Tag: Dreamworks

The Bad Guys 2

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The Bad Guys are back and they are set on turning over a new leaf. Life on the other side of crime isn’t easy as Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) struggle to find new jobs. When they are forced out of retirement, they need to decide if being good is what they really want.

I enjoyed the first Bad Guys film. The story was interesting and the animation had a modernized twist to it. I had no idea Dreamworks were making a sequel until recently. It would be fun to be reunited with this colorful cast of characters. It did end up being a bit of a mixed bag for me.

One of the ways in which the film excels is in its voice talents. Everyone is back for this adventure and this time they are joined by some new faces. Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), Doom (Natasha Lyonne) and Pigtail (Maria Bakalova) are The Bad Girls. They were welcome additions to the cast and I liked their various interactions with the gang.

Once again, the animation is vibrant and stylish with some new locations featured throughout. It also has a fabulous soundtrack that had me dancing in my seat. The theme of acceptance was heavily featured and I appreciated how it focused on who these characters really were as opposed to the choices they might have made.

Aside from that, the plot was a bit too convoluted. There was a lot going on and at times I struggled to keep track of it all. The actual job that The Bad Guys were roped into doing was too random for me to believe and it seemed like it had all this build up to just end in an anti-climatic way. I’m sure a younger audience wouldn’t have minded, but I couldn’t help but wish for more.

I do believe that The Bad Guys is one of Dreamworks better projects, but this sequel wasn’t necessary. From what I can remember the original was wrapped up nicely though in today’s day and age, I guess another instalment was inevitable. I guess after I was so pleasantly surprised by the first one, I had higher expectations this time around.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Wild Robot

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Dreamworks has been responsible for the release of many classic films. From Shrek to Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, they have all been unique and full of vibrant animation. Their latest offering, The Wild Robot, follows ROZZUM unit 7134, or Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), that finds itself stranded on a deserted island. It must learn to adapt to its surroundings.

Animation styles have changed a lot over the years, but I have to say I have never seen anything quite like this before. The island backdrop looked like something out of a painting. It’s like you could see the brushstrokes of the water or of the trees. That combined with the vibrant colors made it feel so realistic.

The various characters we meet had sparkling personalities that leapt off the screen. Nyong’o was the perfect choice for Roz. The way in which her voice changed from being unsure to more confident as the film went on was executed well. Pedro Pascal was Fink, a cunning fox who ends up befriending Roz. His playful tone balanced Roz’s uncertainty and I really liked the friendship that formed between them. Kit Conner was Brightbill, a gosling that hatches in Roz’s hands and immediately believes it to be his mother. From the moment they met, my heart soared; they had such a sweet, genuine relationship that I really loved watching. And of course there was Bill Nighy as Longneck who played an integral part in Roz’s task. As usual he was full of wisdom. I only wish we’d had more of him!

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I’ll admit that I wasn’t interested in it. When the reviews started coming in and they were all glowing, I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about. This is officially my favorite film of the year. It ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it repeatedly, but I mean that in the best way possible! The way in which it was able to go from a light-hearted moment to something more emotionally driven was brilliant. The message of tolerance and unity as well was so spot on and so, so important.

I highly recommend checking out The Wild Robot. This is the type of film that touches you and leaves an impact long after you leave the theatre. It is also one that makes you want to be do better. I can’t wait to see it sweep at Awards season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Trolls Band Together

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The lovable singing Trolls are back for a brand new adventure! This time around, we get to learn about Branch (Justin Timberlake) and his past. When Poppy (Anna Kendrick) learns that he was one a part of the famous boy band group BroZone, she can hardly contain her excitement. John Dory (Eric André), Floyd (Troye Sivan), Spruce (Daveed Diggs), Clay (Kid Cudi) and Branch were IT back in the day until an argument tore them apart and they disbanded. Now, Floyd has been kidnapped and it is up to Branch and Poppy to reunite the brothers before it’s too late.

When I first discovered Trolls, I instantly fell for them. The first film was a breath of fresh air and I loved the way in which music was incorporated into their story. While I felt World Tour was a bit disappointing, I was still looking forward to Band Together.One doesn’t go into these films expecting much, but they are guaranteed to be a fun time. There isn’t much by means of a plot, but that’s okay.

What makes these movies so enjoyable for me is the musical performances. Whether it may be a cover or an original song, they always have me tapping my feet along to the beat or dancing in my seat. It’s helpful knowing that Kendrick and Timberlake can belt a tune and that they vibe so well with one another. This time around came an even bigger treat: the long awaited N*SYNC reunion fans have been dreaming about for the past twenty years. It really was well worth the wait and the boy band joke that came along with it were perfect.

Trolls Band Together may not have been as great as the original 2016 film, but I did prefer it to World Tour. It’s a fun time with some great musical numbers that put a smile on my face. I only hope we’ll see more of Poppy, Branch and the gang for more adventures to come.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

The Bad Guys

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Have you ever felt misunderstood because of the perceptions people have of you? That is the case for Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Snake (Marc Maron), Tarantula (Awkwafina), Shark (Craig Robinson) and Piranha (Anthony Ramos). Infamous criminals, when they are finally caught after a heist gone wrong, they are given a lifeline: become model citizens to avoid a prison sentence. With the help of a guinea pig named Mr. Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), our villains will do whatever they can to fool the world that they have changed.

My expectations going into The Bad Guys were low. Nothing about the trailer stood out to me except for the voice talents. But with Dreamworks being behind the likes of Shrek and Shark Tales, I figured I would give it a chance.

Though the story was nothing groundbreaking, it is still worth a watch. The colorful cast of characters were fun to get to know. You want them to succeed, whether in their crimes or for them to redeem themselves. I do wish some of the backstories were expanded more, though overall they had a solid friendship base which I liked.

A lot of the jokes were smart and witty. One that stands out to me the most was when Mr. Wolf was dressed in a sheep onesie. It gave the saying ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ a whole new meaning. I also thought it was smart to have another stereotyped animal in Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz) playing a protagonist opposite the others.

With every good story, there is a moral. And what I liked most about The Bad Guys was that it sheds importance on not judging a book by it’s cover. Just because we don’t know what is going on with somebody doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions about them. Not everything is what you see is what you get and that was refreshing.

Rating: ♥♥♥