“The Bad Guys” aren’t so bad. Neither are they guys. They are anthropomorphic animation characters.

Anthropomorphism projects human characteristics onto non-human characters. Think Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny and Barney Rubble.

Well, maybe not Barney Rubble. The anthropologists are still out on which link of the evolutionary chain the caveman character from “The Flintstones” TV show (1960-’66) is on.

In “The Bad Guys,” the main characters are clearly on the Darwinian evolutionary ladder. Whether they will ever climb up or clamber down is not for you, dear moviegoer, nor I, to say.

What we can weigh in on is the film itself: a grab-bag of classic animation feature plot cliches, poorly-conceived and executed screenwriting, peculiarly uninteresting character voices, bland dialogue, sketchy and sub-par character animation (eyes are beady black dots on flat-white slates; the animation fur department seems to have been on hiatus) and RealD 3D animation that isn’t very real.

The plot has something to do with the title characters attempting to change their ways, the theft of the Golden Dolphin award at a gala and the disappearance of a meteorite on display.

“The Bad Guys” includes Mr. Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell), leader of the pack; Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Ms. Trantula (Awkwafina), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Professor Rupert Marmalade IV (Richard Ayoade) and Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz).

Pierre Perifel (feature film directorial debut) directs from a screenplay by Etan Cohen (screenwriter, “Men in Black 3,” 2012; “Tropic Thunder, 2008) with additional material by Yoni Brenner and Hilary Winston, and based on the books by Australian author Aaron Blabey.

The stakes are as low as the lost statue in “The Maltese Falcon” (1941 remake of 1931 film), but that film had screenwriter-director John Huston and novelist Dashiell Hammett going for it, as well as Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet.

Now those were some bad guys.

“The Bad Guys,”

MPAA rated PG (Rated PG: Parental Guidance Suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.) for action and rude humor; Run time: 1 hour, 40 minutes; Genre: Animation, Adventure Comedy. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

Opening credits for “The Bad Guys” include the DreamWorks logo, but instead of the fishing boy reclining on a sliver of the silvery moon, Mr. Wolf climbs on board. A scene during the closing credits trumpets a sequel.

At The Movies:

“The Bad Guys” was seen in the RealD 3D format in the AMC Center Valley 16, Promenade Shops at Center Valley. Paying the premium to see the film in the 3D format is unnecessary.

Theatrical Domestic Movie Box Office,

May 6-8: Benedict Cumberbatch commanded the Marvel Cinematic Universe to open the Summer Blockbuster Universe, traditionally Memorial Day weekend, early with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” No. 1, with a huge $187 million in 4,534 theaters.

It’s the second biggest opening weekend during the COVID-19 Universe after “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which opened with $260.1 million.

2. “The Bad Guys” dropped from its two-week run at No. 1, with $9.7 million, in 3,839 theaters; $57.5 million, three weeks. 3. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” dropped one place, with $6.2 million, in 3,358 theaters, $169.9 million, five weeks. 4. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” dropped one place, $3.9 million, in 3,051 theaters, $86 million, four weeks. 5. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” stayed in place, $3.3 million, in 1,542 theaters, $41.5 million, seven weeks. 6. “The Northman” dropped two places, $2.7 million, in 2,413 theaters, $28 million, three weeks. 7. “The Lost City” stayed in place, $2.5 million, in 1,897 theaters, $94.3 million, seven weeks. 8. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” dropped two places, $1.5 million, in 1,331 theaters, $16.3 million, three weeks. 9. “Memory” dropped one place, $1.2 million, in 2,433 theaters, two weeks. 10. “Father Stu” dropped one place, $800,000, in 1,265 theaters; $19.2 million, four weeks.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 8 is subject to change.

Unreel,

May 13:

“Firestarter.”

R: Keith Thomas directs Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Gloria Reuben and Kurtwood Smith in the Drama, Horror, Thriller. A young girl’s brain thinks fires.

“The Innocent,”

No MPAA rating: Eskil Vogt directs Rakel Lenora Fløttum, Alva Brynsmo Ramstad, Sam Ashraf, Mina Yasmin and Bremseth Asheim in the Fantasy, Horror, Thriller. In the light of the Nordic summer, the dark powers of children are revealed.

Movie opening dates as of May 8 from Internet Movie Database are subject to change.

This column is dedicated to Amy Longsdorf (1961-1922), of Palmerton, longtime film reviewer and movie celebrity interviewer for newspapers, who died May 2. Contributions: Forgotten Felines and Fidos, 6022 Mountain Road, Germansville, Pa. 18053

One Popcorn Box out of Five Popcorn Boxes