Review: The Bad Guys

Disclosure: A complimentary code was provided to preview the film. 

The Bad Guys is now in theaters!

Synposis: 

Nobody has ever failed so hard at trying to be good as The Bad Guys.

In the new action comedy from DreamWorks Animation, based on the New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are about to attempt their most challenging con yet—becoming model citizens.

Never have there been five friends as infamous as The Bad Guys—dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf (Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), seen-it-all safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron, GLOW), chill master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson, Hot Tub Time Machine franchise), short-fused “muscle” Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos, In the Heights) and sharp-tongued expert hacker Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina, Crazy Rich Asians), aka “Webs.”

But when, after years of countless heists and being the world’s most-wanted villains, the gang is finally caught, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal (that he has no intention of keeping) to save them all from prison: The Bad Guys will go good.

Under the tutelage of their mentor Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade, Paddington 2), an arrogant (but adorable!) guinea pig, The Bad Guys set out to fool the world that they’ve been transformed. Along the way, though, Mr. Wolf begins to suspect that doing good for real may give him what he’s always secretly longed for: acceptance. So when a new villain threatens the city, can Mr. Wolf persuade the rest of the gang to become … The Good Guys?

My son was very eager to watch The Bad Guys, as we've had this book in our home for a while now.  I was unfamiliar with the story, but not long after the movie started, I enjoyed the cleverness and vibe of the movie, which is definitely appealing to both kids and adults.  

In fact, as the movie went on, it reminded me of some blockbuster hits, such as Ocean's Eleven, with smooth-talking characters that you couldn't help but root for.

The Bad Guys, a "criminal crew of animals" as my son puts it, are Mr. Wolf, Mr. Tarantula, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha.  Pivotal moments early in the movie has Mr. Wolf convincing his cohort to prove they can be good, so they can do bad and no one will suspect them.

Unfortunately, they are blamed for a crime that they did not commit, and in finding out the real perpetrators, they discovered other animals' true personas.

Ultimately, after some twists (both surprising and predictable), The Bad Guys do indeed turn into The Good Guys.

The Bad Guys was a great and funny family film that had my youngest laughing at some very silly and memorable moments in the movie.  The movie kept his attention while teaching him a great lesson!  

For theaters and showtimes, click here.