A review of "Bad Guys," a Tarantino, Soderbergh, and Wright-inspired animated action film
Dreamworks' first original project in three years, combining the best elements of action comedies.
A gang of brilliant criminals (Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake and Mrs. Tarantula) get involved in the biggest con of their lives. The robbers decide to steal the Golden Dolphin statuette, an honorary prize given to city residents for good deeds. But their plan goes awry: the thieves are caught red-handed and threatened with life in prison. To avoid imprisonment, the gang have to learn how to do good deeds. In this they will be helped by the charming guinea pig Rupert Marmalade, a scientist with his own mansion, who seems to be hiding a lot behind his harmless exterior.
"Bad Guys" is the first original Dreamworks cartoon in several years, which may well become a cult movie. Not only is the plot based on the popular overseas series of children's books by the Australian Aaron Blaby (the cycle consists of 14 stories, which may well become the basis for a number of sequels), but also in the structure itself. In front of us is not just a parody of the iconic crime thrillers, and a full-fledged original world, combining the best elements of Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino and even Edgar Wright.
Already from the first announcements, the new Dreamworks film was seen as a new breath for the genre. "Bad Guys" was to be the first solo project of the talented Frenchman Pierre Perifel (animator of "The Illusionist" and "Kung Fu Panda") in the full-length format. Project screenwriter Ethan Cohen, known for his work on the second "Madagascar" and the popular comedy action film "Soldiers of Fortune," also stood out. Despite their big ambitions (at a closed studio presentation, the project was called a children's version of Tarantino's films), the duo was clearly able to achieve their goals: "Bad Guys" is not ashamed to be ranked among the classic action comedies.
It is hard to imagine another animation studio agreeing to give money to this project. "Bad Guys" not only makes another attempt to transfer elements of genre pictures to the format of animation, but actually breaks the idea of the possibilities of delivering important lessons to the younger generation. The story before the audience is about a group of badass psychopaths trying to become decent, despite their moral principles. The director tries in every possible way to emphasize the impossibility of changing the characters of the characters in front of us: sometimes he puts kigurumi on all the gang members, then he sets "impossible" tasks to move an old lady across the street and save a kitty cat from a tree, then he ruins their genius plans because of some trifles.
"Bad Guys" is a perfect Dreamworks project, combining several fundamental themes touched on by the studio in its classic works at once. These include the breakdown of traditional notions of genre tropes ("Shrek"), the idealization of the images of overt antagonists ("Underwater Bratva"), and the story about the interaction between humans and the animal world ("Madagascar"). The latter clearly sets "Bad Guys" apart from the already bored "Zveropoy" and "Zveropolis" look-alikes: "Talking" animals in the world of the cartoon coexist with representatives of human civilization. Let this move initially alarming by its unusual, but then it still finds a logical reason for the film.
The success of the Frenchman's debut project first of all depended on the successful development of the characters: each recidivist is able to win the hearts of young (and not very) viewers. Here is a reinterpretation of the classic characters from crime movies: the charming Mr. Wolf put on George Clooney's jacket from "Ocean's Eleven" and inherited the incredible charisma of a thief, the hacker Mrs. Tarantula adds an extra pair of legs for computer work, and the badass Mr. Snake refuses to change his way of life by all means. Separately, there is Mr. Shark, the master of disguise who once stole the "Mona Lisa" in a Mona Lisa costume, and the small and impulsive bully Mr. Piranha. It is on this couple that most of the gags are based: the awkward situations in which the characters find themselves are contrasted with their characters, which will allow you to barely hold back a smile.
The creators do not forget about the action, which perfectly complements the rhythm of the project. A huge arsenal of chases, fights and robberies, copying the features of the best examples of the genre, unfolds before us. At times the director almost cites "Mission: Impossible", "Drive Boy", "Fast and Furious 5" and Ocean Trilogy frame by frame. At the same time, it is difficult to imagine that most of the scenes shown in animation format could have been reproduced in big cinema: the final chase, which hardly needs comparisons, deserves special attention.
"Bad Guys" does for action-comedy movies roughly what "Kung Fu Panda" did for Eastern cinema. What we have before us is a careful adaptation of the best details of the genre for young audiences, referring to iconic works. It will hardly surprise anyone if "Bad Guys" gets a few more sequels: we have a strong foundation of the whole franchise, based on an essential source material in the form of the popular book series.
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