The Bad Guys 2 4K Ultra HD

In The Baf Guys 2," the crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, now-reformed, are trying (very, very hard) to be good, but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming: The Bad Girls. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Pierre Perifel, Co-Director JP Sans, Head of Character Animation Benjamin Willis, Head of Story Katherine de Vries, and Head of Cinematography, Layout Théophile Bondoux; the short "Little Lies And Alibis" (HD 05"42); seven featurettes: "Bad Guys: Out Of Line" (HD -2:06), "Double Jeopardy: The Making Of The Bad Guys 2 (HD 04:46), "Meet The Gang" (HD 07:37), "Double Trouble: The Animals Behind The Bad Guys 2" (HD 09:02), "Causing A Scene" (HD 05:16), "Planning The Heist" (HD 10:08). "Sketching The Bad Girls" (HD 10:49); two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Pierre Perifel (HD 05:56)and Co-Director JP Sans and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.



commentary with Director Pierre Perifel, Producer Damon Ross, Head of Story Nelson Yokota, Head of Character Animation JP Sans and Production Designer Luc Desmarchelier; the short "Maraschino Ruby" (HD 03:50); five deleted scenes (HD 10:52); the featurettes "Devise The Plan: Making The Bad Guys" (HD 06:56), "Assemble The Crew" (HD 06:46), "It's Showtime: Cast Table Read" (HD 05:51), "Snake's Frozen Pop Shop (HD 6:56) and "From The Drawing Room" (HD 16:14) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was animated digitally and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is terrific. The animation is amazing with incredibly smooth character movements and busy action sequences. The color palette exhibits vividly saturated hues that are deeply warm, especially red, blue, green hues. At times, colors pop. Numerous colors are pastel-hued. Hue intensities are often strong, yet fine shadings enhance the tones. HDR contrast is superb. Blacks are solid and deep. Animated shadows create depth. White levels are brilliant. The imagery is sharp and clear. Resolution exhibits crisp and rounded lines. The imagery is smooth. This is a dynamic and compelling visual experience with amazing animation that the entire family will find fun to watch.

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding with a lot of exciting and intense sound effects that explode through every channel. The action scenes are extremely busy with fast-moving characters and object. The higher energy moments deliver the most excitement and fun. The wrestling and space lunch are intensely dynamic and supported with deep, powerful bass intensified with sub-25 Hz .1 LFE energy, which is prevalent and constant during the space scenes involving the suction of gold from earth. Deep subwoofer response capability is required to fully feel the impact. Foley sound effects enhance the sonics and are in perfect sync with the picture. The orchestra/choral, and at times synthesizer, score is high energy and powerful with a loud forward presence. The music spans wide and deep across the frontal soundstage and deep into the surround field. ADR dialogue is clear and generally forward sounding, and could be better integrated spatially. But then this is a given trait of soundtracks for animated movies. Directional dialogue is presented.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of essentially intermittent low-level atmospherics and sound effects, sans the orchestra score except for very brief moments and then also at a low SPL level. This occurs up until the final scenes. There are a few effective treatments during this period, one the wrestling match scene. During the final rocket into space scene at the end the height layer is fully energized with sound effects, sans the music. But so much more could have been achieved as in the vein of the scene treatments noted. Since the soundtrack is completely fabricated, it is disappointing that the filmmakers did not consistently activate all elements, sans dialogue, for the height layer treatment, and at an appreciable level to actually significantly enhance the spatial dimensionality throughout the holosonic® soundtrack. The score borders on a "4.5".

This is a fun, dynamic and energized ear level holosonic® soundtrack with moments of effective height layer treatment, such as the ending scenes. Still the characters and action scenes are fun to experience. (Gary Reber)