The Bad Guys: An Animated Heist With Style

The Bad Guys is a heist film that steals from the best. It takes the style and energy of Lupin The Third, the swank staging of Ocean’s Eleven, and stirs it all together with some Zootopia-style questioning of stereotypes and morality. The strong ingredients make for a pleasing if not light animated affair.

The Animal Crew

The gang of anthropomorphic thieves is led by the cunning Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell). Dressed in a snazzy white suit, he casually goes about his operations of bank heists and car chases with the authorities. His antics of thievery have become easy as he’s able to grab a cup of coffee before the operation and break the fourth wall during his heist.

His opening monologue reveals the crew with their specific talents. Mr. Snake (Marc Maron) has a way with locks, Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) is an expert hacker, Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson) is apparently skilled in disguises, and Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) is the muscle of the operation. As their names imply, they’re all anthropomorphic animals that match their names.

The crime gang known only as The Bad Guys seems to exist in a world alongside humans and a few other anthropomorphic animals. There’s the human police chief Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein) who is short-fused and easily amused with the chase of such popular criminals. She leads an endless army of officers into high-octane pursuits.

A New Prize

Wolf finds himself insulted that the fox mayor of the city, Dianne Foxington (Zazie Beetz), takes pity on The Bad Guys. She notes how they seem desperate for attention by doing the same bank robbery time and time again. Seeking to prove his crew is more daring, Wolf sets his sights on a big event for philanthropy.

During the operation, however, he discovers an emotion that changes his outlook. He inadvertently helps an elderly lady who calls him a good boy, bringing about a wagging of the tail. It’s a feeling that gives him a bigger high than any car chase or diamond pilfering could provide.

Wolf’s newly discovered appreciation for being good leads him toward the top philanthropist Professor Rupert Marmalade IV (Richard Ayoade). After being foiled in their heist, Wolf deceives his crew into being released into Marmalade’s custody if they can fain goodness. Of course, his real plan is to find a better way to be a better person/wolf.

The Ethics of Good

The film touches on something kinda compelling about criminal reform. Is it possible to do the right thing if you have the ability to do so? But don’t get your hopes up too high as this film doesn’t place much massive ambition in exploring this topic.

Instead, the narrative simplifies this aspect by questioning stereotypes. Do such animal characters have to always be the villain? The bad guys attempt to prove they’re not bound by these societal placements, making them more interesting beyond their bad-guy covers.

Despite the simpler moral message, it’s a strong one that is easy enough for kids to learn. It’s a fairly common tale of bad guys going good but it works well enough here. This is mostly due to how well the rest of the film plays.

Looking Good While Doing Bad

The animation style is certainly eye-popping with its merging of 2D and 3D styles. The bright and sunny tone gives a light and playful tone. The action lines that appear almost drawn on for facial outlines and explosions are quite dazzling as well.

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about this film’s animation style and not note the obvious influence of Lupin the Third. Aside from the obvious relation of Lupin meaning wolf, it’s the mannerisms and slapstick nature that make the inspiration most apparent. Everything from the lanky poses to the over-the-top law enforcement to the swimming through the air just oozes with the cartoonish charm that is Lupin The Third.

It’s highly fitting for a film all about thievery to steal from the best. And why wouldn’t it? It works far better for this film than the few times it references stuff like Ocean’s Eleven, making for passive relations in how Wolf is known for giving the George Clooney look.

A Stumbling Finale

So much of the film works with its morality questioning and mysteries of a caper. It’s unfortunate that it seems almost go into autopilot when arriving at the third act. Rather than keep going with the caper comedy, the film veers into science fiction territory involving meteors, mind control, and an army of guinea pigs.

While this aspect doesn’t hurt the entire film, it does place the story within a far too familiar box of animated adventures. I felt the same way watching this third-act surprise the same way I did with Detective Pikachu. You would think you were getting a heist picture but you’re instead served up more of the same fantastical elements common to safe animated pictures.

At least this part of the film is still a visual treat with exciting car chases and engaging character betrayals and double-agent hi-jinks. The character dynamics also are spot-on with natural performances. I had to double-check to make that was Marc Maron voicing the character considering how different he sounds here.

A Speedy Comedy

The crime comedy mostly pleases with its energy, despite not being as laugh-out-loud funny. The pacing is quick enough that it never bores and the charisma is pulsating enough for characters that are never dull. Even with some easy jokes about butts, most of the writing is kinda clever.

I particularly dug the restraint with placing Wolf in the costume of a sheep and never making the obvious joke. It remains a visual gag that the adults will read easily but also suits the narrative about reformation. It makes the cute scene of Wolf saving a kitten in this outfit all the more unique.

Conclusion: The Bad Guys

The Bad Guys is a good time for its slick style, solid characters, and stealing from the best heist films. It’s perhaps more compelling for just how much of it works for bleeding a less common genre into the realm of family-centric animation. And yet it works by giving some heart and charm to Aaron Blabey’s original kid’s book.

It’s hard to say just how much of this fast-paced farce will linger in the minds of the younger crowd. If it does, however, there’s a decent message in there about not judging based on stereotypes. That’s a strong lesson that makes the joking about a meteor looking like a butt more palatable.

Did you see The Bad Guys? How does it stack up next to DreamWorks’s other animated features? Let us know in the comments below.

The Bad Guys is currently in theaters and on VOD.