(from left) Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Shark (Craig Robinson) and Snake (Marc Maron) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. © DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
‘The Dangerous Guys 2’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on August 1st is ‘The Bad Guys 2’, DreamWorks Animation’s sequel to the 2022 authentic, with Pierre Perifel again directing and JP Sans as co-director for this one.
The returning voice forged contains Sam Rockwell (‘Moon’), Marc Maron (‘The Order’), Craig Robinson (‘This is the End’) and Awkwafina (‘Crazy Rich Asians’) with new recruits together with Natasha Lyonne (‘Poker Face’), Danielle Brooks (‘Peacemaker’) and Maria Bakalova (‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’).
Related Article: San Diego Comic-Con 2025: ‘The Bad Guys 2’ Steals Attention at Hall H
Preliminary Ideas
(from left) Shark (Craig Robinson), Tarantula (Awkwafina), Snake (Marc Maron), Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) and Piranha (Anthony Ramos) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. © DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
DreamWorks Animation isn’t an organization to let a profitable first film get away with out spawning a franchise. We’ve had swathes of ‘Kung Fu Panda’ outings, numerous ‘Madagascar’ entries (plus spin-offs) and quite a few ‘Shrek’ movies –– one other is on the best way subsequent yr.
After all, then, ‘The Bad Guys’, which managed to please household audiences in 2022 when the field workplace was nonetheless feeling the lingering in poor health results of the pandemic, is again for an additional go-around.
And thankfully, this one is a largely optimistic catch-up with some very entertaining characters that has a number of flaws right here and there, however total works.
Script and Route
(from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron, Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) and Doom (Natasha Lyonne) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. © DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The screenplay for animated motion pictures is at all times a moveable feast, with concepts dropped in or ripped out on the storyboard and even animatic stage. This film’s script comes courtesy of Yoni Brenner (a veteran of the ‘Rio’ and ‘Ice Age’ franchises), Etan Cohen (‘Holmes & Watson’), each taking unfastened inspiration from the ‘Dangerous Guys’ children’ books by Aaron Blabey.
We’re re-introduced to our animal crooks with a prologue set throughout the top of their heisting days for a enjoyable sequence that mashes up the likes of the ‘Fast & the Furious’ movies with ‘Mission: Impossible’ because the workforce steals a priceless automotive from a billionaire (Omid Djalili).
From there, we head to the current day, the place the approach to life of Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) and the remainder is much from glamorous –– they’re struggled to make ends meet as they proceed their quest to stay a authorized life. An opportunity to assist observe down a brand new prison risk is curtailed after they’re blackmailed by a workforce of even sneakier crooks into pulling off (you guessed it!) one final job.
‘The Dangerous Guys 2’s story strikes alongside at a good sufficient clip, although it does endure from pacing points, going from frenetic motion moments to long-winded bouts of exposition which can be largely carried by the vocal work.
Nonetheless, as soon as the true mission of the “Dangerous Ladies” is revealed, issues actually take off.
Directorially, Pierre Perifel and his artists largely hold what labored in regards to the authentic, with a profitable mix of animation types that calls to thoughts the ‘Spider-Verse’ motion pictures with out instantly aping it. When you think about that the primary ‘Dangerous Guys’ shifted how DreamWorks handles the look of (a few of) its output, it’s simple to see why they selected to remain in that lane.
Solid and Performances
(from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron) and Doom (Natasha Lyonne) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. © DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The vocal work on the film is as soon as once more strong, with Rockwell specifically delivering his trademark allure as Mr. Wolf. He pairs nicely with a returning Zazie Beetz, who’s his equal as Diane Foxington, the reformed criminal-turned-governor. The pair shares probably the most flirtatious animated dynamic since Disney’s ‘Robin Hood’.
Elsewhere, the opposite “Dangerous Guys” get a good quantity to do, with Marc Maron’s Mr. Snake handed the very best storyline –– his romance that seems to have a connection to the Dangerous Ladies is at all times entertaining, and his work reverse Natasha Lyonne as his paramour is nice.
Different new arrivals fare maybe much less nicely; Danielle Brooks is okay as Kitty Kat, the mastermind behind the opposite prison crew, whereas Maria Bakalova is essentially left to be help as hench-pig Pigtail (although she’s nonetheless good worth).
Ultimate Ideas
(from left) Pigtail (Maria Bakalova), Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks) and Doom (Natasha Lyonne) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. © DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
It won’t hit the heights of the primary film, however ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’ is a good follow-up to that film, with a contemporary new dynamic that largely sidesteps the repetitive pitfalls of sequels.
And whereas there may be comedy competitors on the field workplace, its household goal ought to equal a strong launch.
“Again in badness.”
The now-reformed Dangerous Guys try (very, very arduous) to be good, however as a substitute discover themselves hijacked right into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by… Read the Plot
What’s the story of ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’?
That includes the return of the crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, the now-reformed Dangerous Guys try (very, very arduous) to be good.
But they as a substitute discover themselves hijacked right into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a brand new workforce of criminals they by no means noticed coming: The Dangerous Ladies.
Who’s within the forged of ‘The Dangerous Guys 2’?
- Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf
- Marc Maron as Mr. Snake
- Craig Robinson as Mr. Shark
- Awkwafina as Ms. Tarantula
- Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha
- Zazie Beetz as Diane Foxington
- Danielle Brooks as Kitty Kat
- Natasha Lyonne as Doom
- Maria Bakalova as Pigtail
‘The Dangerous Guys’. © DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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