MOVIE REVIEW: THE BAD GUYS 2

 

Reformed criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are trying very hard to be good. However, they soon find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes heist that's masterminded by a new team of delinquents they never saw coming -- the Bad Girls.

Director: Pierre Perifel

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova, Natasha Lyonne

Release Date: August 1, 2025

Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family, Mystery

Rated PG for action/mild violence, rude humor and language.

Runtime: 1h 44m

Review:

The Bad Guys 2 is an energetic follow up to the original that's more than capable of standing on its own two feet with bigger action sequences, paired with a fun script and confident voicework from its cast.  Pierre Perifel follows up his original film with another blast of colorful, kinetic pop that's able to deliver fun for kids and adults alike.  The film's animated Ocean's Eleven energy is a fun departure from the standard family fare.  It’s still got a solid underlying message about finding redemption after making mistakes but it’s never overly didactic in its messaging which allows it to keep an adventurous sense of fun.  Sam Rockwell, Craig Robinson, Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos and Marc Maron all return from the original as the titular Bad Guys who are now finding their way after they've reformed.  They share an established chemistry together that works well for the story especially when the script lets them bounce back and forth with slyly witty dialogue.   Sam Rockwell again serves as the film's backbone as the Wolf who still possess the natural confidence from the first film, but the character is given some actual growth as he tries to navigate the straight and narrow while keeping his crew together.  Danielle Brooks is a perfect foil to his character as a fan/competitor who drags him back for one last heist by blackmailing him.  Brooks brings a similar sort of confidence as the leader of the Bad Girls who feels wants to leave her mark regardless of the consequences.  Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne are fun as her lackey's although the script gives them the short end of the stick with neither getting fleshed out the way the other characters are.  Lyonne manages to make the most of scenes especially early when paired with Marc Maron's Snake.  Once we arrive at the extended final act, the film starts to lose a bit of steam as it struggles with the same energy which could have been fixed with some judicious editing to knockdown the film's runtime by 15 minutes or so.  That being said The Bad Guys 2 proves to be one of the better animated sequences that improves on nearly everything that made the original work.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE COLOR PURPLE

Torn apart from her sister and her children, Celie faces many hardships in life, including an abusive husband. With support from a sultry singer named Shug Avery, as well as her stand-her-ground stepdaughter, Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.

Director: Blitz Bazawule

Cast: Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Louis Gossett Jr., Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Ciara, Jon Batiste, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Release Date: December 25, 2023

Genre: Drama, Musical

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual content, violence and language.

Runtime: 2h 21m

The Color Purple is a lavishly constructed, vibrant musical which does a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of the original film for a new audience.  Blitz Bazawule confidentially directs the film with a decisive hand, staging a series of wonderfully choreographed musical numbers that each bring a distinctive kind of energy.  These sequences serve as the film's beating heart and in those moments the energy pops off the screen with impressive verve.  There are moments that echo other film musicals like Chicago or more fanciful moments similar to Julie Taymor's Across the Universe.  It’s a fascinating blend of styles and approaches that works in the film's favor for the most part even though some of dramatic weight of the story gets lost in spots.  There's a lighter tone throughout even as Celie experiences some of the uglier bits of abuse from Mister which makes for an abrupt turn after lively musical moments.  The ensemble cast manages to balance those moments thanks to strong performances across the board.  Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Halle Bailey leave a lasting impression in their limited screen time during the film's open act before Fantasia Barrino takes center stage.  Barrino's turn is understated, meek, earnest and ultimately hopeful.  Her performance isn't as big as other more outsized characters, but she manages to be the backbone of the film before being allowed to display her immense vocal talent in a series of revelatory songs.  Barrino share excellent onscreen chemistry with the cast with it really shining through when paired with Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks.  Henson and Brooks are perfectly suited to play their outsized and more garish characters with the latter stealing nearly every scene she's in.  Colman Domingo's baritone voice is perfectly suited for his turn as Mister, even though he's never quite as menacing as Danny Glover in the original film, mainly due to an inherent kindness that comes through all his performances in general.  Corey Hawkins possesses a similar energy which is much better suited for his character, Harpo, more so than Domingo's Mister.  It makes some slightly strange dynamics which the film can't quite balance perfectly in the non musical moments.  Minor issues like that can be forgiven thanks to the quality of the performances and direction which is sure to leave an impression regardless if people are experiencing the story for the first time or are already familiar with it.  

A-