‘The Bad Guys 2’ – back in action, full of laughs

After their last adventure saw the titular bad guys turn their backs on a life of crime, the natural question on everyone’s mind was, “What’s next?” The idea of these career criminals making something of themselves in polite society seemed preposterous, no matter how valiant their efforts to save a city that despised them. Given their skill sets and personalities, the crew always seemed far more likely to backslide into animated animal anarchy.

With The Bad Guys 2, that idea drives the plot. The film treats the life of an ex-criminal with a surprising level of realism. The crew gets denied jobs and are generally mistreated on sight due to their past. Despite their predicament, the group perseveres, that is until they’re fingered as the prime suspects in a recent slew of robberies bearing their signature style.

Getting the crew back in action is fairly standard, as is much of the movie’s plot. Unfortunately, it doesn’t manage to pull off its twists and turns with any real sense of surprise. Many of the story beats are predictable, but what the film lacks in shock value, it more than makes up for in humour. The voice cast delivers consistently sharp, funny lines that rise above typical cartoon dialogue. And while the characters may be animals, they feel undeniably human.

It’s a dichotomy that extends to the world itself, often contrasting the ludicrous with the logical. The world is littered with humans and animals alike with no explanation. At one point, the laws of physics apply, but at another, an angry mob turns into a literal tidal wave of people.

What works well about the film is its playful approach to reality. It chooses whether to ground itself in the real world or toss logic aside entirely, depending on what will land the biggest laugh. The approach falters slightly when certain dramatic moments rely on the world functioning as we know it, but for the most part, the movie strikes a satisfying balance.

It’s a little predictable, and its fast-and-loose approach to reality may not work for everyone, but The Bad Guys 2 does plenty with both old and new characters, keeping the fun going throughout. The animation is stellar, and while it lacks the element of surprise that made its predecessor so memorable, far worse could have come from this sequel. As it stands, it’s a solid follow-up that cements the series as consistently worth watching.

Rating: Half Price

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com