- “Good is no fun at all.”
- ―Tagline
The Bad Guys is a 2022 American computer-animated crime comedy film based on the Scholastic book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. It was directed by Pierre Perifel in his feature film directorial debut and written by Etan Cohen. It was released on April 22, 2022 and is DreamWorks Animation’s 42nd feature film.[1]
Plot[]
In Los Angeles, California, in a world of humans and anthropomorphic animals co-existing, the Bad Guys are a gang of notorious criminal animals led by the cool-headed Mr. Wolf and known for their brazen thefts while eluding the authorities. After being insulted by Governor Diane Foxington on-air, they attempt to steal the Golden Dolphin award from guinea pig philanthropist Professor Rupert Marmalade IV. During the heist, Wolf takes some free time to pickpocket various people but inadvertently helps an old woman he intended to pickpocket as well and is praised for the good deed, leading to Wolf finding himself affected by his wrongdoings and Marmalade's speech about goodness. After the gang is exposed and arrested, Wolf persuades Marmalade to reform them, planning to take advantage of the pretense to try to steal the award again. Marmalade invites the Bad Guys to his home, but his lessons prove a frustrating struggle with them seemingly unable to adapt to the concept of good behavior.
Eventually, Marmalade's idea of having them go on a rescue mission, "a heist for good", to save laboratory guinea pigs proves a fiasco from second-in-command Mr. Snake's obsession with eating guinea pigs. Foxington decides to call off the experiment but relents when Wolf confesses that he despairs being hated for his species and that authorities like her wouldn't understand what he goes through every day of his life. Foxington admits that she understands and confesses that she has hope for him. Wolf contemplates the matter and finds himself rescuing a cat from a tree, which Marmalade records and releases as a viral video. The resulting publicity turns the public image of the Bad Guys around, but Snake suspects he is losing touch with his friend.
When the Bad Guys execute a new heist at the grand gala to celebrate, Wolf cannot bring himself to finish the plan and betray the newfound trust he earned. However, a rare meteor is stolen framing the Bad Guys for its theft. When the gang is arrested once again, Marmalade meets them in private and reveals that he stole the meteorite, and was disguised as the old lady Wolf helped earlier, to manipulate the gang into taking the blame. In prison, Wolf explains to his gang that he still doesn't want to be a criminal anymore. Notorious rival criminal Crimson Paw rescues them, revealing herself to be Foxington, a reformed criminal herself.
Upon reaching safety, the Bad Guys selfishly (and reluctantly) abandon Wolf for his redemption and get shocked when they return to their hideout and find it completely emptied of their loot, as Wolf revealed its location to Foxington earlier as compensation for his crimes. The Bad Guys are despondent enough for Snake to give his last possession to Mr. Shark out of kindness, making the rest of the Bad Guys realize that they can change their ways and help Wolf, though Snake denies it and abandons them, saying that they will always be bad guys.
Meanwhile, Wolf and Foxington break into Marmalade's home to steal the meteorite, only to be captured by Marmalade, who reveals that Snake has allied with him and explains how he intends to use the meteor's power to control an army of guinea pigs to rob the city. However, the two are rescued by the remainder of the Bad Guys and take the meteorite in an attempt to stop Marmalade's plan.
In the resulting battle, the Bad Guys manage to stop the robberies but they decide to bring Snake back despite his betrayal. Marmalade turns on Snake and the Bad Guys risk their lives to save him, bargaining with Marmalade for his safety. After rescuing Snake, the Bad Guys foil Marmalade's plan and surrender themselves to the authorities. Marmalade attempts to take credit for recovering the meteorite, but it is revealed to be a fake planted by a secretly-redeemed Snake, who pulls off the masterstroke of his undercover plan to help Wolf by destroying the actual meteorite, outsmarting Marmalade who is also framed as the Crimson Paw, destroying his reputation and leading to his arrest.
A year later, the Bad Guys are released from prison in light of their good behavior, partnering up with Foxington as they begin their new crime-fighting careers.
Cast[]
- Sam Rockwell[2] as Mr. Wolf
- Marc Maron as Mr. Snake
- Awkwafina as Ms. Tarantula
- Craig Robinson as Mr. Shark
- Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha
- Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade
- Zazie Beetz as Diane Foxington/Crimson Paw
- Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit
- Alex Borstein as Chief Luggins
- Barbara Goodson voices an Old Woman
- Frank Welker as Kitty
Development[]
In March 2018, Variety reported that DreamWorks Animation will develop a film based on the book series, with Etan Cohen as writer.[3] In October 2019, it was reported that the film will be directed by Pierre Perifel in his feature directorial debut, with Cohen and Hilary Winston set to write the film's screenplay. The film was described as having "a similar twist on the heist genre that Shrek did on fairy tales, and what Kung Fu Panda did for the kung fu genre". It was also reported that the film would be released theatrically September 17, 2021.[4] In May 2020, the crew worked remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] In December 2020, the film was pulled off the release schedule, though it was confirmed that it would get a new date "within the coming weeks".[6] In March 2021, the release date was delayed to April 15, 2022.[7] In June 2021, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse composer Daniel Pemberton was signed to compose the score for the film.[8] On the same day, director Pierre Perifel announced the character casting on his Instagram. [9]
Cultural References[]
DreamWorks References[]
- Mr. Shark mentions, "My cousin got hit on the head with an anchor, and after that, he only swam in a circle." This is possibly an allusion to how Frankie dies in Shark Tale.
Future[]
Sequel[]
In March 2022, after the film was released, Perifel said that he would love to do a sequel.[5]
Television special[]
A holiday special inspired by the characters from the film is being produced by DreamWorks Animation Television. It will be directed by Bret Haaland from Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, and executive produced by Haaland and Katherine Nolfi from Abominable and the Invisible City and Spirit Riding Free. The holiday special is set to debut sometime in 2023 on Netflix. The special will take place one year before the events of the film and will feature the titular Bad Guys reluctantly restoring holiday cheer to Los Angeles after Christmas was unexpectedly canceled.
Trivia[]
- DreamWorks Animation's second film to be released in April after Trolls World Tour (2020).
- DreamWorks Animation's second film distributed by Universal Pictures to not be a sequel to an already existing film after Abominable (2019).
- Craig Robinson's second DreamWorks Animation film, after Shrek Forever After (2010).
- Sam Rockwell and Anthony Ramos' second DreamWorks Animation film, after Trolls World Tour (2020).
- The twentieth DreamWorks Animation film to be produced in 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs. Aliens, How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek Forever After, Megamind, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, The Croods, Turbo, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Kung Fu Panda 3, Trolls, The Boss Baby, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Trolls World Tour, The Croods: A New Age, Spirit Untamed, and The Boss Baby: Family Business.
- The second DreamWorks Animation film based on a Scholastic book series, after Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.
- Marc Maron, who voiced Mr. Snake in this movie, later went on to portray the voice of Lex Luthor in DC League of Super Pets, another animated movie with a talking guinea pig as the main antagonist.
- The Bad Guys characters make an appearance in the new DreamWorks logo, released along Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
- Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz and Awkwafina previously portrayed roles in Marvel films.
- The film's animation style was inspired by that of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) while also having a similar style to anime like Lupin III. It is comparable to how Pixar animated Turning Red, except that was more inspired by Studio Ghibli films.
- Zazie Beetz and Alex Borstein are reunited for their second animated film together, the first being 2021's Extinct, a year before.
- This is the third DreamWorks Animation film to have assistance from Jellyfish Pictures, after Spirit Untamed and The Boss Baby: Family Business.
- This is the second movie developed by Universal Pictures to feature a character voiced by an actor from Family Guy. Alex Borstein, who voiced Lois Griffin in the show, voices Chief Misty Luggins in the movie. The first movie is Sing, which featured Seth MacFarlane (the voice of Peter Griffin) as the voice of Mike.
- This is the only DreamWorks Animation film to feature "Universal Pictures Presents" in the opening credits.
- This is also the first DreamWorks Animation film to have a distribution company to be credited for presenting one since Shrek 2 with DreamWorks Pictures.
- This is the only DreamWorks Animation film to have its opening music playing over the Universal Pictures logo.
- This also makes it the first DreamWorks Animation film to have opening music play over a distributor's logo since Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas with DreamWorks Pictures.
- This is the eighth DreamWorks Animation film not to be composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Rupert Gregson-Williams, Henry Jackman, Lorne Balfe, Steve Mazzaro, or Theodore Shapiro; the first seven being 2005's Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (which was composed by Julian Nott), 2012's Rise of the Guardians (which was composed by Alexandre Desplat), 2013's The Croods (which was composed by Alan Silvestri), and 2014's Mr. Peabody & Sherman, 2016's Trolls (which was composed by Christophe Beck), 2020's The Croods: A New Age (which was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh), and 2021's Spirit Untamed (which was composed by Amie Doherty).
Differences from source material[]
- In the books, the tarantula is a male (known as "Mr. Tarantula").
- In the books, Diane was originally a secret agent named "Agent Fox". Here, she is a governor that was a former thief.
- In the books, Tiffany Fluffit was a cat. Here, she's a human.
- Mr. Piranha has legs here, but not in the books.
- In the novel, Professor Marmalade is actually revealed to be an alien prince named "Kdjfloerhgcoinwerucgleirwfheklwjfhxalhw" underneath a guinea pig disguise.
- In the books, Diane's original name is "Ellen".
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ The Bad Guys (U).
- ↑ "‘The Bad Guys’ Leads a Crucial Box Office Weekend for Non-Franchise Films", TheWrap, The Wrap News Inc., April 21, 2022.
- ↑ Template:Cite Box Office Mojo
- ↑ Template:Cite The Numbers
- ↑ Percival, Tom (March 31, 2022). "The Bad Guys director would love to do a sequel". The Digital Flix. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
External Links[]
- Official movie website with driving game and downloadable activity book in English and Spanish
- The Bad Guys on Wikipedia
- The Bad Guys at the Internet Movie Database
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