Sam Rockwell is a wildly talented actor. It doesn’t matter what role he’s playing — he POPS on screen — from a seemingly expendable crewmember in Galaxy Quest to George Dubya Bush in Vice. Rockwell has been nominated for 112 awards (a real number) in film, television, and on stage. He’s won more than a third of them.
Yet, Rockwell’s role as Wolf in The Bad Guys franchise may be what he’s remembered for. I can’t think of many times an actor has owned an animated character like Rockwell owns Wolf. His enormous personality and confident delivery drive the story, force other actors to make decisions about who they are, make the fantastical accessible, and ground the other characters’ eccentricities. He is at the center of a complicated wheel of storytelling that somehow stays on track.
The Bad Guys 2 could easily become a tangled web of twists and fakes and misdirection. It doesn’t. Because the film is so well grounded, all of the surprises are fun to see unfold and retold.
It’s fun because, despite being somewhat of an anything-goes cartoon, The Bad Guys 2 has rules that every character must follow — rules about relationships, storytelling, and physics. The film will stretch to your limit of disbelief but never go beyond. It’s because the established rules make you believe there will be consequences for breaking them, whether it’s being a bad friend, making bad decisions, or being a bad driver.
Consequences are at the heart of the film. When you’re good at being bad, going straight can be difficult. But there are also rewards.
The Bad Guys 2 isn’t going to change your life. Its morals are basic, as are some of its laughs and stunts. Individually, they may not stand out. But assembled, the components of this movie all connect to make this sequel worthy of your next family film night.
Sip a bourbon. Numb your brain a tad. You’ll laugh with your kids. You’ll enjoy the complex twists and turns. You’ll even tolerate the non-complex fart jokes.
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Where to watch
Rating: PG (Me: 5+)
Directors: Pierre Perifel, JP Sans
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos
Run time: 1h 44m
Post-credits scenes: The mid-credits scene might be setting up something for the future. The post-credits scene is skippable — it’s just a recall to a quick joke made earlier in the film.
Bathroom breaks: According to RunPee…
- 26:25 During the ring fights
- 50:00 During the wedding scene
Sequel? Not yet confirmed, but the first two films are box office successes — and the franchise is based on a book series with a wealth of content to tap into. I’d say to expect a sequel.
If you liked The Bad Guys 2, check out these films:
- The Bad Guys (2022) (5+)
- Now You See Me (2013) (8+)
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001) (9+)
- Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) (6+)
- A Cat in Paris (2010) (4+)
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