Film: The Bad Guys 2 (animation)
Cast(voices): Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova, Natasha Lyonne
Director: Pierre Perifel
Rating: 3/5
Runtime: 104 min

This sequel to The Bad Guys, the hit animated film adapted from Aaron Blabey’s best-selling graphic book series, begins with an attempt to go bigger and better than its predecessor. The narrative begins with an elaborate caper and car chase through the streets of Cairo. It’s a sequence straight out of a mainstream action film.

The anthropomorphised animal criminal group — consisting of leader Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), quick-tempered Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and hacker Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) — have been released from prison and are attempting to go straight. But soon enough, they find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by The Bad Girls, consisting of a ruthless leader, snow leopard Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks) ; science wizard wild boar Pigtail (Maria Bakalova), and raven Doom (Natasha Lyonne), with whom Mr. Snake has been romantically involved.

The reformed bad guys find it impossible to get a job. No one is willing to stand up for them. Their past invariably begins to define their future, and they get caught up in the act of recidivism. Mr. Wolf, with his yellow eyes and gleaming teeth, is dripping sweetness until they get trapped into hijacking the Moon X rocket ship.