THE BAD GUYS

US, 2022, 100 minutes, Colour.

Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, Lilly Singh.

Directed by Pierre Perifel.

There is a special Australian interest in this very American animated production. The series of The Bad Guys, graphic novels, designed for children’s audiences, was written by Australian author, former actor, Aaron Blabey. He also serves as executive producer for this film.

So, what would we expect, if we did not know the series, from a movie called The Bad Guys? Whatever it might have been, most audiences will be satisfied, many will be highly entertained.

The characters are well drawn, quite individual, a charming wolf who is the mastermind of The Bad Guys, a slithering snake who wants to be bad, a petite tarantula who is adept at computers and technology, a rather cumbersome shark with a genial personality able to adapt to many situations, and a piranha who likes baring teeth and taking over. And there are some other interesting principal characters, the governor of the state, a pleasant and attractive fox, a do-gooding Professor, minute, a a guinea pig, and a large, forward bending, teeth baring, intense police chief. And, as can be seen by the credits, there is a very talented voice cast.

One of the main advantages for all audiences is that the screenplay is quite humorous, a lot of repartee and banter, some ironies, not just for the young but engaging enough to entertain older audiences.

Various schemes, robberies, betrayals, double crosses, villainous twists.

Actually, it wouldn’t be too bad to watch it again!

1. The popularity of Erin Blabey’s books, graphic novels series? Characters, adventures?
2. The style of the animation, each of the distinctive characters, settings, conventions, prisons, cells, public meetings, the laboratories, special effects and stunts? The musical score?
3. The title, the group of animal characters, their reputation, philosophy of life, camaraderie? An interesting group of characters? Plus Professor Marmalade, plus Diane, plus the police chief?
4. The dialogue, the humour, wit, repartee? Engaging for younger audiences? Entertaining for adult audiences?
5. Audience interest in each of the characters, Wolf as leader, his appearance, manner of speaking, self-confidence, thinking himself as a Big Bad Wolf, mastermind, the various crimes and robberies, his plans, and the audience seeing the room with its vast amount of stolen objects? His repartee? Wanting to be bad, experiencing good, the alarm at his tail wagging?
6. Snake, drawing, voice, characteristics of snakes, wanting to be bad, feeling betrayed by Wolf when he becomes good? Skills in the plots, slithering, x-ray eyes? Voice?
7. Tarantula, many fingers, adept at technology, her voice, loyalties?
8. Shark, large, variety of voices, impersonations, as female, as male, improvising, meeting people, singing, providing diversions?
9. Piranha, teeth, small, vicious, taking over at times, performing and attracting attention?
10. Diane, the governor, the smooth fox, charm, political career, condemning the Bad Guys, her interviews? Her wanting them to be reformed? Handing over to Professor Marmalade? Her supervision, the revelation that she was a jewel thief, her reform, being good, helping people?
11. Professor Marmalade, all the awards, his reputation, doing good? His very British voice? Guinea pig? Diminutive?
12. The police chief, large, her teeth, her walk, vigorous, always on the attack, wanting to get the Bad Guys?
13. The situations, Wolf and the old lady and helping her, being entrapped by Marmalade? The robberies, the set-ups, the manoeuvres, Wolf and the temptations to goodness? The failure of the operation, their being arrested, imprisoned? The professor and his taking over, wanting them to be good, the various trainings, testing, the different reactions and humour?
14. The meteor, the exposition, the plan, Wolf and his second failure? The manoeuvres of all the other Bad Guys to distract? Wolf and his being taken?
15. Professor Marmalade, the revelation of who he was, his plans, his testing them, tricking them? The meteor and its power?
16. Snake, disappointed, separating, going with the professor, the helmet, the meteor? Collaborating with him, the public gathering?
17. Wolf, his reform, the meteor which was only a lamp, the group, the disappointment of their walking out on him, the return and reconciliation, Diane, the car chase,?
18. Snake, the revelation, his saving the day, wanting to be good?
19. The police chief, her role in the arrest, Wolf and his smooth talking with her and her reputation, her speech?
20. And the happy ending for all – and a happy and humorous experience for the audience?