Here’s a neat and iridescent computer-animate tale from the studio that brought you Trolls and Croods that cribs from live-action franchises like Ocean’s Eleven and The Italian Job, as well and Fast and Furious, for the younger set.
The Bad Guys includes the voices of Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, and Richard Ayoade. But, little imagination exists despite flavorful music and smooth segueing from what the cast ably does from a series of children’s graphic novels from Aussie Aaron Blabey mainly involving anthropomorphic characters.
Director Pierre Perifel works from the script by Etan Cohen (Holmes & Watson) whereby creatures attempting after their illicitness isn’t as beneficial as the acts would suggest.
The outset at a diner recalls a noted Quentin Tarantino film starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson; here the suave Mr. Wolf or Big Bad (Rockwell) with his safe-cracking top assistant Mr. Snake (Marc Aaron) discuss an elaborate heist.
They’ll flummox the panting Luggins (an insufferable Alex Borstein) after another successful getaway abetted by the likes of Mr. Piranha (an eruptive Anthony Ramos). Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson in wacky chameleonic mode) and committed tech guru Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina).
However, Beetz’s cajolingly sly Gov. Foxington puts the undeterred group in their pace when they’re tasked to snatch an accolade for quixotic, opulent guinea pig Prof. Marmalade (Ayoade, oozing with English-accented slippery charisma) for outstanding philanthropic services at a museum with upper-crust types. Mr. Wolf and his cohorts can be put in their proper place with the help of the custodial Marmalade as a key twist will hardly be unexpected. Look out for a swath of special guinea pigs as the makers are cognizant of the another Minions feature on the horizon.
Frivolity and gastrointestinal humor are indeed a narrative propulsion leaving other amusing interludes likes a rescue up in a tree, so to speak. A combination of dimensionality in the animation has an attractive, if less than photorealistic effect with lengthy chases zooming with regularity. As Perifel and his army of craftspeople know how to hypnotize its demographic with sick, if zesty images.
Those not knowing Danny Ocean will like the intonations of Rockwell amid all the routine schtick as ‘Guys’ isn’t so bad as to be good in being instructional in the ilk family friendly animation; still in ways less captivating than its energy and attitude make it out to be.