Movie Review: Zootopia 2

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Back in 2016, I immaturely covered Zootopia, I know that, while I love this movie, but I wasn’t as professional to learning how its made, what’s the message or many other things, but when I looked back at this movie to learning more, I still enjoy this movie for the world building, the story, the message of social commentary, the animation with the designs and of course, some memorable characters from optimistic dreamer police bunny Judy Hopps or a sly con-artist Nick Wilde. As a result, it became the everyone’s favorite film in 2010s and another film with more than 1 Billion dollars at the box-office. But of course, its no wonder when we love this movie, we like to see a new journey between Judy and Nick in Zootopia Police Department (oh yeah, SPOILER ALERT if you missed it), especially for today’s review.

Zootopia 2 is a 2025 Animated Buddy Cop Comedy movie that was written/directed by current CEO of Disney Animation Studio, Jared Bush, co-directed by Byron Howard, and produced by Yvett Merino.

As I said before, the fans were wishing to see a new journey with Judy and Nick, which is exactly what pre-CEO Byron and Rich Moore had a discussion about making a sequel of Zootopia, which surprisingly approved from Disney CEO Bob Iger to be greenlight, so the project was developed with numerous plans what’s going to be, whereas Gennifer Goodwin (who voiced Judy Hopps) likes to think of the movie is focusing on Nick Wilde to follow the footsteps to impress Judy, while Jason Bateman (who voiced nick Wilde) like see Judy and Nick going full on Super Cop for crime fighting (Kind of over-the-top, but definitely like to giving us something excitement). But before we have a trailer of Zootopia 2, we have an anthology spin-off called “Zootopia+” a short series involving numerous minor characters from the first movie (and some new ones) in their moments in the middle of the first movie, not sure if its worth it, cause I never seen a couple of episodes of this spin-off, but im sure its for the fans of the movie. Maybe they could’ve make an anthology of Zootopia taking place after the first movie, a midquel if you can call that we have the sequel just came out, as im writing this. But the craziest thing is that recently (again, as im writing this) this movie have a greater start that it became the Number 1 highest-grossing animated film in opening weekend to beat Ne Zha 2 (Sounds like Disney is looking for revenge after Inside Out 2 was dropped the spot less than a year) and currently placed in 4th of highest-grossing opening weekend overall.

So, with all that said, will this movie gives us another message against prejudice, or is this film might put the sign that says “Its not for foreigners!” in a same way like reptiles?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

for a new journey with Judy and Nick, we expecting the story to be even more thought provoking plot to solving the criminal case, right? Well, of course for good reason.

The movie begins a week after the first movie (when Judy and Nick caught Bellwether based on her spreading conspiracy in support of Prey Nationalism, along with Nick being hired as a police officer partner to Judy. My apology for SPOILER for those who haven’t seen the first one, recommend to check it, its great), Judy and Nick were secretly going out undercover to arresting Antony Sootley, but ended up getting scolded for chaos that they ended up being put into Partnership therapy. However at the same time, Judy noticed a shed coil in the van, so despite they gotta learn how to be in proper partnership, they went out, undercover again, to the Zootenial Gala for the celebration of Zootopia’s 100th Anniversary. But the party is crashed when a Snake entered the scene in panic, causing Judy and Nick going after the snake, which unfortunately, resulting both Judy Nick and the snake being framed for false fugitives. Its up to Judy and Nick went to cracking the case by themselves to chase after the snake, along with learning about Zootopia’s dark secret, and trying to clear their names from what happened.

At first glance, we started out with a bang to both brief flashback to the action in the first act, while il give the appreciation to have a fun start, but its just that its rather rushed, but in fairness, we may have a development from the first act where they’ve been, but still, botchy start from the pacing issue. But another problem of this movie is the use of false fugitive that both Judy and Nick are both framed, which I find those false fugitive subplot is just too obviously cliché, which I find the execution of subplot ruined it for the most part. But despite the flaws, the story gets bigger and better after the first act to learning where Judy and Nick gotta learn whatever happened why everyone are feared about the snake on the loose and the lack of reptiles. Like the first one, this movie pretty good for more world building and of course, the message in social commentary. Whereas the first one movie about prejudice against predators, here its about the combination of systemic racism against reptiles and oligarchy for the corruption at the police to be above the law to keep public in peace and quiet in the name of fame and wealth. I find the social commentary message of this movie is pretty good for a new thought-provoking story how its not only pretty good what we’ve learned, but also related how in USA where corrupted president have the BALLS to using ICE to screwing over foreigners in the name of his ego and nationalism, pretty unfair how people calling the W word in the name of Cancel Culture (Yeah, I have to censor the W word, cause its a movement of Cancel Culture, and of course, we don’t want to talk about politics in reviews, but what do you expect Zootopia gives us social commentary, eh?). Another plot part that I also like, is the heart, mainly the chemistry between Judy and Nick when they’re working together to Zootopia Police Dpartment (ZPD for short) ever since they first met back in the first movie, which at first, it sounds like it will be perfect together to keep Zootopia in peace, but like always, not everything’s gonna be perfect, its mainly that its not easy how different they are to working together, either their personality or guessing about the evidence, adding a drama between of two for their challenging partnership for the name of justice and law. But of course, the movie is no stranger to add some humors, which I gotta say, its actually pretty good for chuckle worthy from the visual joke or even the dialogue.

While its nowhere from obvious cliché and bumpy start, but at least they did a good job for the story, the world building with something mystery, the message about difficulty partnership for being different and a thought-provoking social commentary.

The Animation

Surprisingly, the movie costs the same budget as the first one, particularly, costs $150M. Aside the same budget price, the movie looks pretty good as before with some upgrade.

For starter the background design and the world building of Zootopia looks pretty good, colorful and also well fitting based on animal types, such as a snowy town called “Tundratown”, a hot desert town called “Sahara Square”, a moist water forest called “Rainforest District” (though only shown the first movie), a colorful downtown called “Savanna Central” and couple others out there if you’re curious to see more if you watch the first Zootopia or Zootopia+, they’re creative, fitting and well designed. Of course they gave us some new locations what they brought us, such as “Marsh Market” which is a segregated town for both aquatic and semi-aquatic animals, kind of like a mix between Venice, Italy and some southern towns in USA. Its quite of fascinating new location what they gave us that its for sea lions, walruses and several others there. But none can compare to an outsiders pub called “Reptile Hangout”, which is basically a pub for reptiles that its the only place they live due to secrecy with racial reasons, the place is dark, somewhat colorful and reclusive that, again, its the only place they’ve ever got. There’s also a “Honeymoon Lounge”, which it used to be a lounge from the trip, but once it was abandoned, it because a plot development what Judy and Nick found out and the action scenes with destroying the old lounge.

As for the designs, while the background are both beautiful, colorful, nicely fit and creative, the character designs are staying relevant from the first movie and they’re looking good as always, they look cute, it has personalities and of course, staying true how the animals not only how they look (in anthropomorphic way), but also the realistic size, let along how they move from various scenarios and some humors. Especially some character designs have a nice upgrade to double down from the first one, and they definitely good a nice work for their upgrade textures and the quality. Especially with the animation movements, again, in anthropomorphic way, let along with showing their personalities how they’re depicted, especially some unique like the snake Gary (cause you know… He’s a snake, eh?).

But of course, its worth of mention the action scenes, like before it gets pretty cool and intense after it got perilous. Its more commonly on police chase, ranging from the car chase in the first act when Judy and Nick went undercover (much to dismay to Chief Bogo), a creative moment with the use of environment like the chase in Marsh Market while our duo being falsely fugitive, trying to catching up the snake from both the Zootenial Gala and the market, and the aforementioned Honeymoon Lounge when Judy and Nick are, again, trying to catching the snake without getting caught from the cops.

As always, much like the first movie, the animation looks great for the creativity, colorful, well designed, well fitting and fun actions, but for the sequel, not only it looks great as always, but two times better with upgrade from the textures and quality, along with something new for the world building, the new designs and the creative actions.

The Characters

Despite a huge amount of list of characters, the characters in this movie are a welcome return (for the most part), while the new ones are pretty good too. But the downside is that, despite of HUGE amount of characters, 75% of them have a small appearances and/or developments, or perhaps its to hyping up the voice acting of high profile appearances for the sake of high profile appearances, especially some of them are veterans. But don’t get me wrong, a lot of them did a good job, but again… Jesus, if its too much, its TOO MUCH…!

Enough with my small rant, lets start off return of our main heroes, starting with Judy Hopps (reprised by Ginnifer Goodwin) an optimistic rabbit from Bunnyborrow whom, back then, been a dreamer for not just justice, but also keep Zootopia peace without the chaos, but overwhelming in her way. Here in this sequel, thanks to Nick Wilde being hired in ZPD, she’s no stranger to be in a buddy cop journey with Nick in their way, despite the troublesome start, she cares so much of finding evidence to learning a dark truth, again, much to dismay to Chief Bogo and couple other officers, but again, she’s overwhelmed from her determination. I still find her cute for her welcoming return, though her personality is the same, but again, its due to chemistry with Nick based on their different personalities or which way and other. Let along Ginnifer did a pretty good work of her optimistic bunny role.

And we have nick Wilde (reprised by Jason Bateman), a sly fox who used to be a con-artist for selling pawpsicles to make a quick money after bought ice scream shop with Finnick (voiced by the late Tom Lister Jr. via archive, since he unfortunately passed away in late 2020). Here, thanks to becoming the first fox cop in ZPD, this is the opportunity for not just get paid, but also working with Judy just like when they first met, regaining respect and be happy to be in the best in the business than con-artist, despite he’s still being a sly wit as a copping mechanism. But of course it wasn’t because of his dream to work with Judy, but just that he’s also difficult to express his true feelings to her due to his value of his journey as the first fox police officer with Judy. This is no stranger the movie gives us a subplot for a complex chemistry between him and Judy to show, while its nice to working together in ZPD, but its a tough task between of two how it works without the risk of separation, cause partnership if their key without losing themselves for personal reasons. But of course, Jason did a fun work of his role of sly fox with humor deliveries.

Then we ourselves to the new characters, such as Gary De’Snake (voiced by surprising Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan), the pit viper who’s on the run to search of the secret not just what happened to the lost town based on Zootopia’s dark secret, but also learning whatever happened to his beloved family. It may sounds like a humor role to playing a daring game to catch him in pursuit, but he’s actually a sympathetic figure that he’s on the search from the past covered from the dark, especially, along with Judy and Nick, being falsely fugitive. Though when I saw him in trailer, I assuming he’s the villain, but not really, cause I find him to be a pretty nice character, despite he’s more like in 50% appearance, which is something that I like to see him more, especially Ke Huy did a great work of his role, even since he came out retirement to give us his biggest redemption career. Welcome back to Hollywood, Quan.

Next, we have Nibbles Maplestick (voiced by Fortune Feimster) a beaver who, at first, being another comedic relief based on her podcast personality with conspiracy theories, but once she meets Judy and Nick, she’ll eventually jumping in if her theories are confirmed. I find her to be fairly decent sidekick that she gives us some plot details when she and our main duo dug deep in the rabbit hole (no pun intended) the more truth we found out as Nibbles curious to see the confirmed truth (Yeah, makes a lot more sense than some foil hat wearing idiots out there). Though I never heard of her, but she did a good work of her role, especially with her chuckle worthy moments.

And we have Pawbert Lynxley (voiced by Andy Samberg, aka Ben Reilly in Sony’s Spider-Verse, aka Dale in Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers movie and aka Brent in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball), a young and awkward Lynx who’s on the chase with Gary, despite he has a connection the notorious oligarchy family Lynxley, run by his father Milton (voiced by David Strathairn). At first, we’re assuming he wants to running away from his menacing family that he wants to helping out Gary in his sympathy to finding out whatever happened to the reptiles in Zootopia from the dark past for how or why its covered (I won’t put further details to prevent SPOILERS). I find Pawbert (aside the questionable name), I find him to be fairly decent too that he’s also on the run with Gary based on his curiosity, but again, despite of his family that they put their names in the big image from old journey that it was written by the old founder of Zootopia under Lynxley many years ago. But as for the Lynxley family, I find them to be fine villains, they’re more like pretty protective to Zootopia for their own vision in their oligarchy way or they’ll outright corrupt the police to save their names. I mean at least we have the introduction of the villains in the second act instead of plot twist villains like Dawn Bellwether in the first Zootopia (And oh yeah, she’s back in the movie, but for silly cameo for… Reasons.). And im very surprised for Andy did a good work of his role to do a mix of humor and drama, that’s nice for his role.

As for the rest, they aren’t much else to say, other than giving us some plot details for the either searching the pursuit of both Gary and Pawbert, despite the downside of minimal appearance and butt load of familiar voices.

There’s Chief Bogo (reprised by Idris Elba, aka Knuckles from Sonic movies), the chief of ZPD in his no-nonsense mood for his order, much to frustration to Judy and Nick went on their own without telling, Gazelle (reprised by Shakira) is the famous pop star with our new song “Zoo”, along with being support to the equal rights in peace, although she does get to show her fun moment, Benjamin Clawhauser (reprised by Nate Torrence) is a donut eating receptionist in ZPD, Mayor Brian Winddancer (voiced by the Chad actor Patrick Warburton), who’s an actor turned mayor of Zootopia (huh, kind of like Arnold Schwarzenegger that he went from bodybuilder, actor to then Governor of California), which at least I find him enjoyable, despite of minimal appearance, Jesus (Danny Trejo) is a plumed basilisk in the reclusive pub, Mr. Big (reprised by Maurice LeMarche), the crime boss beneath the Tundratown in miniature reference of Vito Corleone with his daughter Fru Fru (reprised by Leah Latham), Flash Slothmore (reprised by Raymond S. Persi) who’s Nick’s best bud from DMV to secretly a street racer, along with funniest delivery with slow talk as a three-toed sloth, and Antony Sootley (voiced by John Leguizami, aka Sid from Ice Age) who’s smuggler while secretly working a the cargo.

Like I said before, its quite surprise to having more voice actors in the movie, especially some of them are veterans or even special ones, lets see in the list we have (though in my example pick that I know);

Cattrick Lynxley (voiced by Macaulay Culkin, aka Kevin freakin’ McCallister from Home Alone), one of Lynxley family, Gene Zebraxton and Gene Zebrowski, aka Zebros (voiced by WWE Superstars Roman Reigns and CM Punk), Higgins the hippo (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, aka Vaggie from Hazbin Hotel, and aka Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto) one of duo hippos in ZPD, Ed Shearin (voiced by English songwriter and vocalist Ed Sheeran), who’s one of sheep in downtown (I think), Michael J (voiced by Marty McFly, and sadly struggle from Parkinson, Michael J. Fox) who’s one of prisoners (which I though its Gideon Grey, you know the red fox who used to bully Judy, but I was wrong), Paul Moldebrandt (voiced by Josh Gad, aka Olaf from Frozen, and even voiced by Hideo Kojima in Japanese version. Yes, Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator is also doing voice acting, for brief moment of course), Robert Furwin (voiced by Robert Irwin, the son of the late Steve Irwin, who surprisingly takes a footstep from his beloved father) who’s a koala, and Zeke (voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) who’s an accident-prone dik-dik).

And lastly, even some crews behind the movie also providing voice cameos like Bucky and Pronk (voiced by directors Byron Howard and current Chief Creative Officer of Disney, Jared Bush) and lastly, there’s Bob Tiger the tiger weather forecaster, is voiced by none other than Bob Iger, yeah, even the current president of Disney like to be involved of voice cameo. I cannot believe that I’ve just learned…!

While its a shame that most of new and old recurring characters are minimal due to the focus of Judy, Nick and maybe Pawbert and Gary, but at least the characters are pretty good for giving us some plot details and fun voice acting, despite of again, listing a HUGE roles, eh?

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, Zootopia 2 is easily a sequel worthy that Disney gave after the first movie. Easily an “Absolute Cinema” film to watch.

It has a great story with oligarchy and systemic racism message, the animation looks both beautiful, colorful and creative as always, it has fun jokes, fascinating and intense action scenes, the voice acting are great too, and some characters are pretty good, despite of huge cast.

Though its not as 100% perfect with flaws like the quick pace in the first act, obvious cliché for false fugitives, and the minimal of onscreen return of old and some new ones, which I understand the movie is focusing on Judy and Nick, but still, give some old and new ones a chance to shine.

Even with the flaws, I enjoyed this movie to see more depth in Zootopia and even some new characters, let along with social commentary what we’ve been dealing with, to this day. This is easily a “Must-Watch” film if you’re a fan of Zootopia or a curious movie goers (And furries) with all the fun and message what we’ve learned. So, if you wanna see this movie, get your friends and family (or furries, if you’re one of them) together to see it. Cause Zootopia 2 is worth the wait to see and it also becomes my new favorite next to Superman 2025.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 9/10, along with earning the Trophy of Success

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: The Running Man 2025

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

First of all, I apologize for months hiatus without telling you guys, cause I think 2025 was a tough year for couple of reasons after my Mini Review of FIXED, especially some films that I was planned were scrap, but il try my best to get myself back without losing my composure, cause again, its been a rough year for me.

Anyway, what better way to going back to another film adaption from the horror author icon, Stephen King, with today’s review that happens to be… A Revision?

“The Running Man” is a 2025 Dystopian Action Thriller film that was written/produced/directed by Edgar Wright, co-produced by Simon Kinberg and Nira Park, and co-written by Michael Bacall.

Back in 2022, I mentioned Carrie that it became a breakthrough for a movie based on King’s fist published novel, so much so that King went on to wrote numerous novels, one of which is King’s 11^th novel in 1982 called “The Running Man” A dystopian thriller story where the contenders have to hiding the team of hitmen without being killed in order to win the money. However, in a weird fact, this is the first published novel that its been credited, not Stephen King, but a pseudonym as “Richard Bachman” in paperback, although the first time we oddly heard to name “Richard Bachman” was in 1977 novel called “Rage”. Despite the weird altered pen name, the novel was well-received from the critics, so much so that it got an opportunity make a movie based on The Running Man, such as the case with the 1987 film with the same name with The Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, when this movie came out, while its fine, but it didn’t go that well that they’ve completely missed the mark that feels more like a typical 80s action movie with the future governor of California, rather than a darker survivor from contest run by authoritarian.

But it wouldn’t be until in 2017, a familiar British filmmaker Edgar Wright wanted to do the remake of 87’s The Running Man, it eventually greenlit the project with Paramount distribute the movie, and Michael Bacall, who co-wrote Wright’s previous film, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, jumped in. And according to Bacall, he said this isn’t gonna be a remake of 1987, but more like revision to be follow faithful from the book, which sounds curiously promising that they’ve planned.

So, with all that said, will the money worth to survive, or should we facing demise from the harsh reality from authoritarian?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Like I always do in my reviews, I won’t do the comparison between the book and movie, I didn’t have the novel, but when it comes to this one, its actually a pretty nice for dealing with and the message.

The movie immediately begins that takes place in the near future, where Ben Richards, a blue collar worker in a poor city that he wants to get a medication to his sick infant daughter, but he got blacklisted because of his unionization, since USA is ruled by authoritarian media simply called “Network”, they created a reality show called “The Running Man” as a setup to watching contenders running for survival to win the money without being killed from five hunters for 30 days in a chaotic and violent way, but the way they run is screwing over lower people with limited access of healthcare. At first, Ben is hesitant about The Running Man to look at other shows to find the way to get the money for his sick daughter and his wife’s concern about his life, but Ben eventually accepts to participating The Running Man. Its up to Ben Richards (and other unlikely contenders like Jenni Laughlin and Tim Jansky) to running and hiding himself the win the big money without getting hunted, along with possibly learning deeper about the show itself.

While its a standard movie’s setting about dystopian world of people living in low life and data being startled by the high authoritarian for the sake of their reality TV shows like The Running Man, but I like the movie’s concept that its all about survival to fight back against surveillance soldiers and drones, let along with giving helping hands to some people either in the small town or out of nowhere to keep hiding and also learning about the dark truth behind The Running Man, which I find it pretty fascinating to having a harsh debate about the show, but I won’t give you a spoiler detail, but there are some twist that while it makes sense, but in odd execution if some elements are debatable like any real life reality TV shows, but il give credit what they’re trying. While the rest of the movie is nice, but the opening act feels rushed, we just want to learn from the start for how or where did Network begins to creating dystopian USA for the sake of killing contenders for teasing billion dollars.

Aside from some flaws like the opening act and some twist, but its a pretty nice film what we have to dealing with playing the game of survival from authoritarian game and its message.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget is surprisingly bigger than the 1987 version. Whereas the 87 one costed $27M, this one has $110M, talk about more than double than before, eh? But as for its presented? Well, they’re surprisingly pretty good, for the most part.

For starter, the movie is filmed in UK, such as the some action scenes in Wembley Stadium, quite fascinating and probably explains the budget went into London for some shots in big city where Network HQ is set and the aforementioned action scenes in some shots in Wembley Stadium. While the other percentage were filmed in Glasgow, Scotland, such as SEC Armadillo, OVO Hydro and Anderston Centre, they’re also nice place to film for save the budget after been in London, and they also filmed in Bulgaria, which im assuming its for either construction spot. I find the way they filmed are pretty good from the chase scenes, a montage in the commercial of The Running Man and the way they build the set in Network, looking like a near-futuristic TV studio with fascinating effects.

Of course, the effects in this movie is done by, of course, Industrial Light and Magic, which the effects they pulled from the show’s effects, the drones and the technology in this movie takes place are pretty nice, think of it a near-future version of 1984, but with reality shows and survival to win money without the mass-surveillance. Sure there’s some cars looks almost like today’s cars with more technology, and a private jet. Plus, the visual plays like different representation, whereas Co-Op City feels so gray and somber town for due to lackluster stuff they have for how they got screwed over, while the big city is more rich and shiny, despite the power of authoritarian from Network.

But of course, what better way to talking about the action scenes, I find the action scenes are fairly decent, its more about survival from Network’s hunters in order to win a HUGE amount of cash without dying, let along sharing a taunting videos. We can see where Ben is trying to avoiding obstacles from hiding elsewhere, a risk to getting himself back to the hotel, and what other better way to have some car chases and even explosion, gotta love those car chase and explosion. However, if I have a nitpick for the action scenes is that Ben haven’t picking up guns while being chased, which wouldn’t be til the third act and not to mention, if the hunters are meant to be… Well, a professional hunters from Network for the show, but how the hell did they miss their gunshots against Ben? It feels like they have a same accuracy problems as Stormtroopers from Star Wars, like come on, we want to see Ben struggles from the pain from gun shots and cut wounds, but it feels like they’ve missed the mark to make a good shoot them up for the chase scenes.

While the action scenes are good, but have two problems I’ve pointed out, but at least the filming, the effects and the setting are pretty nice for a big budget revision of The Running Man.

The Characters

With surprisingly a long list of actors, you think the characters in this movie would share us something nice developments and even relatable? Well… Sadly no for how minimal we have for developments.

Lets start of with our main protagonist, Ben Richards (played by Glen Powell, aka Jake “Hangman” Seresin from Top Gun: Maverick), a blacklisted blue collar who has no choice but to signing to participating The Running Man in attempt to make money for saving his sick daughter in a slum town. I find him to be fairly decent protagonist that he cared so much about family that he just wants to cure his daughter. But as soon as he’s joining The Running Man, he starts driven into madness for what he learned about the show from surviving his skin to reaching his boiling point about this reality show, making him becoming resistance in anger for revenge. Yeah, I know how we feel when some reality shows could be fabricated for the sake of one thing, Drama. He’s nicely written for being sympathetic and anger what he learned about the authoritarian’s show and Glen’s performance is pretty good, ranging from imitation from his disguise and build up rage from the dark truth.

And we have Dan Killian (played by Josh Brolin, aka Thanos and aka Cable), the main antagonist of the movie where he’s the producer of The Running Man. At first, he starts out a very nice person as a producer of the reality show where he gave a deal to our main hero and some other contenders, again, win the money if they want to survive. But of course, he’s also authoritarian that he also has shady practices of people’s lives at risk or even negligent to small and poor citizens if they’re not in his big city with Network. However, he’s pretty much having a minimal of appearance, but he shows up in video chat to Ben to telling him how is he been or trying to manipulating him to never trusting the low class people, which probably explains the combination of lackluster sales like medicines or even putting lives at risk for playing the game of survival, even if some contenders enjoy it rather… Too much, unless Ben stepped in to learning further about Network’s secret. He’s manipulative, two-faced, playful but menacing and also daring if anyone wants to joining, especially he wants to keeping his secret from everyone, unless he’ll telling Ben otherwise in secret. Of course, Josh did a great work for being an evil authoritarian for running the show.

But that’s all there is about two characters, because the rest aren’t much anything to say for their minimal developments.

There’s Bobby T (played by Colman Damingo) who’s the host of The Running Man in his… Quite of unique TV personality to act like an announcement to twisting his own character about the report of dead contenders or the hunters, but il give credit to Colman’s delivery, Evan McCone (played by Lee Pace,a aka Ronan the Accuser) is the masked leader of The Running Man’s hunters who’s following in command and even playing mind games to any contenders to trick them or easily kill them, Elton Parrakis (played Michael Cera) is one of the rebellious town folk who shares locations and the secret about the show, quite unusual to pick Michael Cera in this movie, but hey, he did a nice work, Amelia Williams (played by Emilia Jones) who’s been hold in hostage from Ben from his threat and give him a lift to going North. Bradley Throckmorton (played by Daniel Ezra) is a rebellious livestreamer who helps Ben for disguise and, like Elton, shares the truth about either Network or the poor town that the people have been suffered for, Sheila Richards (played by Jayme Lawson) who’s Ben’s wife who’s concerned for Ben’s choice to saving her precious daughter, and Jenni Laughling and Tim Jansky (played by Katy O’Brian and Martin Herlihy), who are contenders with Ben after he gave them a helping hands (SPOILER ALERT, they won’t be last long. Sorry).

Its no stranger the movie is pretty much focusing on Ben Richards and Dan Killian, but il give credit that some small characters are fine for helping Ben, along with giving us plot convenience behind Network and even some good performances.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, 2025’s The Running Man is a definitely better than the 1987 version, without a doubt. But is this a best movie based on Stephen King’s novels? Well, not really to be perfect.

I like the idea and the setting of this movie for being part of reality show run by authoritarian. But it has a nicely writing for plot developments, nicely filmed, some good characters and the acting are pretty good to go either give us the truth and some fun deliveries, and the action scenes are fine.

However, like I said, its nowhere perfect with many problems like not-so good twist, some actions with gunshot are laughable for missed bullets like something out of Star Wars, and, despite having dozens of actors, the characters are either fine, but lackluster development, for the most parts.

For recommendation, this is definitely for the fans of Stephen King or for some people who’re curious to see the difference between this and the 1987 version. But unless if you’re like me, il let you drop your conclusion after you watch it once. But for me, while I would like to rewatching it (once its coming out digitally), but again, its not as perfect film based on King stories. Like I said, watch this one once if its worth it or not.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 7.5/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: An American Werewolf in London

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review… In Halloween Special!

Yup, im back to do another Halloween themed review, since you know, I love this Halloween, its the dark themed of holidays, the other side of coin behind Christmas, a celebration where kids like to do trick or treat, and even cosplay, cause people like to going around dress-up for Halloween Celebration, eh? While I spend times to posting Inktober contents day by day, im in a mood to look around which movie to fit in for Halloween. Well, im going something about one monster that its my number 1 favorite. Sure we have vampires, zombies, aliens or such, but there’s one monster that im a fan is Werewolf. Im sure some you all know, victim get attacked by a werewolf, a full moon risen and the victim being cursed by transforming into werewolf. Its a classic tale that we’ve heard all the time, but instead of picking up the classic like The Wolf Man, I wanna take you back to the early 80s with a unique filmmaker to give us a terror, but also have fun.

“An American Werewolf in London” is a 1981 supernatural comedy-horror film that written/directed by John Landis and produced by George Folsey Jr.

In order to understand about movie about werewolf, let me take you a brief retrospective. As I said before, we have “The Wolf Man” in 1941, which kickstarted the movies involving Lycanthrope, and Wolf Man (aka Larry Talbot) became a third classic Universal monsters with Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster. However, before that, there’s the very first movie with a werewolf (with sound) called “Werewolf of London” in 1935, which while its a nice attempt, but it felt like nobody acknowledge this movie’s existence. Unless if you wanna go FURTHER back is the 1925’s “Wolf Blood”, the first and only werewolf movie in silence, not counted the 1913’s The Werewolf, which sadly, the last copy was destroyed in fire in 1924. As time goes by, many filmmakers wanted to cash-in on Lycanthrope, most of them are fine, but others… They’re just wasted. But one film that got attention to bring back my favorite monster, its An American Werewolf in London.

The idea of this movie came John Landis’s odd experience. While working on the 1970 film called “Kelly Heroes”, as a production assistant, he and Yugoslav members drove on the road before they came across the group of Romani people when they perform some kind of ritual of a man being buried that he would never coming out of grave like a zombie. So he wrote a script based on superstition where an outsider like himself had to deal with, but his filming about a werewolf movie wouldn’t be until 11 years later following his successful release of his directorial debut of Schlock and later on his successful movies like The Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977 (the same year when Star Wars came out), National Lampoon’s Animal House in 1978 (Huh, a year after KFM, eh?) and The Blues Brothers in 1980. Once he secured $10M finance from PolyGram Pictures, he eventually bringing his werewolf passion project on the go, despite the financiers were questioned about the tone for being “Too frightening to be a comedy and too funny to be a horror”. Perhaps, much like my favorite filmmaker John Hughes, Landis wanted to make this as a horror comedy based on some parts that we can relate.

When the movie howled to the big screen on August 21st 1981, it was… Not THAT good when it first came out, the late Roger Ebert didn’t take it too kind with 2 out of 4 stars with quote “An American Werewolf in London seems curiously unfinished, as if director John Landis spent all his energy on spectacular set pieces and then didn't want to bother with things like transitions, character development or an ending”. But at the same time, many people give an appreciation of this movie from the transformation sequence, more on that later. As time went by, the movie ended up became a cult classic horror-comedy film for the fans of 80s movies and werewolf fans with RottenTomatoes gave it 89% of 65 critics.

As for my experience, its a tough task if I remember, I think my dad heard about the movie, but didn’t see the whole movie, while I’ve heard the movie that got me curious when I looked around the book of old movies and even some reviews, which I really, really, REALLY wanted to give it a shot, once I got a DVD and luckily, available on Amazon Prime video.

So, with all that said, will this movie fun and scary ride about a werewolf, or is this film I should’ve stay on the path or be dead?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie about werewolf, you think its gonna be a standard movie about one man lives in a troublesome double life similar to Wolf Man? Well, it plays like that, but its actually fun from the get-go.

The movie begins in the middle of nowhere of North York Moors, where we introduce David Kessler and Jack Goodman, two American graduate students are having a trip to UK after having a lift from the pickup truck with couple of sheep. While they’re walking, they talk like usual stuff from students, they like to going on trip and wanting to get laid with a girl “Debbie Klein” (though she’s not in a movie, but its more like a running gag in typical stuff from graduate students). After walking to the long road, they eventually entered a local pub called “Slaughtered Lamb” (Wow, what a name, eh?), but upon entering, David and Jack being viewed as an outsiders by the English pub-goers, along with curiously noticing five-pointed star (aka Pentagram). While they’re discussing and questioning, they’re unfortunately being warned from something danger occurs like Alamos and others stuff, but as they’re about to leave, one of pub-goers tells them a serious advice to stay on the path without crossing the moors and beware the full moon (Sounds familiar from the latter, eh?). But alas, David and Jack are unfortunately being dumb that they ended up being lost on the moors, though getting startled and circled by an unseen monster. As they’re running to the opposite direction, its too little too late that Jack gets mauled by a menacing wolf, leaving David in panic that he wants to get his best pal back, but not only its too late to save his best friend’s ass, but also received an open gashes by a wolf, which thankfully the pub-goers arrived to kill a wolf, only before he’s carried to the hospital, he notices a lunatic man lay on the ground, dying after the gunshot. Which it left David Kessler to puzzling himself about the connection about a wolf and a lunatic man, until he should’ve realize what happens next after three weeks in a hospital.

Like I said, its a standard story about a man who’s gotta learn about werewolf along with questioning himself what happened after he got contacted by a werewolf, which as we all know, he’s affected by the curse of werewolf. The latter of which brought a plot convenience when David is concerning himself for going insane when he sees a zombie-like ghost of his late friend Jack when he warned him about the curse of werewolf what David is about to become, along with telling him to taking his own life to prevent the killing spree, while David just don’t want to believing it so bad. Oh yeah, did I mention when David sees the ghostly Jack, instead of saying “Hello there” (Obi-Wan style), he hilariously asking for a piece of toast, while David is questioning his arrival, that right there is a funny reunion (in some supernatural part). This is where the humor came from, its mainly on the dialogue and the delivery from the first half of the movie whether be some curious and dumb moments with David and Jack, when David meets a nurse name Alex Price they share charming and messy lovely compliment for building their relationships (which its actually nice and chuckle), some humorous (and some horny) comments on American students from the Brits (again seeing David and the late Jack as an outsiders) or even one scene where Sergeant McManus clumsily drop plates to put them back. Which it makes those actually give me a chuckle for their delivery and brought some parts that we can relate. I mean, what do you expect that this is the same writer/director who gave us Animal House (Yes, I saw this one, and its pretty chaotic, but I like it.). Of course, it wasn’t just a comedy, but also change the tone to the second half that went from chuckle worthy to unfortunate realization and tragic after the transformation of werewolf, but il explain it later, again its a pretty nice execution for the tone and the writing that it went from fun to terrifying and unfortunate. There’s also a couple of scenes of David’s nightmare moments that went out of nowhere from running in naturism to eating a prey to getting “murdered” by Nazi Monsters. I mean I get its meant for the build up of becoming a werewolf and even going insane in his mind, but I find some dreams can work, but others are out of place, but I will admit the invasion of Nazi Monsters are terrifying to shows our worst nightmare. Although in quick fact, the nightmare within a nightmare scene is a reference from a 1972 film called “The Discreet Charm of The Bourgeoisie”, its an interesting reference, but again, while its scary, but out of place. There’s also the final act that, while its fun and terrifying, but didn’t go that well for the ending, but again, save it later.

While there are some parts that I’ve nitpicked, but its a nice and fun story for the warning about a werewolf and even some moments that made us laugh and relate.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget costed $5.8M, not the big budget that im curious from my research, but in fairness, they did a pretty good job for what they’ve done.

For starter, its a nice and beautiful view for their filming for 1981 film, especially when we started in North York Moors, its a beautiful view in the middle of nowhere, despite in reality, it was filmed in Wales like Black Mountains and Crickadarn. Not to mention some shots are different for their setup such as the tavern “Slaughtered Lamb” is a cottage in the aforementioned Crickadarn, but interior, its filmed in restaurant called Black Swan in Old Lanes, Martyrs Green in Surrey. Plus, several shots in Wakes they put plenty of props like fake trees and even a statue of The Angel of Death. Of course, the rest were filmed in London and pretty much everywhere such as two hospitals (Putney General Hospital, Chiswick Maternity Hospital), Tower Bridge, two underground stations (South Kensington Underground station, Tottenham Court Road Underground station), London Zoo and couple others. Though it wasn’t just filming in outdoor, they also filmed in Twickenham Film Studios with some sets from different houses either in Alex’s home or even Kessler’s home in the weird dream. Like I said, they did a good job to filming show us in a beautiful shots from moors to for the first time after 15 years, they filmed in Piccadilly Circus, a beautiful road junction and public space located on London’s West End in the City of Westminster.

Fun Fact, after inviting 300 members of Greater London’s Metropolitan Police Service for screening for then new movie The Blues Brothers, the police were actually impressed that they jumped in for the climax.

Speaking of climax, the filming in Piccadilly Circus was filmed both in day and night, the latter that they had to stop the traffic three times for 2 minutes for car stunts with crashing and even the involvement of double-decker bus. Especially with plenty of people had to be done with their own stunts or some were done in stunt double. In fact, there’s one scene when a car rammed into one pedestrian who’s played by none other than John Landis himself to pulling his own cameo stunt by being slammed and crash into glass from the bank (I hope he’s okay without receiving a cut or stabbed by shards of glass, even If I find it funny from behind the scene, the crew give Landis’s stunt an 8 or 10 out of 10, along with hilariously one of them give 2 out of 10).

But of course, the biggest highlight of this movie is the practical effects with the use of werewolf and the transformation scene. The special and make-up effects were done by Rick Baker with his team of young and inexperience effects of make-up and puppetry, which its a tough task what they’re trying to pull some off, especially with the help of veteran effect artist like Baker. Including one of the most highlight scene is when David Kessler is transforming in the most painful and agony you’ve ever see from stretching limbs, growing back, growing hair into fur and even a one heck of a face being stretched into muzzle in a completion of werewolf transformation. Most shots where we see David Naughton with body parts stretched or even add more make-up in transformation process or of course, a puppet when his face turning into a muzzle. For the werewolf design, Baker (being a fan of Universal Monster movies) wanted the werewolf to be a humanoid like The Wolf Man, but Landis wanted to be terrifying and wild like a demon hound from hell, and loosely based on his pet Keeshond dog (While Landis also said he compared the transformation as a puberty. And I gotta say, they did a great job how impressive, terrifying and painful this transformation is, along with the design of werewolf that will haunt our dreams. So much so that Rick Baker ended up won the Academy Award of “Best Makeup” category for the first time. Even the late Michael Jackson was so impressed that he brought both Landis and Baker for the extended music video of his iconic song Thriller and it became a must-watch music video to this day. As for the rest, they’re pretty nice too like the zombie-like ghosts that shows us how people with graphical wounds look like in Kessler’s mind, along with Goodman’s changing appearance in ghostly appearance from alive with harsh wounds, to greener, messier and ghoulish, to finally an animatronic rotting skeleton, even though Griffin Dunne wasn’t a fan of drastic time of makeup and animatronic, but better get used to it.

Speaking of music, I should also mentioned that, while the soundtrack from the late Elmer Bernstein is pretty nice, the movie has a lot of Moon themed songs such as three “Blue Moon” songs by Bobby Vinton in the opening, Sam Cooke in the transformation scene, and The Marcels in the end-credits. Of course, it wasn’t just Blue Moon covers, they also play some famous songs like Moondance from Van Morrison (which happens to be the most earworm song ever, while its good, but its not my cup of tea, no pun attended) and my personal favorite, Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The production of this movie’s presentation is pretty damn good for not-so low budget film from beautiful view in England, Wales and Surrey, a nice songs that fit in and of course, the best effects they’ve ever done, especially with Baker won the Academy Award. Well done there, Baker.

The Characters

While the story is simple and fun, you think the characters in this movie could also be memorable? Well, yeah, I think so too.

Lets start off with our main hero, David Kessler (played by David Naughton), a surviving college student from USA who’s pretty much stuck in UK and being viewed as an outsider, where he started as a typical college student for fun trip and lover boy in interest on which girls with his best pal Jack to now having struggling himself to be in normal life while being warned to potentially becoming a werewolf. Which I find him to be memorable for his evolution from fun to downhill when he’s cursed from Lycanthrope, he’s fun, somewhat horny and struggle, and Naughton did a good work of his performance. And quick fact, if this guy may or may not look and sound familiar, he’s the same guy in a Dr. Pepper commercial in a “Be a Pepper” song in the early 80s, pretty cool and catchy.

Next we have Alec Price (played by Jenny Agutter), an English nurse who first meets David in the hospital after the werewolf attack and eventually his love interest. I find her to be a nice character in this movie, when at first, she’s curious to meet an outsider like David, even eventually falling in love after giving him a home for relaxing in her house, especially she just wants to help him whether or not he’ll becoming a monster. While she’s helpful to taking care of David, but she’s kind of messed up ever since they’re getting along together. Despite some flaws, she’s a nice one for her curiosity and helping David, along with nice performance to Jenny.

After that we have Jack Goodman (played by Griffin Dunne), David’s college student bestie when they’re in the trip in UK and sadly being the first victim from a werewolf after being lost in the moors. I also find him memorable in the movie, he’s kind of being a the brain compared to David ever since they were best bud in their trip, especially he likes to explain what they see. But once he was killed off, he returns as a zombie-esque ghost, while still like to be good and fun pal, but he becomes a plot convenient to warning David that he’s in a werewolf bloodline, demanding him to taking his own life before he’ll make more casualties once its midnight, which really makes David drove insane that he just wants to moving on after his friend’s death, but we all know how it turned out. But of course, Griff did a fun work of his role best friend to warning ghost.

Next, we have Inspector Villiers (played by the late Don McKillop), the British police inspector who came in to solving the case of Jack’s murder. I find him to be alright, he’s another plot convenient character to figuring out the connection between a werewolf attack and an escaped lunatic (aka the man who’s dead from gunshot after killed Jack and slash David), but despite the case was shut, it left suspicion not just David, but so does Dr. Hirsch. Even though I expected him to have more development if he could reopen the case for finding another connection, but he’s pretty minimal for his appearance. Im not saying he’s but he’s just okay, though Don did a fairly decent role.

Finally there’s Dr. Hirsch (played by the late John Woodvine) the doctor in the hospital who’s check on David since three weeks that he wants to know about the attack of the werewolf, along with his skepticism about the combination of werewolf attack and escaped lunatic, which after the case was closed, he’s all like “Well, I guess I gotta take of this by myself”, such as asking the same pub-goers from the first act, despite he’s also been treated like an outsider from pub-goers’ view. I find him also decent, he’s also a warning character that he also wants to know the connection before when he heard about a werewolf attack before its too late, think of him as the werewolf version of Van Helsing, but sadly, he’s also minimal in the movie that he never get to see another werewolf attack, which I find him not bad for what would’ve been and John did a great work of his role. But, hate to say, he was pretty good for his recurring role, because on October 6th of this year (as im writing this), he tragically passed away with the age of 96. Rest in Peace, John, you were a very good actor…

As for the rest, there really aren’t much else to say, though they did gave us some memorable actors and one character that I like, such as Sergeant McManus (played by Paul Kember) who’s Villiers’s clumsy and comedic partner, Mr. Collins (played by Frank Oz, aka Master Yoda from Star Wars, Miss Piggy from The Muppets and couple puppets in Sesame Street) who works on American Embassy in Grover Square (Grover Square? What’s next Cookie Street??), One of the chess players (played by the late Rik Mayall, aka Richard Richie Richard from Bottom), who’s one the pup-goers, which I would’ve expect Eddie Hitler comes in to play, and Darts Player (played by David Scofield, aka Ian Mercer from Pirates of the Caribbean) another one of pup-goers who… Well, like to playing darts for the warning about a werewolf, while treating guests as an outsiders, unless if the pirates are the outsiders, eh?

While the minor characters/actors are worth noting, but the characters are pretty good how relatable, nicely written and pretty good performance they pulled.

SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t seen the movie, or if you don’t care

The final act is the equivalent of “All Hell broke loose”, but not so much how it ended.

After the reject the phone call (so we think), David and Alex are going out for dating to take a taxi cab. But after the taxi driver (played by Alan Ford before be in gangsters in Snatch) talk about the report of casualties from a werewolf, David broke down that he wants to be arrested for killing the couples, a homeless guys as a man in a subway, despite Alex suggests to talk to a doctor. But it didn’t work what David is trying to be arrested (maybe you could Sucker Punch to the cop, they would’ve work). After fleeing from his girlfriend and his emotional phone call to his sister, he tries to taking his own life with his pocket knife, but unable to do this from his heart felt feeling what he becomes. That is until he spots ghostly Jack for the last time, but in rotting skeleton, he followed him that he enters a porno theater (which this theater was originally to be a cartoons, but its replaced with porn for weird reasons). David and ghostly Jack sit together, watching porn movie, while at the same time, get greeted by more ghost of casualties when David turned into a werewolf (you know, the couples, homeless guys and a man in tube?). Resulting unsettling, but funny conversation based on the decisions for telling David to kill himself in various ways. But once the full moon returns, David transforms back into werewolf, resulting not only killing three more people in the theater, causing an emergency to the police to close it immediately, but of course, it didn’t work, causing David’s werewolf breaks out and causing chaos from killing off Inspector Villiers via decapitation to people either injured or die from either David’s body counts or fatal accidents on the street. After causing raucous David’s werewolf form is trapped in the alleyway and surrounded by the police, until Alex and Dr. Hirsch arrive at the right time to stop, where Alex runs to see David in werewolf that she tries to not only calming him, but reminding she loves him, but sadly, David is still in beast form that he tries to kill her, right before he gets shot by the police to death, much to defying the laws of physics for how or why Alex survives from the gunshot while David is killed in the end. Alex is devastated that the damage is already done to see him turn back to human to death and… Abruptly ends right away.

That’s it? That’s the ending?? THAT WAS JUST A EMOTIONAL DEATH WITHOUT CONCLUSION!! (start growl in build up rage)

AZ-06 Ayla: Actually Anthony, it might be a reference for this ending.

What is it?!

AZ-06 Ayla: Its meant to be a similar ending to The Wolf Man (1941) when Talbot is killed off, he slowly back to human in death and it ends right away with The End card, which it maybe explains how the movie ends in a same way as The Wolf Man.

Ohhh, okay, now I kinda get the reference, but still, talk about a dumbest way to end of this movie with abrupt end credit without the conclusion with dew-wop version of Blue Moon. Aw well, despite the abrupt ending, at least its a pretty nice and kind of emotional ending, but I enjoy the chaos after the brief transformation.

And now for my Final Opinion for this film.

Overall, An American Werewolf in London is a pretty good and fun movie for the fans of werewolf.

The movie has a pretty good story to add a horror with humor from the writing, the humors are chuckle worthy, the characters are nice and some memorable, the filming is beautiful, it has a nice choice of music, and well shot and of course, the production is pretty damn good for the effects and the makeups.

While the writing is standard with good execution, but there are some flaws like some characters would’ve make more appearance (despite the familiar actors in cameo) and of course, the abrupt ending kind of ruined the movie for what would’ve been if they gave us a conclusion. But I get its meant to be a reference from The Wolf Man’s ending, but again, it just didn’t work.

While its not perfect, but I enjoy this movie for my interest of werewolf and for fun if you like John Landis’ films. I recommend to watch this movie for you guys if you have a physical copies or on amazon Prime video (if you’re lucky), so give your friends to watch together for terrifying werewolf moments and some humors.

For my rating, im gonna give this one an 8.5/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, im Anthony, signing out, and of course, Happy Halloween.

Mini Review: FIXED

 

(After reading ALL those Review Bombs from today’s Mini Review)

Ohhhh boy… Where do I begin with those Review Bombs after I watched FIXED…

From last couple reviews, I covered Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix, which I wasn’t very satisfied what Adam Sandler and his bud brought us, aside some people may like this one. But even if Gilmore 2 is NOT greater than the first one, it ended up reached the Number 1 viewed film on Netflix (I think it may explained why people want to see it for nostalgia). While I moved on (in disappointment), I came across a new adult oriented animated film, but in 2D. I remember back in 2016 when I watched and reviewed Sausage Party, which it was pretty crazy to see foods in action from escaping humans from death, it has violence, sex, drugs and all sorts of chaos they gave us, but I enjoyed it, not perfect, but hey, at least its a try to giving us an animated adult film, aside the making of this movie was a complete nightmare from what I’ve heard.

Anyway, in today’s review, one film that I got curiously discovered and watched is FIXED, a 2025 2D adult animated comedy film that was written/directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (Yes, that Genndy), produced by Michelle Murdocca and co-written by Jon Vitti, Steve Greenberg and Rich Lufrano.

That idea of this came Genndy’s concept all the way back in 2008 or 2009, in his view, he wanted a movie involving a different animals on road-trip, he wanted to to capture the dynamic to his friends group, even though the executives suggested a movie’s road-trip about dogs for “strong hook”, it may sounds like a hesitation, but Genndy accepts it, thus bringing his concept for the animation to Sony Pictures Animation after years he gave us Hotel Transylvania (while the first one is good, but the sequels, they feel so unnecessary) and sadly, his project based on Popeye being canned. Though they originally planned making it as a 3D film, but Genndy wanted it as a Hand-Drawn animated movie, since he suggested it in the first place. However, it was originally going to be released on the big screen under WB’s “New Line Cinema”, but because WB just being WB, they put the project on the shelf, dangerously on the verge of cancellation for BS reasons, though thankfully, Netflix stepped in to distributing it and releasing it on Netflix (talk about disappointment what Genndy was wishing for).

But as you probably already know when it came out (at least the trailer), this movie was LAMBASTED from Review Bombers, calling it Genndy’s “All time LOW!”, an “Ultimate Crime Against Arts!” a “John K’s Ripoff”, a “Beast Fetishes” and all sorts of overly agitated reactions I’ve ever seen. Like, Holy F(bleep)ing S(bleep), this might be the worst Review Bombs I’ve ever seen since the Snyder Cultists called James Gunn as the cancer of DC comics adaptations, Hell, even Disney look at the bombs and go “WTF are you thinking?!”. Yeah, when I saw those, they reached my boiling that im always sick and tired of those “Us vs Them” BullS(bleep)… DESPITE WHEN SONY RELEASED KPOP DEMON HUNTERS ON NETFLIX AT THE SAME F(bleep)ING YEAR THAT WE HAVE NO PROBLEM BEFORE THE BOMBS AGAINST FIXED!!!

Sorry… I feel like im reaching my limit of rage… With all that said, is it really that bad what those S(bleep)s have to say?

Well to be honest… Its not the worst animated film I’ve ever seen (cough “TTG Movie” cough).

For the story, its about a Bull Terrier named… Well “Bull”, who comes out as gift from human owners, but then a months later, Bull becomes perverse from constant humping, all to impressing his Balls, while also like to hanging out with his buddies like Rocco the British rough Boxer, Fetch the social-incluencer wannabe Dachshund, and a dimwitted Beagle named Lucky, along with having a crush on Honey the Borzoi. But little did he knows, Bull sees many dogs were neutered since the latest one Luthor the Great Dane, all because they were forced to drinking a Kool-Aid on a toilet bowl and next day, castration, leaving Bull becomes the next one. So its up to Bull to leave the house for not just saving his nuts, but also going on adventure from ‘burbs to the city with his friends, along with trying to confessing to honey.

Yeah, this movie quite of unique and raunchy story about dogs on road-trip adventure, but instead of finding destination from the dream, its all about saving Bull’s balls what he didn’t know, which im guessing its all about being struggle to having a hormone with some parts will be gone. However, while story is… Fine, but the story feels like the backseat for the sake of comedy, which it really depends what you see from the dialogue or visual gag for either just normal or even for a shock in R-Rated fashion from drugs, sex jokes and maybe some violence. Which, I find the jokes in this movie are… Mixed, some that I did chuckle, but others felt like it tries a bit too hard, though I did enjoy some jokes of Dog vs Cat and the dog’s species how they presented or so. Though it turns the movie’s message isn’t about struggling from hormone to keep or not keep balls, but it has the message of “its tough to be different”, whether be Bull’s chemistry with his friends or the relationship with Honey, despite he also has to dealing with Sterling the Borzoi. Yeah, while il give a credit what they gave us the messages, but the execution is kind of ruined from obvious Love Triangle cliché.

As for the animation, I think this is where a LOT of people going review bomb how TERRIBLE it looks based how low quality it looks compared to Sony’s Spider-Verse we watched. I mean sure, they Sony did made a couple of 3D animated cartoony films like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and even the aforementioned Hotel Transylvania. Though unlike these two, its done in 2D cartoony style and to be honest… It doesn’t look THAT bad, it looks good after all, the highlight of the animation is mainly towards the dogs with different designs based on their breeds, which they look nice in their abstract design and even their exaggerating expression. While I enjoy the designs and surprisingly smooth animation they’ve done both the dogs and people (aside the balls dangling is distracting me, but I understand its a plot detail that he wants to saving his babies bellow his… Well, you know.), but if there’s a drawback of this movie, has to be some designs are pretty flat, it wasn’t just some dog that some look okay or some not, but the background, despite its meant to be taking place in the Windy City, Chicago, but, while the quality of the background and the lighting are fine, but they’re just… Generic, just a typical location design in Chicago, like the jokes, the background are rather hit or miss. Even if the movie’s budget is pretty cheap as $30M, but keep in mind, this is a 2D cartoony animated film, which im aware that Genndy took inspiration from old school Looney Tunes by Chuck Jones and Tex Avery, and even some Disney’s dog movies like Lady and The Tramp and One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

As for the characters, I find them to be… Average at best for how they went, its just that almost all of them are one-dimensional. There’s Bull (voiced by Adam DeVine) who’s the main mutt who lives to live normal and horny with humping, especially for his crush on Honey, but once he heard its time to get neutered, it left him paranoid to figuring out what to do to saving his trusty balls and his struggle to express, which I find him to be fairly decent at best what he likes to hanging out his friends to share his time or even talking about Honey.

Speaking of latter, there’s Honey (voiced by Kathryn Hahn, aka Dr. Octopus in Sony’s Spider-Verse) is Bull’s girl next door whom, like Bull, she has a crush on him, but the downside is that she’s a model for the dog show, which probably explained why she’s a pure bread, even if she’s hesitant if Bull is going down pretty badly because of his potential castration. I find her to be good, not perfect, but at least she has a heart to Bull, despite she has her schedule conflict for Dog Show.

After that, we have Bulls friends like Rocco (Voiced by… Wait, Idris Elba?! Well to be fair, at least he’s great performer than Awkwafina, in my opinion at least) who’s a tough assured British Boxer who’s trying to give an advice, Fetch (voiced by Fred Armisen, aka Cranky Kong in Super Mario Bros movie) is a social-influencer wannabe based on wearing his clothes and loves act like a human by standing on two, and Lucky (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) is a dimwitted Beagle who’s weirdly desperate to find something fetish what he likes or so. These guys are average at best for their one-dimensional, but at least some jokes and their voices are pretty good.

And finally, there’s Sterling (voiced by Beck Bennett, aka Steve Lombard in 2025 Superman), another model for Dog Show, but he’s much more narcissist and egotistic that he wants to be with Honey for the same of family and making fun of Bull because he’s different to be in relationship. He’s just an antagonistic selfish dog who thinks any dogs are ugly and he wants honey to get along.

The rest aren’t much else to say when it comes to the humans (aka dog owners and other families), the evil cats and some other dogs, like Frankie (voiced by River Gallo) who’s an intersex Doberman to have a relationship with Lucky, and Luther (voiced by Aaron LaPlante) a Great Dame who’s the first example how he got neutered.

The characters are alright at best, depending for their delivery for the comedy, but at least the voice acting are pretty good with all due respect to them.

Overall, FIXED is an Average adult animated film at best that after seeing the backlash it received, im easily disagree for how exaggerated they’re calling out. The voice acting are pretty good, the animation are pretty nice and smooth, some messages are fine and some jokes are dependable at best. However, while I may like the concept, but its just the writing could’ve gone better for the stories, some jokes and maybe even a proper character developments that we can relate or like them, since most of them are either average or one-dimensional.

The best way to describing it, FIXED is like when “The Secret Life of Pets” having affair with “Sausage Party”, but like I said, its just ridiculous how people are calling it the worst movie ever made, when in reality, its just an average adult animated film at best, this is the film you can watch it, JUST for once on Netflix, and make sure to give a calm and clean though on this, unlike those stupid review bombs. Its not one of Sony’s best, but… I’ve seen worse… (cough “Sony’s Spider-Man Universe” cough)

That’s all there’s is for my mini review, tell me what you think in the comments bellow.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: The Bad Guys 2

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony, and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Back in 2022, I’ve covered The Bad Guys, which its a pretty fun movie, but its not as greater with numerous flaws from clichés and an un-perfect writing. But at least it has a pretty good animation that they’ve been inspired from Sony’s Spider-Verse and even some memorable characters. However, we usually stick to “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” at the same year, making The Bad Guys acted like an appetizer. But of course, the movie became a cult follow to the fans of this movie and maybe even some loyalist from Aaron Blabey’s book, even though for the latter, the book series is finished last year. But that doesn’t mean its over, Dreamworks were still open minded to giving us the sequel in today’s review.

“The Bad Guys 2” is a 2025 heist action comedy film that was directed by Pierre Perifel, produced by Damon Ross and written by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen.

The idea of this sequel came from Perifel himself, which a month before the release of the first film “The Bad Guys”, he said that he would like to make a sequel if its a success. But of course, when it came out, it was a success with not just well-received, it made a lot of money then the budget ($69M-80M) with earning quarter of billion dollars ($250M), pretty impressive for low budget film. So, Dreamworks are now announced to make a sequel with almost everyone came back to writing, producing and directing, along with a new writer, Yoni Brenner, joined in. Though there’s not much details what they’ve been saying in the original concept on this sequel, aside of borrow some elements from the books, but that’s just my guess, cause I don’t own Blabey’s books.

So, with that out of the way, will The Bad Guys are doing good in their “Good” duty, or is being good is a complete opposite when they used to?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For movie about the welcome return to our familiar robbers, we would like to see them going a new journey from either going for another heist or turn themselves around? Well… Yes and no.

The movie begins with a BANG where we meet our familiar robbers… Well, “The Bad Guys” arrived to steal to reunited their precious black car from 5 years ago. But alas, much like we’ve been dealing with, their glory days are left behind, as they’re trying to connect to the society by looking for new jobs, but as we all know, it will be impossible to be hired based on their criminal records, while Mr. Snake is away for… Something. But little did they know, they figured “Why not become a vigilantes for the cops?”, which after Mr. Wolf and Diana Foxington (aka Crimson Paws) had a bond together, but remaining friendship, cause she’s on her duty of government, The Bad Guys found a new piece of evidence about a new crimes called “The Phantom Bandits” are out there in order to impress Commissioner Misty Luggins, which, according to the unknown crime group, they’re trying to stealing “MacGuffinite” for their ultimate heist, even if the Phantom Bandits are using distraction to get along. Its up to The Bad Guys are in struggling choice for either clearing their names or going for the ultimate heist.

Yeah, while il give a credit for a new story about trying to turning themselves around to the society, even if its a challenging acceptance to connect to the society based on their criminal records and even their unlikely meeting with Phantom Bandits to either set up trap or get along with them, making the story feels like a mess from the get-go, while its sort of better than the first one, but again, the execution didn’t mesh well on clichés and even the plot twist. Yeah, it feels like they’re doing the same for the latter, but you don’t want to know for the sake of SPOILERS. And I guess its no wonder why the writing is more focus on action and the humors, il give credit for the concept, but its more lenient to the comedy, which I will admit, it does have some chuckling moments, but its just that its probably not has perfectly funnier as the first one.

The writing is good at best about the heist setup, some fast-paste moment (even though it can be good, but others… Not) and some chuckling jokes, but the story didn’t go that well what we’ve hoped for, it has nice concept, yes, but, in a poorly executions from clichés and plot twist.

The Animation

The movie’s budget costed $80M, which the same as before, but slightly more compared to the first tone, which while it looks good, but it can be a bit downgrade, but in fairness, it looks pretty good as always, and its quite possibly the craziest one of all.

For starter, the background design are actually look pretty good and beautiful, ranging from beige and bright in Cairo, Egypt, to somewhat colorful in the city in USA, the night time with colorful Lucha Libre arena and of course, the climax in Space Station, they did a pretty nice and beautiful work how they represented, especially with the lighting whether be bright when they’re in crime from their glory days to somber that they’re no longer the same when they used to, I know its kind of cheesy, but pretty good work for the background, the cinematography and the lighting.

As for the designs, its not stranger that they’re bringing back our old friends with some upgrade, sure The Bad Guys, Diana and Commissioner Misty look the same, but again, its nice to see them again with some upgrade. Although some new characters’ designs are actually pretty nice to fit in, while some like humans are looking similar to Disney from the infamous “Bean Face”. Yeah yeah yeah, go ahead, laugh at me all you want just because I think “CalArts style” are not bad, but its the execution for the remaining designs whether they look good or not.

As for the animation process, like I said in my review of The Wild Robot, Dreamworks are no longer working in their house, instead, they’re working with the outsiders for helping hand, this time its Sony Pictures Imageworks. And I gotta say, the animation looks pretty nice, but for some reason, it feels like a slight downgrade. Sure, it has some 2D effect from some in action scenes and some for the characters, its just that it feels like more like 3D with less 2D or comic filter like Sony’s Spider-Verse, making it feel like 85% 3D and 15% 2D. I know it sounds odd from my view, its just that when we compare between the first and second, we can probably notice some difference. But don’t get me wrong, it still looks good, with slightly up and down. But then there’s the action scenes, but Ohhh boy, those action scenes are in a WHOLE LEVEL to add the chaos from The Bad Guys’ flashback in Cairo with ridiculous ways to avoiding cops or even the escape from Lucha Libre which has a crowd turning into a tidal wave while trying to arresting our main baddies. And there’s the Space Station for the climax, pretty impressive too, but again, won’t give a SPOILER details.

While some have flaws, but the animation looks pretty good from the design, the presentation of quality and even the craziness of action scenes.

The Characters

With the return of our familiar characters from three years ago, along with new baddies on the loose, we expecting to having a new an improved character development that make them likable as before? Well… Yes and no.

Lets start off with our old friend Mr. Wolf (reprised by Sam Rockwell), the leader of The Bad Guys for being charming, witty and skilled pick-pocketing on his way. In this movie, after his glory days of robberies, Wolf is trying to bring his group to turn things around to becoming good than living in crimes, especially he wants to be in chemistry with Diana Foxington, despite they’re going to be in friend-zone for many reasons. I find his upgrade is fairly decent, though his personality remains the same, but its the execution of his character development that he’s trying to turning himself and his group around to connect to the society, but didn’t go that well once he sees The Phantom Bandits. Its a nice upgrade he has, and Rockwell’s voice performance is a welcome return that he still did a fun work of his role.

Next we have Mr. Snake (reprised by Marc Maron), the sarcastic second-in-command of the group and the safecracker of the group. Unlike the previous film, he’s surprisingly becoming a down to earth member of the group to be positive from healthy mind and healthy physic (which explains he has packages on his chest), which I will say, its a nice change from being a sarcastic A-Hole to now a somewhat positive to turning himself around in healthy mind, though the downside is, much like his good pal Wolf, it didn’t go that well when he meets The Phantom Bandits, but, its mainly because he has love interest of one of Phantom members. Its a nice new development how he’s been changed, with Marc did a nice work of his role once again, especially for his character’s upgrade.

As for the remaining members of The Bad Guys, they’re aren’t much else to say about them, there’s Mr. Shark (reprised by Craig Robinson) a nervous member from his master of disguise, Mrs. Tarantula/Webs (reprised by Awkwafina, aka Sisu from Raya and the Last Dragon, aka Rebecca from Renfield and aka Katy from Shiang-shi) who’s the young and genius technology from her hacking skills and Mr. Piranha (reprised by Anthony Ramos) who’s the loose-canon muscle of the group with farting problem from fear. These three are pretty much remaining the same compared to two main members, which is rather disappointing that I wish they could’ve been having a new character developments, though il give credit to some having a nice work for their return, aside Awkwafina for constantly showing up whenever I watched some movies with her since Idris Elba.

Outside of our baddies, there’s Misty Luggins (reprised by Lois Griffin herself, Alex Borstein) who’s now promoted as the commissioner in police department who’s more in neutral role for demanding the evidence seriously before she’ll reach her limits to arresting The Bad Guys, Professor Marmalade (reprised by Richard Ayoade) who’s now the muscular prisoner who’s giving plot details after being a convicted crime, and finally, Diana Foxington/Crimson Paw (reprised by Zazie Beetz, aka Domino from Deadpool 2), Wolf’s love interest and the state governor who’s trying focus on her government duty than stick herself with the baddies, aside of secretly doing her robbery duty as Crimson Paw, although for the latter, I forgot to mention that there’s a subplot about her risk of exposing her secret identity, but it felt like it came out of nowhere, making the subplot part rather forgettable.

And finally, we have The Phantom Bandits (or The Bad Girls as they called), they’re what we assuming, the villains in the movie, which I find them to be decent, but, much like The Bad Guys, some of their developments are one-dimensional. There’s Pigtail Petrova (voiced by Maria Bakalova, aka Cosmo the Spacedog from Guardians of the Galaxy 3) is the muscle of the trio due to being a fan of The Bad Guys, Doom/Susan (voiced by Natasha Lyonna, aka Rachel Rozman from MCU’s Fantastic 4) who’s deceptive, sassy and somewhat similar to Snake, which probably explained why she and Snake are falling in love together. And finally, there’s Kitty Kat (voiced by Danielle Brooks), the leader of the group where her scheme is to having The Bad Guys working together to seeking MacGuffinite for her ultimate heist. I find her to be not bad, she’s a one tough son of a gun to taking her heist seriously and probably manipulative for her setup or she’ll embarrass our main baddies to letting her group get away with their plan, Kitty is good, but kind of downside she could’ve add a bit more development for why she forming her group for her ultimate heist goal in her serious execution.

While the rest aren’t much else to say that they’re just… There. Like Tiffany Fluffit (reprised by Lilly Singh/Superwoman) who’s a news reporter and Mr. Soliman (voiced by Omid Djyalili) who’s an Egyptian rich man who’s victimized by The Bad Guys in his attempt to distract them for the police, but alas, just there for wasting the time.

While the characters are welcome return, il give an appreciation with their updates for their new character developments and some welcome returning voice acting, even the new ones are good too, but they could’ve gone better to giving us a new and improved developments from before.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, The Bad Guys 2 is a pretty nice and possibly the craziest sequel that they gave us.

The writing is good for good jokes, and some decent character developments, the animation looks pretty good for its action and the craziness they pulled and some characters are good that I give appreciation.

However, it suffers the same problem as the previous installment from the clichés, some lackluster characters, the story is kind of lacking for what could’ve been for the concept, while some jokes, while I had some chuckles, but some are questionable.

Is this really an improvement sequel over the first one? Well, that’s dependable for you guys, like if you’re a fan of The Bad Guys, this is definitely for you, but for non-fans like me, we can say its a fairly decent sequel for the sake of thrilling actions and nicely done animation, otherwise, we may considered an alright sequel. Its the film that can watch it once, and as il always saying, you can drop your conclusion if its a worthy sequel or not.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 7/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.