Embracing the holiday season with their signature mischief, The Bad Guys now have a festive treat for fans in the form of a Christmas special. Although the animation falls short of the feature film's polished standards and the introduction of a new voice cast may initially disorient fans, the special proves to be an enjoyable addition to the franchise.
Running a concise twenty-two minutes, “The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday” takes place before the events of the movie The Bad Guys, showing the gang's plans for the ultimate Christmas heist. However, when their plans go awry, they must quickly adapt to save their holiday mischief.
Director: Bret Haaland
Writer: Aaron Blabey
Stars: Kari Wahlgren, Chris Diamantopoulos, Keith Silverstein
As is typical of short films made for television, the original star-studded cast voicing the characters is notably absent. Whether due to budget constraints or prior commitments, the result is a cast of new voices attempting to replicate familiar tones. The unpredictable nature of this mimicry can be distracting, sometimes hitting the mark but often veering off course.
Although the animation does not reach the same level of refinement seen in the feature film, it maintains the distinctive style of The Bad Guys by taking a simpler approach. Some scenes emphasize this simplicity more noticeably than others.
Where the special really excels is in its storytelling. Perfectly suited to mischief-prone bad guys, the narrative emphasizes that this story takes place before the gang's transformation in the film. This allows for a fun adventure in which the bad guys face unforeseen challenges and take unexpected actions to save their heist.
The conclusion offers humor that aligns perfectly with the characters, particularly resonating with fans familiar with the books and film. Overall, “The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday” falls between not bad and not exceptional. It serves as a delightful addition to the franchise, one that will likely be enjoyed repeatedly by younger fans looking for a dose of Christmas cheer, a purpose for which it seems expressly designed.
Synopsis: In this prequel adventure to the feature film, the bad guys revel in the joy of Christmas morning and seize the opportune moment for their city-wide Christmas heist. However, when Christmas faces an unexpected cancellation, the bad guys are forced to perform an unthinkable act: revive the town's Christmas spirit by giving instead of receiving. Based on the DreamWorks Animation feature film, The Bad Guys.
Comments
Post a Comment