The laughs are easy and breezy at the beginning of “The Bad Guys,” and the animated comedy’s sun-baked vibe radiates Southern California cool.
A wolf named Wolf and a snake named Snake enjoy snappy banter at a retro L.A. diner, having the kind of conversation they’ve probably had countless times over their years of friendship.
This opening scene of “The Bad Guys” is its strongest, and it offers great promise.
Based on the kids’ graphic novel series by Aaron Blabey, “The Bad Guys” follows a group of fun-loving criminals who lean into their rap as the villains of the animal kingdom for thrills and profit.
Simply removing The Bad Guys from a superhero/supervillain context, however, helps distinguish it from its many predecessors.
Even when The Bad Guys resembles other movies, it’s stealing from them gracefully, with its own sensibility and energy.
The animation is colorful and lively—almost incessant, really—and the physical comedy is at its most inspired when it subtly toys with the natural instincts