Finally, the most well-known criminal gang of anthropomorphic animals is back on the big screen. It’s been two long years since we saw Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Mr. Piranha, and Ms. Tarantula change their stealing ways for the better once faced with a secretly evil philanthropist pig. InThe Bad Guys 2, the situation becomes a bit more complex. The five do-gooders are once again roped into a world of crime when they are tricked by a group of female burglars to help rob the entire world of its gold. The children’s heist movie was only released one week ago, and a third entry inThe Bad Guysfranchise has already been announced! That’s a testament to how good this movie is.
However, this is certainly not the first time we’ve seen children’s animation turn to a charming yet chaotic group for entertainment. Nickelodeon did the same thing 10 years ago — by creating a spin-off from one of their most popular franchises. In this case, the risk paid off immensely. Beginning all the way back in 2005 withMadagascarand ending the trilogy withMadagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wantedin 2012, the four traveling animals from the Central Park Zoo (Alex the African lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the quirky giraffe and Gloria the hippo) helped to build new fan favorite characters in the form of four commando penguins: Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico.
These Penguins Are Too Cool For School
Right off the bat, this aquatic group easily has the same dynamic as the main robbers found inThe Bad Guysfranchise. Rico is just as wild as Mr. Piranha, and Kowalski seems to have a down-to-earth personality similar to Ms. Tarantula. Concerning the four mission-oriented birds, they have a bit of a historyin theMadagascaruniverse.They were not only introduced inEscape 2 Africaand brought back inEurope’s Most Wanted,but they also had their own spin-off film and three-season television series. These penguins were stars. If you are a fan ofThe Bad Guys 2(or the original, for that matter), you should easily check outThe Penguins of Madagascarmovie, and here’s why.
Firstly, we have to talk about the pacing. As much asThe Bad Guysgoes from chill hideout scenes to crazily hanging off the side of a rocket,The Penguins of Madagascarnever really lets up. Aside from a rather heartwarming intro where a young Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski aid a hatching Private, they then break into Fort Knox, take part in a chase scene through the waterways of Venice, and participate in some hijinks on board a top-secret spy plane. These scenes not only suffice as a great ice-breaker in getting to know each of the penguins and their coinciding personalities, but also give a good representation of the movie’sfast-paced tone and humor.
‘Penguins of Madagascar’ Is Fun For Both Children and Adults
These four aquatic birdsalso put their own spin on the usual team dynamic seen in animated children’s features. Skipper may act as a straight-to-the-point commander at times, and Kowalski may be his second in command, but Rico and Private throw this entire coordination aspect out the window. Rico is a demolition expert, inciting explosions and violence before anything else to accomplish his goals. He also swallows any and all items he may need later (including paper clips, bombs, and the egg Private came out of). This unpredictable penguin is also rumored to be holding all the weapons he will ever need in his gut for future use. Then, there’s Private, the youngest and most inexperienced in the group.DreamWorks Animationbrilliantly strengthens the beginning and end ofPenguins of Madagascarby evolving this character into a full-fledged member of the group.
The high-paced, wacky teamwork found in both the 2008 cartoon series and the 2014 movie is a great watch for those who cannot wait for more ofThe Bad Guys. Just asMr. Wolf and his crewdon’t always complete their heist in the most orderly fashion, Skipper and his penguins don’t always get away with what they have planned — but honestly, that’s all part of the fun. Whether it’s using a cannon to launch themselves out of a circus in the movie or creating a black hole paradox by using a time machine one too many times in the show, these penguins could very well use some tips from The Bad Guys in regard to becoming more orderly.
But before we get thinking about any such crossover, let’s end this off with some viewing info:The Bad Guys 2is now playing in theaters, whileThe Penguins of Madagascarmovie can be streamed on Netflix. If you want to see the TV series of the same name (which arguably is even crazier), YouTube and Prime Video have you covered.
Penguins of Madagascar
