The Bad Guys 2 Parent Guide

Since committing to being good, the Bad Guys have had a rough time. No one will hire them because of their criminal records, and many people are still skeptical of their proclaimed change of heart. When a new criminal starts pulling off heists using some of the group’s signature tricks, the Bad Guys immediately jump into action to help law enforcement solve the crimes, but their involvement soon puts them in the path of a dangerous crime group who want to pull the Bad Guys into their lawless orbit.

As a fan of the original Bad Guys movie, I was a little apprehensive going into the sequel. Animated sequels rarely nail the landing, so I tried to keep my expectations low. However, it turns out that I needn’t have worried because The Bad Guys 2 is just as good, if not better, than the original. The zany antics are hilarious and cleverly written, the animation is rich and true to the graphic novel style, and the story raises the stakes without compromising the overarching themes. I laughed, I gasped, and overall, I just had a (unexpectedly) great time.

One of my favorite things about this franchise is its messaging. This film isn’t afraid to show children that being good can be hard. The story grapples with the idea that being bad is a shortcut to success, but that being good gains you respect rather than fear. On top of these messages stand the larger moral themes, as the film also tackles hope, determination, second chances, and teamwork.

Besides these important issues, the movie is laugh out loud funny. Yes, the script still features fart jokes, but overall, it’s a cleverly written tale that’s sure to delight audiences of all ages. The writing is shockingly good, with subtle foreshadowing in the first act that I didn’t even pick up on until it circled back in the end. The characters are layered and given room to grow, and the story is easy to follow but still has unexpected twists and turns. This is the level of script writing that all children’s media should have but it is dishearteningly rare.

With similar levels of negative content concerns to the original, The Bad Guys 2 is a fantastic follow up to one of the best children’s movies of the past five years. Both children and adults are sure to have a great time with it; I know I did.

About author

Savannah Sillito

Savannah Sillito is a librarian with a master's in library science, a bachelor's degree in English, and a certificate in early childhood education. She enjoys nonfiction books, travel, and is a staunch proponent of the Oxford comma.