With the success, both box office and storytelling-wise, of the 2022 animated release The Bad Guys, a sequel was always going to be inevitable. Now that that moment has arrived, what are the end results? The charm of the first is mostly intact, but the storyline has been ramped up to the stratosphere, well, outer space, actually.

All the main voice actors and their characters have returned, and we get three new additions. The Bad Girls, made up of Doom (AKA Susan), voiced by Natasha Lyonne, Pigtail Petrova (Maria Bakalova) and the ring leader Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks). The arrival of the three happens mid-film and deprives the audience of an in-depth backstory.

The Bad Guys have now gone good, and with job prospects being nonexistent for ex-criminals, they are struggling to make ends meet. In the midst of all this, they are framed for a crime they didn’t commit and are forced back into the life. The story from this point on just gets more and more outlandish and eventually ends up in outer space.

Relying on the establishment of the characters and their appeal from the first film and putting almost all the onscreen effort into the new storyline leaves little further development to their ways. The set pieces are extravagant and spectacular, and the action never trails off. The appeal of the opening round has been somewhat muted with this approach. It’s still entertaining, but just not as memorable.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

In the new chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed 2022 action-comedy hit about a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws, The Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do “one last job” by an all-female squad of criminals.

Based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Australian author Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys 2 reunites the film’s all-star cast and filmmakers.

Returning to their roles as The Bad Guys are Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell as dashing reformed pickpocket Mr. Wolf; Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, Craig Robinson as master-of-disguise Mr. Shark, Grammy winner Anthony Ramos as the short-fused Mr. Piranha and Golden Globe winner Awkwafina as expert hacker Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs”.

The A-list comedic cast includes the return of Zazie Beetz as Diana Foxington, BAFTA winner Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade, Emmy winner Alex Borstein as police chief Misty Luggins and Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit.

The Bad Guys 2 is directed by returning filmmaker Pierre Perifel and produced by returning producer Damon Ross. The co-director is JP Sans, who served as head of character animation on The Bad Guys, and the music is by Oscar®-nominated returning composer Daniel Pemberton.
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

In the new chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed 2022 action-comedy hit about a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws, The Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do “one last job” by an all-female squad of criminals.

Based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Australian author Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys 2 reunites the film’s all-star cast and filmmakers.

Returning to their roles as The Bad Guys are Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell as dashing reformed pickpocket Mr. Wolf; Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, Craig Robinson as master-of-disguise Mr. Shark, Grammy winner Anthony Ramos as the short-fused Mr. Piranha and Golden Globe winner Awkwafina as expert hacker Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs”.

The A-list comedic cast includes the return of Zazie Beetz as Diana Foxington, BAFTA winner Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade, Emmy winner Alex Borstein as police chief Misty Luggins and Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit.

The Bad Guys 2 is directed by returning filmmaker Pierre Perifel and produced by returning producer Damon Ross. The co-director is JP Sans, who served as head of character animation on The Bad Guys, and the music is by Oscar®-nominated returning composer Daniel Pemberton.
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

In the new chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed 2022 action-comedy hit about a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws, The Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do “one last job” by an all-female squad of criminals.

Based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys 2 reunites the film’s all-star cast and filmmakers.

Returning to their roles as The Bad Guys are Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell as dashing reformed pickpocket Mr. Wolf; Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, Craig Robinson as master-of-disguise Mr. Shark, Grammy winner Anthony Ramos as the short-fused Mr. Piranha and Golden Globe winner Awkwafina as expert hacker Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs”.

The A-list comedic cast includes the return of Zazie Beetz as Diana Foxington, BAFTA winner Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade, Emmy winner Alex Borstein as police chief Misty Luggins and Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit.

The Bad Guys 2 is directed by returning filmmaker Pierre Perifel and produced by returning producer Damon Ross. The co-director is JP Sans, who served as head of character animation on The Bad Guys, and the music is by Oscar®-nominated returning composer Daniel Pemberton.
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

This time the main subject is not being afraid of change and overcoming a comfortable existence to find your better self. Visually the film contains almost everything the ever-advancing craft is capable of with fantastic use of colour and wonderful set design. Being based in the East adds another element of the exotic and this is used to the fullest.

This is the most character-based outing of the series and relies heavily on the appeal of its two main voice actors Jack Black and Awkwafina. Black does tone down some of his more over-the-top tendencies but you still need to dig his shtick to get the most out of the film. Awkwafina also stays very much in her established persona. The rest of the cast features heavy hitters like Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane and Dustin Hoffman.

The term craft returns to mind as you experience Kung Fu Panda 4 and that is not meant as a slight. The amount of effort and the utilization of the many skill sets behind this project are very impressive indeed. As for the story, it’s consistent if not spectacular and finds a comfortable medium that will engage the adults as well as the younger ones. My favourite little one loved it.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.

Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

The film features the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master, Shifu; James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping; Academy Award® nominee Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li, and Emmy Award nominee Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys). The film’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power). In 2008, the Academy Award®-nominated 2008 inaugural chapter, Kung Fu Panda, became DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing original animated film and launched a franchise that has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box-office.
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

With a crowded holiday schedule of films, a movie has to try harder to rise above the rest and getting all the ingredients correct is paramount to that. The production features two directors Benjamin Renner and Guylo Homsy and while their resumes are light on previous full-length works, this is an assured effort.

The story revolves around an overly cautious mallard duck named Mack (Kumail Nanjiani) who has kept his family static due to his fear of the unknown. Said family yearns for adventure and to see a world that extends past the pond they call home. When the season for migration begins, circumstance lead to the family heading south for the winter.

While no new ground is broken story-wise, the appeal is in the faultless execution. The animation is wonderful, as is the character interaction and development. It should appeal to every member of the family (except for those curmudgeons that have it out for animated animals). Consummate craftmanship and a cranked up AC, what’s not to like about that?
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.

Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

The film features the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master, Shifu; James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping; Academy Award® nominee Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li, and Emmy Award nominee Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys). The film’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power). In 2008, the Academy Award®-nominated 2008 inaugural chapter, Kung Fu Panda, became DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing original animated film and launched a franchise that has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box-office.
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

“Migration’s family-holiday storyline is action-packed, amusing and a little synonymous with the journey many long-haul travellers might make as they travel halfway around the world to discover Solomon Islands’ nearly 1000 stunning islands,” said Solomon Airlines Marketing Manager David Green.

“Solomon Airlines recently launched a direct route from Brisbane to Munda in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, a tropical paradise akin to the surroundings the movie characters journey towards,” said Mr. Green.

“With the Solomon Islands increasingly internationally recognised as an off-the-beaten-track and untouched leisure destination, we hope to create curiosity about journeying to our own tropical paradise,” he said.

“With our newest A320 joining the fleet, and our Brisbane to Munda direct service re-launched, we could not imagine a better time to partner with Illumination’s Migration to promote the life-changing experience of travel to the tropics” he said.

Solomon Airlines’ newest A320 aircraft, registered H4-SAL, will play a major role in regional promotion of Migration.

Migration will be released in cinemas on Boxing Day, 26 December 2023!
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

The Mallard family is in a bit of rut. While dad Mack is content to keep his family safe paddling around their New England pond forever, mom Pam is eager to shake things up and show their kids—teen son Dax and duckling daughter Gwen—the whole wide world. After a migrating duck family alights on their pond with thrilling tales of far-flung places, Pam persuades Mack to embark on a family trip, via New York City, to tropical Jamaica.

As the Mallards make their way South for the winter, their well-laid plans quickly go awry. The experience will inspire them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends and accomplish more than they ever thought possible, while teaching them more about each other—and themselves—than they ever imagined.

From a screenplay by Mike White, the Emmy winning creator of The White Lotus and the screenwriter of School of Rock, the film stars a top-flight comedic cast led by Oscar® and Emmy nominee Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Eternals) as anxious Mallard dad Mack and Emmy nominee Elizabeth Banks (Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect franchises) as Pam, the Mallards’ daring, quick-witted matriarch.

Caspar Jennings plays Dax, the Mallards’ confident and restless son, and, in her feature film debut, Tresi Gazal plays Gwen, the family’s innocent and lovable daughter.

Golden Globe winner Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) voices the scrappy leader of a New York City pigeon gang; Emmy winner and Oscar® nominee Carol Kane (The Princess Bride) plays Erin the heron, the first friend that the Mallards make on their journey; Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Lion King) voices a homesick Jamaican parrot locked away in a Manhattan restaurant, and BAFTA winner David Mitchell (Peep Show) plays the yogic leader of a mysterious duck farm. Legendary Emmy winner and Oscar® nominee Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) co-stars as Mack’s curmudgeonly, adventure-averse Uncle Dan.

Directed by Benjamin Renner, the Oscar®-nominated filmmaker of Ernest & Celestine and The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, Migration is a visual spectacle unlike any in Illumination’s acclaimed history, featuring elevated, expressionist artistry and Illumination’s signature subversive humor and authentic heart, unforgettable characters and joyful soundtrack.

Produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri, Migration is a film about overcoming your fears and opening yourself up to the world and its opportunities. The film is co-directed by Guylo Homsy (Head of Layout and Cinematography for Sing and Sing 2), edited by Christian Gazal (Happy Feet, Peter Rabbit) and the Production Designer is Colin Stimpson (The Secret Life of Pets 2).
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/