Movie Review: The Bad Guys

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B

A really fun feature length cartoon. 

What I really liked about this film is that it never tried to hide its cartoon roots. Instead this movie =embraces its cartoon roots. Despite being CGI, the film never tries to look more realistic and is instead stylized in the best UPA style manner. The design work alone gives the movie a unique feel in the Dreamworks cannon and makes the film automatically appealing. Also helping this film is the great use cartoon style gags and action. This is especially true of the opening scenes, which are simply a lot of fun. Speaking of gags, this ranks as possibly the funniest Dreamworks movie in years. Not only do the gags come fast and furious but many of them are quite funny and I laughed more watching this picture than I excepted too. A few times I admit to really laughing out loud. However the jokes that didn't make me laugh out loud, still kept a smile firmly set on my face. The movie is also helped by great main characters. Despite being bad guys these characters are automatically quite likable. They all have their own unique personalities and true to the message of the film, they are more than the stereotypes they first appear to be. Not only are these characters good on their own, but they work even better together. The interplay between Wolf and Snake is fantastic and it is simply a joy to watch those two characters share the screen. 

On the downside this movie is incredibly predictable. If anyone couldn't see any of the big twists coming than they have probably never seen a movie before. There was not a second in which I could not easily figure out what was going to happen next. However if the destination is predictable that is forgivable if the journey is a lot of fun and this one is. 

Pure cartoon silliness and fun from start to finish.