The Bad Guys: A Review

The Bad Guys doesn’t simply walk into your living room—it drifts in sideways, wearing sunglasses indoors, humming jazzy elevator music, and casually leaning against the couch like it owns the place. And before you know it, you’re smiling.

DreamWorks Animation delivers a stylish, high-energy caper that feels like it was raised on classic heist films, Saturday morning cartoons, and graphic novels and then sent to charm school. Based on Aaron Blabey’s wildly popular book series, the film introduces us to a notorious gang of animal outlaws who decide (mostly against their will) to attempt the unthinkable: becoming good.

At the center of it all is Mr. Wolf, voiced with effortless cool by Sam Rockwell, who brings just the right mix of swagger and sincerity. He’s backed by an absolutely stellar crew:

• Marc Maron as Mr. Snake, serving dry sarcasm and world-weary grumpiness like a five-star maître d’.

• Craig Robinson as Mr. Shark, a gentle giant whose love of disguises turns every scene into performance art.

• Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha, providing explosive energy, tender moments, and enough emotional whiplash to power a small city.

• Awkwafina as Ms. Tarantula (aka Webs), a hacker genius with deadpan delivery and impeccable comedic timing.

Together, they form a found-family of misfits who may not always agree, but they absolutely commit to the bit.

Rounding out the cast are Zazie Beetz as the delightfully ambiguous Governor Diane Foxington (who may or may not have secrets of her own), Richard Ayoade as the hilariously smug Professor Marmalade, and Alex Borstein as the no-nonsense Police Chief Misty Luggins. Every voice feels perfectly matched, giving the characters real personality and making their interactions sparkle.

Visually, The Bad Guys is a treat. The animation blends traditional 3D with stylized, sketchy textures that give it a comic-book vibe, complete with exaggerated expressions, dynamic camera angles, and action sequences that feel choreographed rather than merely animated. Car chases swoop and slide. Characters stretch and squash with cartoon elasticity. Every frame feels like it’s winking at you.

But what really elevates the film is its heart.

Underneath the slick heists and rapid-fire jokes is a genuinely thoughtful exploration of identity. The movie asks a surprisingly big question for a family film: if everyone expects you to be bad, what happens when you try to be good? It tackles labels, reputation, and self-fulfilling prophecy with a light touch, reminding us that change is possible—even when the whole world has already made up its mind about who you are.

The humor lands across generations. Kids get pratfalls, wild reactions, and visual gags. Adults get clever dialogue, genre-savvy jokes, and knowing nods to classic crime movies. It’s the rare animated film that feels equally at home entertaining a restless seven-year-old and a coffee-holding grown-up who appreciates a well-timed eyebrow raise.

By the time the credits roll, The Bad Guys has pulled off its greatest heist of all: convincing you that redemption arcs are best served with jazz music, fast cars, and a wolf who walks like he owns the sidewalk.

Rating

Psycho Bob and I love this movie. and we give it 4.5 uncrackable safes out of 5.The Bad Guys is funny, stylish, surprisingly sweet, and endlessly rewatchable. It proves being good doesn’t have to be boring and being bad doesn’t mean you’re stuck that way forever. A joyful, clever ride from start to finish.

Where to Stream

Psycho Bob and I watched this on Netflix, but it also on Prime Video and Apple TV.

Join us/Sign up/Catch our podcast

Every week, Whats Shakin With Shaner publishes a new blog/article on Wednesdays. Make sure you don't miss one and sign up today.

Join Here

To catch our bi-weekly podcast, "What' Shakin With Shaner", you can find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods, Podcast Addict, Amazon Music, Audible, I Heart Radio or at our website, shakinshaner.com. We publish a new episode every other Sunday.