One of this year’s most successful contenders for Best Animated Feature was released way back in April. It hasn't been as present on the awards circuit as its success and generally positive reviews would suggest. Whatever prizes it ultimately wins would only add to the fact that this family-friendly caper comedy, based on Aaron Blabey’s book series, is highly enjoyable and very much worth seeking out.
Wolf introduces audiences to his team of notorious thieves, who commit major heists and other crimes as regularly as possible. They do it partly for the big takes, but also for the specific joy from getting away with it...
When Governor Diane Foxington calls them out as overrated, they can’t resist plotting a job that will embarrass her. Things do go awry, but the greatest threat to their livelihood isn’t the possibility of going to prison for the things they’ve inarguably done, it’s that Wolf may actually be starting to develop a sense of morality.
The notion that a bad guy turning good is the absolute worst case scenario is an entertaining one, and a concept particularly well-suited to an animation story perfectly appropriate for children. Much of the film operates like it would for an adult-oriented narrative, with Wolf highlighting each member of his team as they contribute their unique set of skills to the job. The stakes are considerably lower than they might be in real life or even in a TV drama, but the fun is still there, and it’s enthralling to watch these bad guys try to get away with something that probably won’t turn out well in the end for them.
The voice cast here goes a long way. Sam Rockwell leads as the overconfident and all-too-conversational Wolf. He’s well-matched by Zazie Beetz as Foxington, who immediately sees what kind of person (well, animal) he is and gets Wolf trying to back up his talk. Awkwafina, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, and Anthony Ramos round out his crew as Tarantula, Snake, Shark, and Piranha, respectively, and Alex Borstein is well-cast as the overeager and inept police chief. Richard Ayoade provides an amusing egotism as do-gooder Professor Marmalade, whose snobbish helpfulness irritates the bad guys.
Playing with the roles generally assigned to these animals and the traits they exhibit in media is another fun aspect of the film, though The Bad Guys doesn't fully follow through on this bonus dimension. There’s something about its story that feels entirely expected and familiar, but in a way that enables audiences to check in as if they’ve already gotten to know these characters and go along for this particular ride. Its computer animation is eye-popping and great to watch, making this a delightful film to please all ages. B+
The Bad Guys is streaming on Netflix.