The following contains spoilers for The Bad Guys 2, now playing in theatersThe Bad Guys 2 is one of the most overtly political films DreamWorks has ever released, with a strong social subtext playing out in the film. Based on the book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys focuses on a group of career criminals and best friends who find themselves challenged by the prospect of redemption. For the most part, this allows the filmmakers and cast to have some cartoonish fun with the conventions of the traditional heist thriller tropes, resulting in two well-received Bad Guys films.

However, the DreamWorks sleeper hit takes on a few more layers by infusing the characters with a clear sense of motivation to actually go good. While the redemption arc baked into the premise will feel familiar to any fan of DreamWorks films like Megamind or Illumination’s Despicable Me franchise, The Bad Guys and The Bad Guys 2 really lean into this aspect of the story. In fact, The Bad Guys 2 features some clear satire and commentary about the state of justice and redemption in modern society, making it DreamWorks’ most political work to date.

The Bad Guys Is Quietly About The American Justice System

The Bad Guys Doesn’t Shy Away From Its Views On Criminals And Ex-Cons

For all the goofy action and heist twists of The Bad Guys and The Bad Guys 2, the thematic subtext of the film is a surprisingly pointed look at justice in the United States. In The Bad Guys, Wolf and his cohorts are introduced as unrepentant criminals. However, the opening sequence illustrates that this is spurred on by society’s rejection of them.

Dubbed “monsters” by the public even when they’re just hanging out at the beach or trying to go to the gym, the Bad Guys embrace their criminal way of life out of necessity instead of pure malice. The Bad Guys isn’t hyper critical of the police, but turns them into a nameless horde that causes collateral damage pursuing non-violent bank robbers.

Even the Bad Girls of The Bad Guys 2 are given a touch of this motivation. Kitty Kat’s conversation with Wolf highlights how she’s felt judged since childhood for her appearance and personality — prompting her to become the criminal people ᴀssumed her to be.

This subtly factors into the dehumanizing perspective of the general populace, playing into the main characters being some of the only talking animals in a largely human world. Wolf and Diane even talk about this in the first film, noting that Diane had to work hard to get people to look past their perceptions of foxes to accept her.

The Bad Guys films instead villainize wealthy characters like Professor Marmalade (a member of the elite who uses his positive persona to hide his criminal schemes) or Mr. Moon (whose lavish wealth and personal rocket company set up The Bad Guys 2‘s climax). This plays into the subtext of the films as they take on a more progressive angle.

The Bad Guys 2 Is About Societal Bias & The Challenges Of Being An Ex-Con

Why Try To Join A Society That Keeps Rejecting You?

One of the most interesting elements of The Bad Guys 2 is the way the film deals with the fallout of a traditional redemption story. By the end of The Bad Guys, the тιтular group have embraced a better path. However, The Bad Guys 2 makes it clear that being ex-cons recently released from prison isn’t easy.

The Bad Guys spend weeks desperately applying to any job they can find, only to be turned away at every turn. They’re at risk of being evicted. They are openly suspected of committing crimes they have no connection to, and are frowned upon by society at large. Wolf is particularly wounded by this, wondering aloud why it’s worth saving a society that doesn’t want them.

As Kitty explains to Wolf during their conversation, she’s been similarly judged her whole life. The film’s portrayal of Kitty (as well as casting Danielle Brooks in the role) is racially charged in an effective, a clear reflection of how prejudice from a young age hardened her into a more ruthless criminal than Wolf.

There’s a potent subtext in the storyline between Wolf, Diane, and Kitty, all career criminals with different views on redemption. Kitty embraces fear in lieu of respect. As Diane explains to Wolf, he needs to earn respect to be accepted — but Wolf also calls out how easy it can be to feel hopeless in that situation.

It’s a feeling that many Americans can understand, even if they aren’t among the 1.8 million people currently incarcerated in the United States, according to World Population Review. Even if former criminals like the Bad Guys want to find a place in society, sometimes society won’t let them in.

The Bad Guys Is More Than Just A Redemption Story

Wolf’s Arc Is About How Redemption Doesn’t Guarantee A Second Chance

Despite Wolf briefly being tempted to return to his life of crime, there’s no real plot beat in The Bad Guys 2 that pushes them back into active criminality. They are blackmailed into helping the Bad Girls to save Diane’s career, and plan to expose the Bad Girls to finally change the world’s perception of them.

Notably, one of the biggest challenges the Bad Guys face in The Bad Guys 2 is how society refuses to even give them a chance at redemption. Various employers turn the Bad Guys away from every interview, even gleefully shredding Wolf’s resume as soon as he leaves the office. It’s a grim reflection of the challenges many face after prison.

The wrestling fans ignore the match they just watched to ᴀssume the Bad Guys are stealing the тιтle belt, while the police are quick to suspect the Bad Guys are behind a new string of crimes in the city. It’s not that the Bad Guys haven’t been redeemed; the problem is the rest of the world that hasn’t recognized that.

Even in the film’s ending, the general populace only accepts the Bad Guys are truly redeemed after they’ve faked their deaths. In one of the film’s sliest pieces of commentary, a tearful Tiffany Fluffit reports on their funeral about how society failed to accept their redemption — after spending the whole film reporting on them as if they were already guilty.

“Guilty until proven innocent” is one of Wolf’s most memorable lines from the first film. Especially after the second film, it feels like a particularly fitting mantra in an America where controversies over profiling, police brutality, and extreme sentencing are the norm.

It’s notable that the Bad Guys only get the chance to save the day thanks to Misty Luggins. The police commissioner in The Bad Guys 2 after being a hero-antagonist in the first film, Luggins is deeply distrustful of the Bad Guys. Even after working with the group, she is quick to believe they have gone back to their old ways.

However, unlike almost every other authority figure in this world (save the former thief Diane), Luggins eventually gives the Bad Guys a chance. This pays off in a major way, leading to the defeat of the Bad Girls. It’s not just on the former criminals to redeem themselves, but it’s on society to find a way to trust them.

Redemption is at the core of both The Bad Guys films, but they also tackle the deceptively complex topic with a satirical eye and a surprising amount of introspection. The second movie especially leans into a progressive worldview on the challenges of ex-cons and the importance of reintegrating them into society instead of locking them away forever.

This is what makes The Bad Guys 2 a surprisingly progressive story and helps elevate The Bad Guys films as a piece of political storytelling. It’s a universal story of growth, afforded more depth by its clear view on a real world issue. It makes The Bad Guys 2 a better and more engaging film, and elevates the series as one of DreamWorks’ most political series.

Source: World Population Review,