The Bad Guys, the latest animated caper from Dreamworks and Universal, arrives in US theaters this weekend. Based on a beloved children's book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey, the film follows a group of criminal animals trying to turn a corner for the better. Sam Rockwell (whose voice acting has shined in Trolls World Tour and The One and Only Ivan) stars as Mr. Wolf, the defacto leader. The film is filled to the brim with comedic talent, including Craig Robinson (Peacock's Killing It) as Shark, Marc Maron (GLOW) as Snake, and Anthony Ramos (In The Heights) as Piranha.
The truly hilarious trio of actors spoke to Screen Rant about seeing themselves in their characters, which member of the gang would be the most fun to hang out with, and what they're doing this weekend.
Screen Rant: Congrats on the film. I loved it; I watched it twice. I thought the animation was so striking. What's the most surprisingly great thing about doing animation?
Craig Robinson: I love that I can keep the energy up through different ways. If you've got to run in place or whatever - just things you can't do in live action, you can do to keep your energy going. It adds so much more to the character without people having to know that you did it.
Marc Maron: For me, it was that DreamWorks was literally an eight-minute drive from my house. I could go... They could need me at 10, and I could leave at 10 to 10 and have a couple minutes to have a sip of water. The convenient commute was the unique thing for me.
It's a big selling point.
Anthony Ramos: It's just the process, you know? Seeing your character develop. You come in and there's nothing - there's no sketch, really, or anything. They're like, "Yo, this is just the idea."
You come in, you start voicing the character and you start to see them. Every session you come in, you see how your character is being developed more and more and more and more. And then eventually they start to set the animation to your voice. You start to see the mannerisms; that face you made when you did that line that one time. You're like, "Oh man, that's crazy!"
Just being able to see that translation.
Do you see yourselves in the characters? A lot of times in animation, they'll add some of your features, and you can kind of see that it looks like you. Was there anything you noticed?
Marc Maron: It sounded a lot like me.
Yeah, I noticed that too. I thought that was weird.
Marc Maron: I definitely related to the guy. I don't think they gave him any of my features, but I kind of adapted my voice to what I thought he would be like.
How do you find the voice? What were some of the tricks you used to find who these characters are?
Marc Maron: I always start yelling. That's the trick for me. If it's an aggravated thing, let's take it all the way up and yell, and then just take it down a notch. That's usually the only note they have for me. "You can take it down a little bit. Just take it down a little bit. Maybe soften it a little."
What is your favorite takeaway or lesson from The Bad Guys?
Marc Maron: [To Craig] Did you put a lozenge in your mouth? He's gonna say friendship.
Marc, I'll let you do the voice for Craig.
Anthony Ramos: No, it's true. It's true.
Marc Maron: He's gonna say friendship, because a lot of... What?
Craig Robinson: There's a beautiful message of friendship and having each other's back through the end, even through turmoil, [and] coming back together to be friends. What about you?
Marc Maron: For me, it was that people can change. You maybe have difficulties, but people are able to change. Become better, become good, become more self-aware.
Anthony Ramos: Don't judge a book by its cover, you know? There's good in every bad guy.
Marc Maron: This is all so spontaneous, what's happening.
Anthony Ramos: [laughs] This is the most spontaneous thing.
Which of The Bad Guys would you most want to go out on the town with for an evening?
Craig Robinson: [points to Anthony] Easily Piranha.
Marc Maron: Piranha. Very fun, because he'd go get into trouble and you could just sit there going, "Oh, no, man. Should we just go?"
Craig Robinson: Although Wolf was pretty cool.
Marc Maron: They were all pretty good, yeah.
Anthony Ramos: They've got swag.
Anthony, not to single you out. But beginning this summer, I believe you're going into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marc Maron: What now?
Craig Robinson: Is that Transformers? Congratulations, bro!
Marc Maron: Which one? What is it?
Anthony Ramos: No, no. This Disney+ joint called Ironheart. I'm excited.
Marc Maron: What do you got going on, Craig?
Anthony Ramos: Yeah, I start training next month, so we'll see how that goes.
Craig Robinson: What you training for? What are you gonna do, swords? Karate?
Anthony Ramos: [laughs] No, just lifting weights. Push-ups, just trying to...
Marc Maron: Where are you gonna be appearing, Craig? What do you got coming out?
Craig Robinson: I have San Jose improv this weekend, so there's that.
Anthony Ramos: Everyone go see him in San Jose improv this weekend. Stop playing and get your tickets! Stop playing.
The Bad Guys Synopsis
After a lifetime of legendary heists, notorious criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are finally caught. To avoid a prison sentence, the animal outlaws must pull off their most challenging con yet -- becoming model citizens. Under the tutelage of their mentor, Professor Marmalade, the dubious gang sets out to fool the world that they're turning good.
Check back soon for our interviews with The Bad Guys stars Zazie Beetz and Lilly Singh, as well as with director Pierre Perifel.
The Bad Guys is out in theaters starting April 22.
