The Bad Guys

Under the wing of DreamWorks, The Bad Guys pulls off the miraculous task of taking role models that would come off as horrible by another animation studio and yet somehow making them into positive influences on kids. Yet there’s just as much heart to please the grownups as well as professional animators, starting with its opening scene that is a continuous shot focused on a casual conversation in a diner, like in Pulp Fiction. There are also fun car chases similar to those found in The Blues Brothers and elements found in heist movies like Reservoir Dogs.
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As for the animation, the refreshingly bright backgrounds are made from splotches of paint while the special effects tricks create 2D smoke with lines drawn on the computer graphics to resemble a comic book illustration. The eyes of the characters are intentionally given no lighting or texture, yet still glow brighter than anything else in the frame. The way the city skyline is rendered with its haze and sun flares are intentionally meant to resemble an instantly recognizable look for Los Angeles, the city this movie takes place in. The animators furthermore had the challenge of translating live reference footage of dancers into anthropomorphic animals who had to do those same dances. With all these elements brought together into a satisfying whole, DreamWorks Animation created an exciting little movie that parents and their kids can have fun watching together.

PG (DV)
Comedy/Fantasy
1 hr. 40 min.

Watch it for FUN.
Watch it to feel HAPPY.