Making a sequel of any kind is tough. Regardless of the quality of the first movie, there are going to be expectations for the follow-up. If the movie was a massive, surprise hit, there’s going to be a lot of pressure to live up to that success. Time and time again we have seen filmmakers buckle under that pressure. Streaming services and dusty movie shelves are littered with sequels that just couldn’t recapture what made their predecessors so beloved. The Bad Guys 2 is not going to be one of those movies. If anything, it is the rare animated sequel that is every bit as good as the original, if not even better.

Once again based on the Australian book series of the same name, The Bad Guys 2 picks up just a few months after the end of the original. We follow the titular band of anthropomorphized animals as they have abandoned their former lives of crime and are trying to make a go of being law abiding citizens. Predictably, given their reputation as notorious criminals, it is not going well. When a new thief starts framing the group for heists around the city, it’s up the Bad Guys to help crack the case and prove once again that they really are good now.

Directors Pierre Perifel and JP Sans have managed yet again to craft an excellent, action-packed heist comedy that just happens to be about animated animals. They never treat the plot as dumb or pointless, and they never treat the audience like children, even if that’s who the movie is aimed at. As a result, it’s so easy for literally anyone to sit back, relax, and enjoy a surprisingly high-octane ride. There are fights, car chases, double-crosses, anything you could want from a movie like this. There’s even a race up the side of a rocket leaving the atmosphere that would make Mission Impossible’s Ethan Hunt proud.

For as fantastic as the action is, the slower-paced character moments hold up just as well. Part of that is the sharp writing that makes these characters really feel like people. Even more of it though is the great work from the cast. Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) and the gang are all just as well acted as they were the first time. Rockwell in particular oozes the suave charm that makes it impossible not to root for him. I could compliment each and every actor on their work, because they all deserve it, but it’s a pretty packed ensemble. Suffice to say, there are no weak links.

In my opinion, though, an animated movie is only as good as its animation. Thankfully, The Bad Guys 2 does not disappoint in that department. It’s vibrant, slick, colorful, and frankly just a joy to look at. Dreamworks has a history of producing gorgeous movies, and this one definitely fits onto that list.

That’s not to say that there aren’t any problems. If you aren’t a fan of juvenile humor, I think there’s still plenty to enjoy here, but you will probably find yourself rolling your eyes quite often. You really need to think that chicken costumes and fart jokes are funny for some of the humor to land. Additionally, the plot requires a pretty massive suspension of disbelief. The big, climactic heist is a treat to watch, as it should be, but it doesn’t make a ton of sense. That said, it’s primarily for children, so I’m willing to forgive it for not being Ocean’s Eleven. It hits the right notes for a heist movie, even if those notes are a little silly.

Truthfully, I’m not sure how you could ask for much more from a movie like The Bad Guys 2. It’s faithful to the original while upping the stakes, consistently funny, beautifully animated, well-directed, and jam packed with great performances. In a year that honestly hasn’t produced many spectacular animated movies, this one stands out way above the crowd. If we’re lucky, there’s another sequel in the works, because stopping this franchise now would be a real crime.