I just got back from seeing The Bad Guys 2 in theaters, and I need to get my thoughts out there. First, let’s get the obvious out of the way: this movie was a cinematic masterpiece. It’s an easy 9/10 for me, a truly solid film that gets so much right. But there was one thing that kept it from being a perfect 10/10.
Table of Contents
A Solid Foundation: Plot, Characters, and an Epic Finale
Overall, this movie delivered on every front. The plot was fantastic, the character development felt meaningful and earned, and the ending was great. Everything about the core of the film was just excellent. It’s a rare sequel that feels like it builds on the original in all the right ways.
My Main Critique: A Rushed Pace and an Unfinished Story
The only thing holding this movie back from perfection, in my opinion, is that the plot felt a bit rushed. To be clear, it’s not that the movie is missing anything, but it feels like everything happens at once. I was surprised when the ending started to unfold because I thought it was going to happen much later in the runtime.
This rushed feeling also left Kitty’s story a bit unexplained. We still have no idea why she wanted to become bad in the first place. I have a strong feeling this will be a major plot point for the third movie, but it felt like a loose thread in this one.
Modern Touches: The Good and the Weird
I’m also sensing a trend in movies like this where they feel a little forced to be more modern. It was a bit weird hearing presumably adult characters in an animated kids’ movie using Gen Z slang like “friend-zoned.” It just felt a little out of place.
That being said, some of the modern touches were hilarious and worked perfectly. Hearing Snake listening to “Espresso” was genuinely funny, and the Cardi B appearance was actually very fitting for the scene she was in.
So that’s my take! It’s an incredible film that I highly recommend, even if it moves a little too fast. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
