The Bad Guys: A Heist Gone Hilariously Wrong
A gang of brilliant criminals – Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake, and Ms. Tarantula – embark on the ultimate heist of their lives. These notorious robbers decide to steal the “Golden Dolphin” statuette, a prestigious award given to the city’s most virtuous citizens. However, their plan goes awry when they’re caught red-handed and face a lifetime in prison. To avoid incarceration, the gang must learn to perform good deeds, aided by the charming guinea pig Rupert Marmalade, a scientist with his own mansion who seems to be hiding something behind his innocent facade.
Still from the animated film “The Bad Guys”
“The Bad Guys” marks Dreamworks’ first original animated film in several years, and it has the potential to become a cult classic. This isn’t just because the plot is based on the popular children’s book series by Australian author Aaron Blabey (the series consists of 14 stories, which could easily form the basis for multiple sequels), but also due to its structure. It’s not just a parody of iconic crime action films; it’s a fully realized, original world that combines the best elements of films by Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, and even Edgar Wright.
A Breath of Fresh Air in Animation
From the initial announcements, the new Dreamworks film was seen as a breath of fresh air for the genre. “The Bad Guys” was to be the first solo project for the talented French animator Pierre Perifel (known for “The Illusionist” and “Kung Fu Panda”) in a full-length format. The project also stood out due to its screenwriter, Etan Cohen, known for his work on “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and the popular comedy action film “Tropic Thunder.” Despite the high ambitions (at a closed studio presentation, the project was called a children’s version of Tarantino’s films), the duo clearly achieved their goals: “The Bad Guys” is worthy of being placed alongside classic comedy action films.
Still from the animated film “The Bad Guys”
It’s hard to imagine another animation studio agreeing to fund this project. “The Bad Guys” doesn’t just make another attempt to transfer elements of genre films into animation; it actually breaks down preconceptions about the possibilities of conveying important lessons to the younger generation. Viewers are presented with a story about a group of notorious psychopaths trying to become decent, despite their moral principles. The director emphasizes the impossibility of changing the characters: he puts the gang members in kigurumis, sets “impossible” tasks like helping an old lady cross the street and rescuing a cat from a tree, and foils their brilliant plans due to minor details.
Still from the animated film “The Bad Guys”
A Dreamworks Masterpiece
“The Bad Guys” is the perfect Dreamworks project, combining several fundamental themes explored by the studio in its classic works. It breaks down traditional notions of genre tropes (“Shrek”), idealizes the images of obvious antagonists (“Shark Tale”), and tells a story about the interaction between humans and the animal world (“Madagascar”). The latter clearly distinguishes “The Bad Guys” from the already familiar doubles of “Zootopia”: the “talking” animals in the film coexist with members of human civilization. Although this approach may initially be alarming due to its unusualness, it eventually finds a logical justification in the film.
The success of the French animator’s debut project depended primarily on the successful development of the characters: each recidivist is capable of winning the hearts of young (and not so young) viewers. We see a reimagining of classic images from crime action films: the charming Mr. Wolf dons George Clooney’s jacket from “Ocean’s Eleven” and inherits the incredible charisma of a thief, the hacker Ms. Tarantula’s extra pair of legs adds speed for working on the computer, and the notorious villain Mr. Snake refuses to change his lifestyle. Special mention goes to Mr. Shark, a master of disguise who once stole the “Mona Lisa” in a Mona Lisa costume, and the small and impulsive thug Mr. Piranha. Most of the gags are built around this pair: the awkward situations the characters find themselves in contrast with their personalities, making it hard to suppress a smile.
Still from the animated film “The Bad Guys”
The creators don’t forget about the action, which perfectly complements the film’s rhythm. We see a huge arsenal of chases, fights, and robberies, copying the features of the best examples of the genre. At times, the director almost recreates scenes from “Mission: Impossible,” “Baby Driver,” “Fast Five,” and the Ocean’s trilogy. It’s hard to imagine that most of the scenes shown in the animated format could be reproduced in live-action cinema: the final chase scene deserves special attention and hardly needs comparisons.
A New Standard for Animated Comedy Action
“The Bad Guys” does for comedy action films what “Kung Fu Panda” did for Eastern cinema. It’s a careful adaptation of the best details of the genre for a young audience, referencing cult works. It’s unlikely anyone will be surprised if “The Bad Guys” gets several more sequels: it’s a solid foundation for an entire franchise, based on a substantial source material in the form of a popular book series.