Apr 21, 2022

-The Bad Guys- Review Roundup: critics rave about DreamWorks' comedy heist film

DreamWorks' latest original feature film opened this week to critical acclaim for the "Ocean's Eleven"-inspired animal heist movie.

"Bad Guys," adapted from Aaron Bravay's best-selling book series, follows five animal thieves as they take on their most difficult job yet: to be good enough not to get locked up.

Directed by DreamWorks heavyweight Pierre Perifel, this marks his solo feature debut. He is also an animator whose credits include the "Kung Fu Panda" series and "Shrek Forever After. Damon Ross and Rebecca Huntley produced the film, with Aaron Blaby, Etan Cohen, and Patrick Hughes as executive producers.

The film's voice cast features Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Richard Adoy, Zazie Beetz, Lily Singh, and Alex Borstein.

Most critics were impressed with the quality of the animation on the film's ambitious set, although some accused Perifel's team of being a bit over the top at times. However, they were divided on the character animation, especially with regard to the characters' faces. In terms of humor, most reviews praised The Bad Guys' visual gags and script equally.

Overall, reviews so far have been favorable. It currently stands at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

See what critics have to say about The Bad Guys.

The Wrap's Jason Solomons praised the film's mix of cartoon and action movie staples:

Although billed as a "caper thing," "The Bad Guys" has a refreshing, old-fashioned simplicity. No singing, no dancing, no moral lessons. It's just a cartoon, with fast-talking, wise-cracking animals, silly car chases, and fart gags galore.

Meanwhile, although in the minority, Callum Marsh of the New York Times was unimpressed by almost everything and seemed puzzled that an animated film would feature animals.

This nonsensical, poorly executed animated comedy... It tells the story of a thieving clan of talking animals who are forced to rehabilitate themselves after an elaborate robbery gone wrong. They steal, banter, and engage in car chases that the animals do not. The fast-paced, action-oriented heist sequences are... . have more in common with the later "Wild Speed" than classic heist movies like "Ocean's Eleven," and as if to drive home the comparison, there are several overlong, gravity-defying car chases.

Kristen Page-Kirby of the Washington Post praised the film's animation during set pieces, but also took issue with the animals' too-frequent grimaces.

The animation - especially during the abundant action scenes, especially the car chases - is sharp, fast, and great to watch. As with the Ocean's films, there are a few stumbles, but there is some nifty editing that brings refinement to the look of the film. Case in point: the Wolf, like the other characters with fur, has a very furry body, but the rendering of his face is so smooth that it looks a little too Instagram-filtered.

Guy Lodge of Variety magazine seemed to enjoy the film overall, but was more impressed with the style than the substance of the film.

...... The main incidental pleasures of The Bad Guys are based on technique, from the disciplined, Californian palette of burnt orange and canine tan to the cheeky exuberance of Daniel Pemberton's overworked score, full of sonic responses to the heist movie funk of the 1970s

The film's soundtrack is a "wickedly good" one.

Wendy Eide, in a three-star review in The Guardian, noted that she was fascinated by the film's pacing, but even more so by its sense of humor.

Like "Roger Rabbit," the film owes its pacing to the stupefying frenzy of classic Looney Tunes animation, but it also references heist films, especially the "Oceans" series. The disguise is hardly more convincing than the combination of a fake nose and mustache that looks like it belongs on a cracker. But there is a kernel of authenticity where it matters. It's a simple argument and a well-fleshed-out friendship. It's sharp, silly, and frequently very funny.