Displaying items by tag: Awkwafina

THE BAD GUYS 2

US, 2025, 104 minutes, Colour.

Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Maria Bakalova, Alex Borstein, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Kelly Stables.

Directed by Pierre Perifell.

Everybody enjoyed The Bad Guys in 2022. So, here we are again. There is a special Australian interest in this very American animated production. The series of The Bad Guys, graphic novels, designed for children’s audiences, was written by Australian author, former actor, Aaron Blabey. He also serves as executive producer for this film.

So, what would we expect, if we did not know the series, from a movie called The Bad Guys? Whatever it might have been, most audiences will be satisfied, many will be highly entertained.

The characters are well drawn, quite individual, a charming wolf who is the mastermind of The Bad Guys, a slithering snake who wants to be bad, a petite tarantula who is adept at computers and technology, a rather cumbersome shark with a genial personality able to adapt to many situations, and a piranha who likes baring teeth and taking over. And there are some other interesting principal characters, the governor of the state, Diane, a pleasant and attractive fox, a do-gooding Professor, minute, a guinea pig, and a large, forward bending, teeth baring, intense police chief. And, as can be seen by the credits, there is a very talented voice cast.

Actually, these paragraphs came from the review of the first film. So, this sequel will mean that the characters are very familiar, Wolf and the wisecracks, love for Diane, the secrets of the other characters, especially the police chief who is now Commissioner.

In many ways this screenplay is a repetition of the first film, the newly rehabilitated Bad Guys, trying to make good in the world, then suspected of going to the bad, their being set up by a criminal group of female characters. There is a huge climax at a wrestling match which is a cover for stealing the competition winning but which contains a highly desired element.

Then, unexpectedly, the action becomes cosmic, spacecraft, travel into space, a giant station and everyone involved in confrontations and battles.

One of the main advantages for all audiences is that the screenplay is quite humorous, a lot of repartee and banter, some ironies, not just for the young but engaging enough to entertain older audiences.

1. The popularity of Aaron Blabey’s books, graphic novels series? Characters, adventures?
2. The style of the animation, each of the distinctive characters, settings, conventions, prisons, cells, public meetings, the laboratories, the wrestling match, the crowds, the sea of crowds in pursuit, space, spacecraft, the giant plant, conflicts, special effects and stunts? The musical score?
3. The title, the group of animal characters, their reputation, philosophy of life, camaraderie? An interesting group of characters? Plus Professor Marmalade, plus Diane, plus the police chief? The introduction of the trio of villains, female, Susan and Snake and flirting, people in the wrestling, Kitty Cat and the mastermind?
4. The dialogue, the humour, wit, repartee? Engaging for younger audiences? Entertaining for adult audiences?
5. Audience interest in each of the characters, Wolf as leader, his appearance, manner of speaking, self-confidence, thinking himself as a Big Bad Wolf, mastermind, the various crimes and robberies, his plans, his repartee? Reform, lack of opportunities, the romance with Diane and then meetings?
6. Snake, drawing, voice, characteristics of snakes, wanting to be bad, feeling betrayed by Wolf when he becomes good? Skills in the plots, slithering, x-ray eyes? Voice? Suspected of being the thief? The relationship with Susan? The betrayal and disillusionment?
7. Tarantula, many fingers, adept at technology, her voice, loyalties?
8. Shark, large, variety of voices, impersonations, as female, as male, improvising, meeting people, singing, providing diversions?
9. Piranha, teeth, small, vicious, taking over at times, performing and attracting attention?
10. Diane, the governor, the smooth fox, charm, political career, condemning the Bad Guys, her interviews? Her wanting them to be reformed? Handing over to Professor Marmalade? Her supervision, the revelation that she was a jewel thief, her reform, being good, helping people? Her being abducted, the video of her past identity, in the spacecraft, helping Wolf, the final romantic ending?
11. Professor Marmalade? His very British voice? Guinea pig? Diminutive? With Diane, and the revelation about the theft?
12. The police chief, now Commissioner, large, her teeth, her walk, vigorous, always on the attack, wanting to get the Bad Guys? The encounter with Wolf, the element, the belt, the robbery, the wrestling match, the further revelations, the solution, and her plan to show that the Bad Guys had died, but they are about to become secret agents?
13. Susan, her charm, with caps late, the seduction, the revelation, the wrestling match, the peak, setting up The Bad Guys, Kitty Kat and her personality, thief, the gang?
14. The plans, the vast centre, into space, the Bad Guys versus the bad females, battles, Diane and her intervention, the fights? And the transition to the Bad Guys being mourned, dead but heroes?
15. The Commissioner and her plan, the agents, the car, the romantic ending – and the plans for the next sequel?

KUNG FU PANDA 4

US, 2024, 93 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Ian McShane, Ke Huy Quan, Ronnie Chieng, Seth Rogen.

Directed by Mike Mitchell, Stephanie Stine.

It is already 16 years since we were introduced to the large Panda, Po, genial but not the brightest, working in his father’s noodle house, but becoming a chosen one, especially under the guidance of the Guru, Master Shifu, and destined to be the defender of his place and the assorted population, animals of every kind.

The animation is bright and colourful, the action, especially the martial arts combats, always lively. And the voices came from a large number of prominent Hollywood talent, starting with Jack Black enjoying himself as Po, with Dustin Hoffman voicing Master Shifu. There were the five champions of the region, there were villains. And there was combat, despite Po and his initial limitations.

Since his first film, there have been quite a number of short features with the his for Panda, more recently 42 episodes of a television series. And, for the theatres, there was one 2, Kung Fu Panda 3 now, eight years since the last movie, Kung Fu Panda 4.

Looking back over the synopses of the previous three films, we realise that the plot is virtually the same every time, Po, genial and awkward, taking his responsibilities seriously most of the time but often lackadaisical, confronting a variety of villains that turned up each time. And, it is much the same here. However, there is a challenge for Po, Master Shifu urging him to find and train a successor. But, Po enjoys his life and mission too much.

A lot of the previous villains are now in some kind of eternal dimension. So, here we have Chameleon and, shape shifting, absolutely sinister, power-hungry. In a variety of shapes and reverting back to her Chameleon shape, she is voiced by Viola Davis.

In the meantime, Po encounters the little Zhen, voiced by Awkafina, tantalising, quick in combat, continually challenging him.

Plenty of combat sequences, building up to Po versus Chameleon in an extended confrontation, the rising from their eternity of so many of the characters of the past, vanquished and imprisoned by Chameleon. And there is always the mischievous Zhen, freeing herself from the power of Chameleon – leading to who knows where, even a sequel!.

Po must be getting old because he does decide on his successor as he moves on to greater wisdom and responsibility (we hope!).

1. The popularity of Kung Fu Panda? Films, television, the characters, the settings, colour, action? The musical score? The strong voice cast?
2. The location, the Valley of Peace, the creatures, living in harmony, the noodle store, countryside, the mountains, the city by the sea and its interiors? Atmosphere?
3. The same plot is the other films, the focus on Po, personality, size, weight, eating, martial arts skills, his role as defender? The combat sequences? His relationship with his 2 fathers?
4. Master Shifu, his role of advice, the challenge to Po, wisdom, choosing a successor (and the comic sequence of the range of possible successors and their style)? His unwillingness?
5. The 2 fathers, the store, the chatter, care for Po? The range of characters in the town? The opening, the creatures, the oppression, the enemy, the battle?
6. The character of Zhen, small, cheeky, challenging, a skill with martial arts, the encounters with Po?
7. The rising danger, Chameleon, her appearance, her voice, the shape shifting, becoming monstrous? Power hungry? Imprisoning the characters from the past and taking their power? Her power over is in? Zen and her rebellion? Siding with Po?
8. The buildup to the confrontation, the elaborate battle, the shape shifting, the support of the older creatures, their past with Po, the support of him? The vanquishing of Chameleon? Master Shifu and his encouragement to fight?
9. The future, accepting his destiny, the advice that he would know when he found his successor – and the challenge for Zhen?