Picking up after their redemption in the first film, Mr. Wolf and his crew are trying to adjust to their lives as the “Good Guys”. However, life on the streets is harder than expected. They struggle to find jobs and pay bills because society isn’t quite ready to trust a shark in a suit or a killer snake.
Their resolve is tested when they are hijacked by an all-female squad of elite criminals known as “The Bad Girls” led by the sleek snow leopard Kitty Kat. The Bad Girls blackmail Wolf’s crew into pulling off a mission they can’t refuse. They plan on stealing a high-tech rocket from the private space firm MOON-X to mine a rare metal called MacGuffinite. The crew finds themselves in a “one last job” scenario that takes them from the streets of Egypt all the way into zero gravity, all while trying to keep their reputation as heroes intact.
Three years after the original charmed audiences with its comic-book style and lovable gang of animal- criminals, The Bad Guys 2 arrives with the same energy and attitude. Directed once again by Pierre Perifel, this DreamWorks sequel adds more style and speed to the series than you would have ever expected. The film’s greatest strength is its animation. The animation rips across the screen with colour and movement. It switches styles in a way that keeps the audiences on their toes and as each scene bursts with energy. The action sequences, especially the opening car chase and the gravity defying climax in the space station, are incredibly fluid. It feels like a high-budget graphic novel coming to life.
Another factor that makes this movie work is the chemistry between the characters. Their teamwork and development feel genuine and fun to watch. There’s also a nice balance between comedy and deeper themes like trust, redemption, and finding your place in the world. These moments give the film emotional depth without slowing it down. The addition of “the Bad Girls” is a shake-up, with Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, and Maria Bakalova joining the cast, because they bring a ton of fresh new energy to a film that could easily have bored familiar faces. The rivalry and eventual dynamic between the two crews gives the story a new plot to play with. However, the movie overall did not take many risks and some parts feel a bit familiar. Many fans who were looking for bold new storytelling qualities found the sequel a touch too safe. The emotional stakes, while present, don’t quite match the original.
Nonetheless, The Bad Guys 2 was an hour and a half of pure entertainment with laughs guaranteed no matter how many grey hairs you have. In 2025, that is an achievement very few productions can claim in the animation industry.
