Warning: Spoilers for The Bad Guys ahead.
The Bad Guys proves that even villains can turn good, in DreamWork's answer to Despicable Me, with an ending that holds a simple but sweet message. Pierre Perifel's directorial debut follows the anthropomorphic animal trend, with Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Sing 2 both released in the past six months. The Bad Guys is an exciting, gag-filled movie that will entertain kids and adults alike, with its fast pace and references to classic heist films.
Released in April 2022, The Bad Guys focuses on the antics of Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Ms. Tarantula, and Mr. Piranha, who have stolen enough riches to live a luxurious lifestyle. When the group is publicly mocked by the city's leader, Governor Foxington, they plot to steal the Golden Dolphin award, a trophy that several thieves have tried and failed to take in the past. After pulling off an Ocean's Eleven-style heist, The Bad Guys almost do the impossible but are caught by the police during their getaway. Facing prison, the squeaky clean Professor Marmalade volunteers to convert the wrongdoers into good guys.
In the end, the gang is set up by Marmalade, voiced by Richard Ayoade of The IT Crowd and Disenchantment, who steals a precious meteorite that grants him almost unlimited power, while letting The Bad Guys take the blame. The team uses their criminal wits to outsmart the dastardly guinea pig and save the day, proving that they can change. The movie is a surprisingly well-layered children's movie, with its substance matched by its striking animation style that mixes 2D and 3D. Here’s an explanation of The Bad Guys' ending twists and what's next for the group.
Why The Bad Guys' Snake, Marmalade & Foxington Twists Had To Happen
Rather than being the sweet-natured altruist that he appeared to be, Professor Marmalade turned out to be the true bad guy of the movie. The philanthropist volunteered to turn the criminals good, but his true intentions were to frame the gang so he could carry out his evil scheme undetected. The character draws clear parallels to other famous villains, like Spider-Man 2's Doctor Octopus, who was similarly desperate to control an ultimate power source and Toy Story 2's Stinky Pete, who also seemed like a loveable friend at first. Marmalade's dark turn needed to happen because it allowed The Bad Guys to use their heist skills for the greater good. Motivated by revenge, the group was able to deceive the nefarious rodent and become heroes for the people of the city.
The Bad Guys' next twist was Diane Foxington revealing herself to be the infamous "Crimson Paw," a long-retired criminal who was never caught. The first act teased Foxington as the movie's villain, with the city's Governor having a suspiciously deep understanding of criminal operations and even telling Sam Rockwell's Mr. Wolf that "some things aren't always as they appear" while they admired a piece of modern art. The message did ring true later in the film, but rather than opposing The Bad Guys, Foxington, the character voiced by Awkwafina, decides to team up with them. Foxington's twist proved to Mr. Wolf and his friends that it was possible to leave a life of crime behind and make a difference by turning good.
No character went on a greater journey than Mr. Snake. At the start of the film, the slippery veteran encompassed everything it means to be a villain and wouldn't be out of place in Reservoir Dogs. Disgusted by their turn to the good side, the sly reptile betrayed his friends to team up with Marmalade, only for that to be revealed as a ruse so that Mr. Snake could defeat the evil guinea pig from the inside. Snake's double twist was well executed in The Bad Guys, and it was necessary to make his eventual face-turn more rewarding. It also emphasized the movie's message that, despite appearances, anyone could be good, much like in DreamWork's beloved classic Shrek.
Why Everyone Else In The Bad Guy's City Is Human
A creative decision that may leave question marks for some is why everyone in The Bad Guys but the gang, Foxington, and Marmalade are humans. The reason for this is never explained in the movie, although it is an easy way to distinguish which characters the focus should be on, particularly during the busy car chase and heist scenes. Still, it is confusing that only the main characters are anthropomorphic, while other animals, like the guinea pigs that Professor Marmalade controls, act like normal animals. In similar movies, like Sing 2, all the characters are animals, including those in the background.
The animals embodied by the anthropomorphic Bad Guys are all carnivores, representing the danger they pose to others. They are also symbolic of each gang member's personality, Ms. Tarantula, for example, is able to hack into anything, much like a spider can creep into small spaces. The dynamic is used for laughs throughout the movie, particularly with Mr. Shark who is shown to be "the master of disguise" despite being the only enormous, earth-walking shark in the city. The Bad Guys also references other famous animal fables and fairy tales, with Mr. Fox seen wearing a sheep onesie (a literal wolf in sheep's clothing) and later disguised as a grandma, as in Little Red Riding Hood.
The Bad Guys 2 Story Setup: The Movie's Credits Scene Explained
Like most modern films, The Bad Guys has a mid-credits scene to set up a potential sequel. In the scene, Mr. Wolf and Mr. Snake are the last of the group to be let out of jail and are granted early release for good behavior, which shows they really have changed. They are picked up by the other Bad Guys and Foxington, who drives them into the city while asking the gang if they're "ready to get to work." Exactly what their next job will be is unknown, but it's realistic to expect them to be working as an unofficial law enforcement group that Foxington deploys against significant threats.
The Bad Guys have plenty of enemies in Aaron Blabey's source book series who could appear on the big screen. Dread Overlord Splaarghon, an evil multiverse conquering centipede, could well be the next big threat for the team. But audiences shouldn't write off the reemergence of a stronger version of Professor Marmalade, similar to Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik/Eggman in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
What The Bad Guys' Ending Really Means
Redemption is the main theme of The Bad Guys. The repeated rhetoric of the film's first act is that individuals are born good or bad, and that's largely determined by what they look like. By using scary animals as the makeup of the group, the movie demonstrates that anyone can do good. The twists also teach audiences not to judge a book by its cover, as none of the main characters are what they initially seem: Marmalade is evil, Foxington is more than just a politician, and The Bad Guys' criminal characters turn good.
The Bad Guys also digs deep into the dynamics of friendship, more than the typical animated movie targeted at children. The group members all trust one another and believe that as a team they can achieve anything, even if that is robbing a bank. When there is turmoil within the group, they are eventually able to resolve their issues and forgive one another to defeat Marmalade. The growth of the group will continue in The Bad Guys sequel, though no doubt Mr. Wolf and company will struggle to stay completely on the good side of things.