Five friends who have always scared humans (a wolf, a snake, a shark, a piranha, and a tarantula) delight in being villains until they pretend to turn nice to get out of a bind. They get caught up in the game and discover the benefits of doing good.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
The animation studio DreamWorks, creators of such popular franchises as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train your Dragon, skillfully mixes genres in this funny and far-fetched animated feature film, which pays homage to spy and heist movies.
The film is inspired by the first four illustrated books in the series of the same name, by Australian author Aaron Blabey, aimed at children aged 6 to 12. The characters and their adventures become more complex under the impetus of director Pierre Perifel, a longtime animator at DreamWorks, who finds himself at the helm of an animated film for the first time. Aaron Blabey’s black and white illustrations, transposed in color, adopt stylized forms inspired in particular by comics, in a mixture of 2D and 3D. The unloved of the animal world, who have a keen sense of repartee, also benefit from the experience of screenwriter Etan Cohen (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Holmes and Watson), which makes a return to the animation studio. He gives everyone his own personality and manages to make them likable.
The Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell) is a skilled pickpocket. He turns out to be the leader of the group, which also includes a very suspicious snake, a master shark of disguises, a singing piranha (voiced by Anthony Ramos) and a hacker tarantula (voiced by Awkwafina). Evolving among humans, to whom they frighten, the five stooges have never questioned the roles assigned to them in society. Until they get arrested and pretend to agree to become good, taking up the challenge issued by a philanthropist, the wealthy professor Marmelade. The arrogant guinea pig tries to teach them how to use their strengths for a positive purpose, which is no small feat. Governor Diane Foxington, an unapologetic vixen, is another very strong female character.
Children over 6 years old (due to some violent scenes at the end) will see nothing but fire, while adults will enjoy recognizing various scenes from films like pulp Fiction, Impossible mission and Ocean’s 11. This animated film, at a fast pace and punctuated by frenzied car chases, includes many adventures that allow the characters to question themselves. However, there are lengths and the action would have benefited from being tightened. Far from being moralizing, openly fighting against prejudice, the tone remains humorous until the end. It is above all a celebration of friendship, which takes precedence above all else.
Indoors
Animation Film
The Bad Guys (VF The villains)
Pierre Perifel
Voice of Sam Rockwell, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina
1 h 40