Bad Boys for Life

Bad Boys for Life

The idea that Sony ever thought it had a good movie in “Bad Boys For Life” requires an incredible level of stupidity. The film is being released during January, smack dab in the middle of the cinematic wasteland, which is where bad movies go to die quietly and be forgotten forever. Even that ‘Fresh Pigeon of Bel-Air’ cartoon “Spies in Disguise,” was given an Oscar season release slot.

You might think a little more love would have been shown for the third entry in a hit franchise starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as bumbling cops who wreak havoc while trading witty banter. After all, its predecessors were released in April and July respectively, both directed by Michael Bay. The fact that Bay’s not involved only raised my suspicion that the studio didn’t have much faith in this one.

You wouldn’t believe it from looking at its opening day schedule but “Bad Boys For Life” isn’t nearly as bad as all that. It’s the best of the three films and provides a corrector to them in some strange ways. Unlike the first film, this one finds depth in female characters; unlike the second film, it’s not an exceptionally vile mishmash between Freebie and Bean mixed with Scarface whose runtime felt roughly six hundred hours long.

This time around Detectives Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowery (Will Smith) are more aware about how much collateral damage they cause though Lowery still needs constant reminders to temper down his destruction levels. I didn’t buy into this kinder-gentler Bad Boys shtick for even one second but I wasn’t bored either when telenovela-level drama gets added on top of explosions and gunplay during climax while openly ripping off ideas from Gemini Man I had no choice but admire such audacity.

It starts with that speeding Porsche sequence featured prominently within trailers wherein Mike actively disregards innocent life while trying to catch Miami’s latest criminal scumbag along with partner Marcus who doesn’t care about anything except catching criminals anyway possible; turns out all these stunts were just used so they could get him there faster for delivery room duties at grandma hospital instead!

Now granddad or ‘pop-pop’ as he calls himself thinks over police work seeing as unlike hot-headed partner does have wife & kids wants spend more time them than hundreds criminals shot over years past another buddy cop movie better than this called “I’m getting too old for this shit.” Mike begs him not to give up hope just yet though.

Meanwhile something is brewing south of border and literally speaking too! A self-proclaimed bruja named Isabel Aretas played by Kate del Castillo stages gruesome Silence Of The Lambs style prison break which reunites her with son Armando portrayed by Jacob Scipio before going on murderous rampage against everyone involved sending mama bear Isabel into penitentiary and papa bear into grave including last person she wants killed Det Lowery whom she orders her son kill last “so he can suffer.” Castillo plays role super tough like wish she’d just gone after enemies herself but whole witch character trait made me worried Bad Boys For Life was gonna embarrassingly do brujería what Steven Seagal Marked For Death did voodoo

Armando wears “Gemini Man” motorcycle gear while carrying out his mother’s wishes and eliminating enemies. He breaks the chain of command by taking out Mike first. Attempts to infuse the film with real emotional stakes follow this attack, and Lawrence must be credited for reminding us that he can convincingly depict serious scenes. Chris Bremner, Peter Craig and Joe Carnahan, the screenwriters, use this plot twist to sneak in an explanation for why collateral damage was minimized in those action sequences, but it is still violent enough to earn a hard-R rating.

There are some Easter eggs hidden throughout for fans of the series. One that made my audience laugh heartily unfortunately reminded me of one of the worst scenes in “Bad Boys II.” Several cast members also return despite a 25-year gap between this film and its predecessor. In addition to Smith and Lawrence, Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), who is always welcome back as the screeching police chief whose agita is exacerbated by his best cops’ recklessness, also returns. He’s very funny as is Lawrence who finds some new notes in his screen persona which he has been playing since his debut in “House Party.”

Lest I forget that like so many other recent action movies featuring older stars this movie gives us a crew of new-fangled youths whose knowledge of computers bumps heads with more hands-on approach towards their elders’ involvement in them these days here it’s AMMO run by Mike’s old flame Rita (Paola Nuñez) featuring Vanessa Hudgens from High School Musical and Spring Breakers!

Their drones use hacking skills mocked by old school police officers so only matter time until AMMO forced actual ammo get jobs done right! While preparing battle between each other isn’t exactly fair because neither side has had much practice lately but still fun watch nonetheless.

The thing about it though is that there’s something different about this one: namely its desire to embroil us into emotional stake for Mike & Marcus not superficial buddy-buddy bromantic way you’d expect but rather genuine earnestness which feels kind off putting when remember how Bay films have avoided any warmth whatsoever throughout entire series? Dare I say directors Adil El Arbi Bilall Fallah steal page from ‘old man’s lament’ playbook buoyed Pain Glory Irishman Smith Lawrence do their best pull off what I had too much too little too late reaction fully humanize characters here maybe mileage may vary your appreciation attempt least appreciated me.

What did not appreciate was ridiculous Marvel style post credits sequence setting up potential Bad Boys 4 The Return Thanos something like that What all those talks were last time between Mike Marcus We didn’t need this time let alone next But digress While marginally recommending one secret If were on cable at 3am watch hell.

Watch Bad Boys for Life For Free On Gomovies.