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The Bad Guys 2 (2025)

Furries are taking over Hollywood. Anthropomorphic animal movies are coming thick and fast with Zootopia 2 coming out in a few months, Sony Pictures Animation coming out with GOAT next year, and of course DreamWorks Animation's The Bad Guys 2 which has just released. Its predecessor The Bad Guys was the surprise animated hit of 2022. Oft described as a Tarantino movie for kids, it impressed audiences, me included, with sharp dialogue married beautifully to equally sharp, stylish and kinetic animation. Its sequel is more of the same.

That may sound somewhat dismissive, but I want to make clear that The Bad Guys 2 is a great movie. The writing and animation continue to impress, but the focus has shifted from sharp writing to impressive action set pieces. This is a little disapponting to me personally. I have a weakness for quick witty dialogue, but it helps that this shift was a conscious move on the part of the filmmakers. There is a deliberate attempt to move away from Oceans 11 and move toward The Fast and the Furious. Still a heist movie, but this time more frantic action spectacle less suave coolness. This isn't to say the movie has abandoned character writing entirely, but the focus is on relationships and development over quips. Diane and Wolf's relationship satisfyingly develops, but leaves me wanting more. Maybe it's just that Diane Foxington is my favorite character (who could have guessed), but I was left wanting more from her especially. However, the new Bad Girls, Kitty Kat, Doom, and Pigtail Petrova, are a delight. Just as charismatic and fun to watch as the titular heroes. They even slip quite smoothly and comfortably into their own niches within "The Bad Guys's" group dynamic. I hope to see more from them in the inevitable sequels.

There really isn't much more to say. It's a cute movie. Not as surprising as the first, but lives up to its predecessor's standard as a fun, kinetic, ride with enough heart to be more than just a theme park attraction.