The bad guys is an exceptionally well-made film is an exceptionally well-made film from DreamWorks Animation, combining classic heist movie tropes and themes from children’s movies into one adrenaline-fueled animated film. It focuses on a group of criminals and friends trying to pull off their biggest heist yet. There are many reasons why this movie should be watched if you missed it, and thankfully it’s streaming now Netflix.
The Bad Guys and Classic Movie Tropes
The opening scene of the film is extremely well done. Two characters, a wolf in a suit and a snake in a Hawaiian shirt, are sitting in a cafe talking casually and having breakfast. It seems like a lighthearted scene until they get up to leave and everyone hides from them in fear. They act casually as if nothing out of the ordinary is going on. This scene immediately grabs the viewer.
Not only does this grab the reader’s attention, but the design is highly accurate for raiding franchises (and even pays homage to the opening sequence of a diner in Pulp Fiction and the character names in it Reservoir dogs). The clothes suited their personalities, and the concept of the “evil” animals just doing what they do best (being bad) falls into a similar backstory to many other heist movie characters.
They then rob a bank and engage in an over-the-top car chase where the rest of their team is introduced based on their unique skills, another trope in the heist movie genre. Throughout the first half of the movie, the animation is aesthetically designed to resemble a heist movie, with similar music and classic movie cliches of the genre, such as split-screen and the long raw sequences where something is secretly passed around by the group. .
The redemption arc of the bad guys
But the movie takes a turn. Once the bad guys are caught, it’s not just a heist movie anymore; it is a redemption story. When Wolf tries to keep them out of jail while still pulling off their biggest heist, he takes them to the home of a wealthy philanthropist to turn the “bad guys” into “good guys.” However, the trick works on Wolf, as he slowly begins to enjoy the feeling of being good.
The rest of the crew get redemption by doing good instead of bad at various points in the film, with Wolf guiding them in the right direction. It’s a charming story about discovering that there’s more to yourself than what others tell you, and that anyone can be good if given the chance.
Bad guys have romantic interests too
One of the reasons for Wolf’s change in goodness is the apparent romantic tension between Wolf and Mayor Diane, which begins at the beginning of the film and continues throughout the film. They understand each other because of their past, which allows them to have meaningful conversations other than flirting to show a romantic connection.
This plot point adds character to Wolf’s likability, as he has a more open outlook on life when talking to the mayor compared to his friends. Their conversations shed light on different perspectives on discrimination and how to deal with it.
Awesome DreamWorks animation
The animation for this film is exceptionally well done. It is very smooth and made to match the style of the movie genre. The film seizes the opportunity to use classic animation tropes, such as interrupted airtime and exaggerated movements, and nails the parodies. The design is beautiful and all the details in shadows, colors and textures are breathtaking.
The animation fits well with the animal/human society that this film depicts. They make each one look as realistic as possible while keeping the animation clean and kid-friendly. The classic animation gags mentioned, mixed with current animation technology, make for an animated film that does not go out of style.
Interesting characters and fantastic casting
While the snake and the wolf are its most important friends The bad guys focuses on, the entirety of their crew is full of interesting personalities. We see them start off as classic criminal characters before turning into a tighter group of friends throughout the movie. The chemistry between the characters and the banter adds an extra layer of fun to this movie.
With a cast starring Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, Marc Maron, and many others, it’s no wonder the film received excellent ratings on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. The voice acting suits the characters and keeps you in a world of believability despite the over-the-top animation and anthropomorphic characters; they always feel like real characters with versatile personalities, not just talking cartoon animals.
Movie themes for kids done right
In The bad guys, it is appropriate that you wonder who is the good guy and who is the bad guy, and where the line is drawn. This is perhaps the film’s most important message, that there is no absolute ‘bad guy’ or ‘good guy’, at least not while there is still a chance to change. Throughout the movie, these characters go from bad to good to bad and back again, and the supposedly “good” guys – well, not everyone is as good as they appear to be; in fact, most appear to be doing more behind the scenes. It makes for a compelling series of plot twists.
Another common trope in children’s movies is the power of friendship, which always predominates with the message that if you put your friends’ needs first and are there for them, everything will work out for both of you. In this movie, the wolf and the snake both realize about their friendship that sometimes drives them apart, but in the end they realize that nothing is more important.