Bad Boys for Life Movie Review

Bad boys, bad boys, watchya gonna do, whatchya gonna do when they come for you...

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE-

Look, we all love a good cop duo movie. Those types of films have been successful for decades. The problem, is that many were so poorly written (RUSH HOUR 2 & 3, ANOTHER 48 HOURS), ran out of steam (21 JUMP STREET) or never got a chance to get past a single film (ALIEN NATION, MIAMI VICE), that they never got a chance to be better than they initially started out to be. Now for me, the LETHAL WEAPON series was an intimate character study between two cops who eventually become best friends. I loved their families, their worlds, and especially their journey together. It's rare that a series stayed strong through four films, and it was because of the most important thing; staying true to the characters.

My middle-aged sense of sentimentality must be kicking in, for the reason that I've been recalling how long it's been since I saw the original BAD BOYS in 1995 at a theater that has long since been demolished and replaced by the same old boring multiplex that we've all grown accustomed to. There's something that I've loved about the BAD BOYS series that has always rang true (even through this film), and that is in spite of how over the top the action may get, the characters have continuously stayed true to themselves. The fairly new directing team of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah really seem to get what the most important element is here. Sure, the story has some major plot holes that will drill into your common senses if you let them, yet what matters most has stayed intact. The directors have also shown a bit more restraint than their predecessor (Michael Bay), by giving fantastic action that's handled in a less bombastic manner.

The duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence has not missed a beat with BAD BOYS FOR LIFE. These two work off of each other so believably, that they might as well be best friends in the real world. It's fun to be back with them, their style, and their ulcer having boss played by Joe Pantoliano. Lawrence's on screen family also keeps the connections familiar as well, yet never as strong as the Murtaughs (LETHAL WEAPONS). The other sides could've been an annoying distraction, however they never really intrude, and keep a respectful distance to the main attractions. The humor is still strong, with more than a few laugh out loud moments. To be honest though, while being a better overall film than BAD BOYS II, the restraint in directing doesn't give this film the funniest parts nor the best action scenes in the series. However, the villains here have a better purpose than the cardboard cutout baddies of the past. This series hasn't reached the heights of my favorite cop buddy duo, yet BAD BOYS FOR LIFE shows that it isn't too old for this shit yet.

Bad Boys for Life (2020)
R | 2h 4min | Action, Comedy, Crime | 17 January 2020 (USA)
The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life.

Directors: Adil El Arbi (as Adil), Bilall Fallah (as Bilall)

Writers: Chris Bremner (screenplay), Peter Craig (screenplay)

Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens