The boys are back — finally! Our J.P. reviews the long-awaited, third installment, “Bad Boys for Life,” starring again the hilarious duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
BAD BOYS FOR LIFE
Columbia Pictures
- Opened: Friday, January 17, 2020
- Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, sexual references and brief drug use.
- Running Time: 126 minutes
- Directed by: Adil & Bilall
- Story by: Peter Craig and Joe Carnahan
- Screenplay by: Chris Bremner and Peter Craig and Joe Carnahan
- Produced by: Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Smith, Doug Belgrad
- Executive Producers: Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Mike Stenson, James Lassiter
- Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate Del Castillo, Nicky Jam, and Joe Pantoliano
Studio Synopsis:
That chorus from the hit song “Bad Boys,” by the Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle, became the memorable anthem for not one but two pop culture landmarks, including the blockbuster Bad Boys motion picture franchise. It speaks to the films’ attitude, vibe, beat – and to the two global superstars who headline them.
The first Bad Boys film introduced Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, who each had previously headlined a hit television series, to motion picture action-comedy fans. Smith and Lawrence, under the direction of action maestro Michael Bay, electrified audiences with their performances as Miami narcotics detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The film’s triumphant reception led to an even more successful second chapter, Bad Boys II (2003). Now, Marcus and Mike are back for one last ride in Bad Boys for Life.
Everybody’s favorite crime-fighting duo is back on their beat – and they’re as fun, dangerous, and unpredictable as ever. Smith and Lawrence return in two of their signature roles, Lowery and Burnett, but this time they’re joining forces with an elite Miami P.D. team to take down the vengeful head of a drug cartel.
J.P.’s Take:
Bad Boys! Bad Boys! Whatcha gonna do, whatcha do when they come for you? The famous Bob Marley tune will either bring to mind the reality TV series “COPS!” or you’ll conjure up the good times had when watching “Bad Boys” and “Bad Boys II.” That very same theme is also the catch all phrase in which Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) brandish throughout the “Bad Boys” franchise. The theme continues in this third installment, “Bad Boys for Life.”
Honestly I didn’t know how they were going to make this work; however, the filmmakers found sticking points from its predecessors to stitch part three together.
The first “Bad Boys” was certainly a breath of fresh air in terms of action/comedies. Looking back on the Nick Nolte / Eddie Murphy-helmed “48 hours” and sequel “Another 48 Hours,” those films couldn’t touch the panache of “Bad Boys’” boisterous, brash, explosive energy of the mid 90’s. While Michael Bay (director of the first two “Bad Boys” films) has been booted from directorial duties this time around, the fresh faced, Belgian directors Adil El Arabi and Bilall Fallah (“Image,” “Black,” TV’s “Snowfall,” and the forthcoming “Beverly Hills Cop 4” feature) make haste filling Bay’s shoes. I feel Bay, who has directed and produced “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor,” and the “Transformers” film series, would be proud actually as they bring the heat with all the outrageous action sequences, without falling into the trappings of Bay’s genre defining overcompensations. Don’t get me wrong the “Bayhem” era had its day, yet, the new kids on the block — Adil & Bilall (as billed) — bring better balance.
While this doesn’t mean we’re short changed on the atmosphere, you’ll still get all the glitz and glamour of a Miami backdrop, riddled with its colorful characters and random acts of violence. The exotic cars are there, the lovely ladies, and new baddies, who are just as cut throat as ever, are also present.
Yet, the game has changed for the somewhat aging dynamic duo. You’re given time to get reacquainted with detective Lowrey (Smith), who still brings the fire and machismo, and the overly cautious cowardly lion so to speak Detective Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) is now more settled in his spirituality. What threatens the two is a near tragedy that we didn’t see coming. Or maybe we did — depending on how closely viewers watched the first two films. This plot device allows for a young vibrant new team called AMMO (Advanced Miami Metro Operations) to step into the spotlight.
The banter between Lowrey and Burnett alone is enough to get the gist of their geriatric comedy, yet pitting them against this new team gives them new life. The two sides battle it out for top spot, however, are able to mesh together enough to feel like there is a genuine connection.
Smith and Lawrence certainly still have that chemistry, which made them icons of the 90’s action/comedy arena. Don’t worry about the plot or story. While neither of the first two features have ever been stunning examples of script magic, the one story that warrants attention is surrounding Lowrey’s past between him and Isabel Aretas (Kate del Castillo).
The merry cast of characters range from notable faces such as Vanessa Hudgens (playing Kelly) to Latin singer Nicky Jam (as Zway-Lo) and DJ/producer/rapper DJ Khaled (as Manny the Butcher). Newcomer castmates to the “Bad Boys” film series are Jacob Scipio (as Armando Armas), “Vikings” star and recent “Sidewalks Entertainment” guest Alexander Ludwig (as Dorn), Massi Furlan (as Lee Taglin), Paola Núñez (as Rita), Charles Melton (as Rafe) and well known novella actress Del Castillo are filling out the remainder of the crew. Some of previous cast members return for this outing: Theresa Randle as Theresa Burnett, Joe Pantoliano as Captain Conrad Howard, and a grown up Dennis Greene in the role of Reggie from “Bad Boys II.” And not to be forgotten, the previous “Bad Boys” director himself, Michael Bay himself, makes a cameo appearance as a wedding MC.
In essence, “Bad Boys for Life” is an amalgamation of its forbearers in such a way that it’s both a parody as well as a tribute rolled into one. It certainly doesn’t tone down the crude humor, nor does it shy away from the hardcore violence and other action montages. You’ll find it just as enjoyable, if a bit reminiscent of the past, in the way it’s presented.
I can’t lie — I would watch it again.