D animation style that has become very popular post-Spider-Verse. Having made a healthy profit, and the obligatory straight-to-Netflix Christmas special, it's no shock that the gang are back for a second film. We find them in rather bleakly funny form trying to adjust to their new life on the straight and narrow when a copycat spree of crimes makes them look like they've lapsed into their old ways. Soon, the gang are blackmailed into doing a mission with three tough women and an old foe might be the only way to help.
What makes The Bad Guys 2 work is that it has a manic sensibility, despite never fully addressing the talking humanoid animals thing – seriously it makes just no sense – the film goes at a speed with gags and visual flair to keep you distracted. In a way this is both a strength and and a weakness of the film. It's fun caper style, full of double crosses and madcap slapstick humour, is very entertaining in the moment but it lacks the depth of the best DreamWorks sequels. There isn't the emotional core that Shrek 2 had or the oddly dark tone of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Despite a game voice cast, lead by the always charming Sam Rockwell, there's always this feeling that the film exists because money says it should as opposed to there needing to be more adventures with these characters. The need to pull them back into another heist screams of little imagination, and the film moves from one fun set piece to another without ever really saying anything of substance.
But, your tolerance for off-the-wall, hyper kinetic animation may dictate your enjoyment. For the under tens, the multiple dress up jokes and fart jokes will keep them laughing when the film talks about things like friend zoning, and second chances, while it's possible most adults might start to question the film's internal logic. If you're not smiling after the opening action sequence, be warned, it's going to be a long ninety minutes.
The Bad Guys 2 is in cinemas from 25 July
