Not ‘Bad’ at All
IN a classic case of not judging a book by its cover, ‘The Bad Guys’ is a typically manic yet often genuinely funny family heist/romp.
the bad guys
Director: Pierre Perifel • Writer: Etan Cohen, based on the graphic novels by Aaron Blabey
Starring [English]: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Alex Borstein
South Korea • 1hr 40mins
Opens Hong Kong May 26 • I
Grade: B
It’s ironic that a family-friendly heist movie with an underlying message of not taking people at face value, of giving everyone a chance to be better than what you see on the surface, has such a gawdawful trailer. So be kind and do not judge The Bad Guys by its terrible trailer, which we have the misfortune of seeing in two languages here in Hong Kong. While not quite living up to the disconnect between the shittiness of the trailer and the quality of the film of Paddington (seriously, who okayed that?) this comes close. Shame, that, because The Bad Guys is actually a lot of fun.
The latest from DreamWorks Animation is exactly what we’ve all come to expect from contemporary animation for kids: Cute, anthropomorphised animals doing “wacky” human stuff (and sending terrible messages and creating distorted perceptions of animals but that’s a debate for another day) and frantically drawn and edited action, all served up with a side of jokes the target demographic – as in children up to 10 or so – is never going to get but which may keep their escorts awake. The Bad Guys is a heist film at its core, so there are references to the Ocean’s Eleven series, most of Quentin Tarantino’s oeuvre, maybe some Fast & Furious for good measure. Just with less violence. Unless you consider guinea pigs being flung about violence.
Formula rules The Bad Guys, but it’s forgivable because of the stellar voice performances (at least in English). After being caught in the act trying to steal a fancy thingy, master thieves Mr Wolf (Sam Rockwell, always perfect), Mr Snake (Marc Maron), Mr Shark (Craig Robinson, perhaps getting the best moments), Ms Tarantula (Awkwafina, wisely turning it way, way down) and Mr Piranha (In the Heights’ Anthony Ramos who, of course, sings) are given the choice between jail time or reform: becoming Good Guys. They choose reform, initially as a ruse, and are released into the custody of famed do-gooder and guinea pig Professor Rupert Marmalade (Richard Ayoade, in full Brit snob form). Watching their progress is mayor (governor?) Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) and police chief Chief Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein). You know how this goes. Mr Wolf has a change of heart, and discovers he kind of likes being good. It makes his tail wag. His crew doesn’t like it, there’s a second act betrayal, a third act double cross, no one is who they appear to be, and it ends happily.
Director Pierre Perifel, having his first go at a feature after several years in the animation department (Kung Fu Panda, Shrek Forever After), and writer Etan Cohen (yay Tropic Thunder, boo Holmes & Watson) do nothing that might challenge the tenets set down in the mysterious scroll about what Must Be Done In Children’s Entertainment. The have the requisite wholesome messages about rising above your station and defying expectation, all wrapped up in colourful computer animation and capped with a for-some-reason manic car chase. (Do all these film have to end with a manic chase? Um… checks notes… Yes.) For a change, however, the moderately recognisable voice cast doesn’t simply cash a cheque, and each takes the time to actually create a character, and it makes a huge difference in the final product. Rockwell (Iron Man 2, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) leans into his wry persona impeccably, and as BFF Snake, Maron’s borderline nihilistic self-loathing makes him the perfect straight man. The duo forms the heart and soul of the crew, and while not giving the film the emotional heft of Up, they have a great buddy dynamic that anchors a great entertainment. But c’mon. Who signed off on that trailer? DEK