Even a “bad guy” can teach someone valuable life lessons through life situations

I am a sucker for animated movies. The way each movie can have its own sketch of characters who are then put into the visual perspectives of creators who understand their audience is truly impressive. In saying this, when I watched “The Bad Guys” in theaters with my high school ex-boyfriend, I did not expect to actually laugh and enjoy the movie.

Thank goodness I said yes to that date because I would have missed out on some fun characters and the excitement of seeing the sequel, “The Bad Guys 2.”  

In this sequel, we are once again introduced to the crew “led” by Mr. Wolf himself. Except in this introduction, it is revealed how the Bad Guys have been doing since they started their new life, trying to be good.  

Mr. Piranha, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Shark and Mr. Wolf have been struggling to find a job since no one wants to hire well-known criminals, despite their efforts in trying to change their ways. The only one in the bunch who seems happy is Mr. Snake, who is now living a healthier lifestyle and has a girlfriend. Now, we all know how one gets when they are in the “new relationship phase,” but who can honestly blame them?  

While all of this is going on, there’s someone else who has been pulling criminal stunts in the city, but no one can figure out who this individual is. However, everyone thinks it's the Bad Guys. In an effort to prove their innocence, the Bad Guys work with Commissioner Misty Luggins to figure out who the true criminal is. 

In an attempt to catch the criminal in their next criminal act at a wrestling match, the Bad Guys find themselves being framed and chased by the police instead. No worries, though, because this is when Mr. Snake’s girlfriend appears and gives the crew a runaway ride. In this runaway ride, all seems lighthearted and lovey-dovey with the crew and happy couple, until the mints the girlfriend gives to the crew causes them to fall unconscious. 

The Bad Guys wake up in a secluded room where three other individuals are shown before them, revealing that the “individual” who was behind all the criminal acts is none other than an all-female criminal crew. The new crew consists of Kitty Kat, Pigtail and Doom (Mr. Snake's girlfriend! Talk about falling for a baddie, am I right?) 

After the big reveal, the new crew gives the Bad Guys an ultimatum to help them with the biggest crime to go down in history or reveal Governor Diane Foxington’s (also Mr. Wolf’s

love interest! They aren’t together-together, but they’re together...) true identity instead.

With this ultimatum, the Bad Guys choose to help the new crew out but have something up their sleeves to get them out of the mess. 

Now, this is the part where you have to go watch the movie for yourself and see if the Bad Guys are now officially good or if they missed their old ways too much and gave in to the pressure. On a lighter side of curiosity, I do want to address what this movie taught viewers and what it will teach you when you go watch the movie. 

On a serious note, second chances are hard to come by and are not always given out by everyone. While this movie is a comedy, it shows how there are a lot of people who apply for jobs and seek second chances but are not given them because of their past choices and mistakes. It can range from a person who broke someone’s trust to a real-life criminal. At the end of the day, if the person acknowledges they are wrong and are intentionally trying to do better, then a second chance can actually do more good than harm for both parties. 

Another thing – bullying is never okay. I know we all have heard this at some point in our life, but it is really true when the person who is being bullied actually takes what was wrongfully said to them and acts out on it. Towards the end of the movie, Kitty Kat shares the story about how a teacher overlooked her and treated her differently because of the type of animal she was (basically because she was different.) This encouraged her to act differently and then everyone started doing what she wanted because they feared her. Same goes with Mr. Snake. No one wanted to be around a snake (referencing how people do not want to be around the “snake” in the group,) so he grew up with no friends until he met Mr. Wolf, and they both shared this same common situation. 

The movie emphasizes that you should treat others how you want to be treated. While an insult may be funny to you, it’s not funny to someone else. 

Also, to end on a funny note, Mr. Snake’s girlfriend is a raven. A snake and a raven in a relationship? This just proves that love comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and fur types. If that’s not a lesson in itself, then I don’t know what is.  

When you watch this movie, you are going to laugh, cringe and enjoy the fun nuggets the movie places in specific moments. Just don’t be like Mr. Piranha and pass gas when you don’t know what the next move is going to be.