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Rating: 3 out of 5
Bad Boys for Life is like that relative at the family cookout. The one who loves to tell stories about how good they were back in the day while also still believing they still have the same exact skills as they had in their 20s. You know the ones I am talking about? That good ole uncle that used to be some sports star or that good ole auntie that had the dance moves or singing skills. They believe in their heart of heart, and deep down that they still got one good move left in them. You know in your heart you want to say out loud, “Man/Woman! Sit yo old ass down before you hurt yourself” BUT you stay absolutely quite because you know you’re about to get one of the most entertaining spectacles you have seen in a while. You are looking for your phone to record it all. The outcome is when everyone gets together again, and that one family member says, “Remember that time when such and such did this?”
The whole movie is that family member who still is trying desperately to live the dream and keep up with the times like before. Yet, they are just flat out old and need to sit they behind down. Like how your mama used to tell you, “You need to sit yo behind down before (insert punishment/assault here).” A film that is entertaining in some aspects, funny in others, and sometimes will make you have a confused look because it is just a little outrageous. A buddy cop film where Danny Glover should walk past, sit next to the two main stars and say in his Lethal Weapon voice, “I’m too old for this shit!”
Bad Boys for Life is set 25 years after the original film and 17 years after the second film. A whole 17 years have gone by, and damn does it shows in Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The film begins with a high-speed car, where Miami Detective Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowery (Will Smith) arrive at the hospital for the birth of Burnett’s daughter’s baby. Yep, Burnett is a grandpa now, and he prefers to be called Pop-Pop. Who the father of the baby? Reggie! The one in Bad Boys 2 who took out the daughter and the two men berate him. Big up to Reggie for sticking around. With this new birth, Marcus tells Mike that he planning on retiring. Things seemed grand when the shit hits the fan.
Mike is gunned down and nearly killed by a mysterious assassin. This event leaves everyone reeling. Mike now has to face his mortality, the fact that he is no longer “bulletproof” and demons from his past while Marcus would rather spend time seeing his grandbaby grow up with him in his life. When Mike fully recovers, he goes to his captain and puts on his most exceptional Drake voice, “Looking for revenge.” The story progresses with Mike being teamed up with his former flame Rita (Paola Núñez) and her AMMO squad. A team of millennial cops (played by Vanessa Hudgens, Charles Melton, and Alexander Ludwig) who play by the rules and use the latest and greatest technology to avoid creating unnecessary damage. Mike, not really being accustomed to playing by the rules, must figure out who is trying to kill him at all costs of his family.
While Bad Boys for Life is an entertaining film, the concept seems to have been played out a few times so far: two middle-aged men having a life crisis. If you are looking for an example, look no further than Lethal Weapon 4. Pretty much the same exact film. The film doesn’t let you forget that after a quarter of a century together, they are no longer the shirt off dudes running full blast down the street. Now they are sucking wind after a minor jog, or let’s say walk. Many of the jokes around the film revolved around the two characters commenting on how old they have finally become. One of the recurring jokes is with Marcus and his loss of eyesight. Mike always telling Marcus he needs his glasses, but the latter doesn’t want to hear it. A gun gets tossed to him, and he completely misses the weapon together, or he can’t hit the backside of the barn. Yet, when he finally puts his glasses on, he can hit anything that moves because, like a knucklehead, he finally realizes that he needs his glasses.
Mike, on the other hand, doesn’t want to believe that he is old. He tries to prove this over and over again. He challenges Marcus to a foot race that ends horribly. He seems to not be able to connect like he used to with the younger crowd that is deeply shown when they go to a club. The subject of the one who got away from him (i.e., Rita) is something that Marcus consistently brings up. OR the fact that Mike colors his goatee now. Come on, man! Gray in the hair is a very natural thing now. I’m sorry to say this, but in the first 15 minutes, I think we get the picture. Y’all old!
Even though the film wasn’t directed by Michael Bay, it almost came close to having that feel to it. This time the explosions where a tad bit more subtle. Yet, that still doesn’t mean every car or boat or helicopter explodes with the slightest sneeze. The gunfights are over the top, and it pretty much takes away from the actual story. You get a good 10 minutes on the villain’s backstory out of a full two hours. Excellent character development right there.
The greatest part of this whole film was still the on-screen chemistry between Smith and Lawrence. After so many years of not working together with each other, they seemed to still have it. While Smith stole the show in both Bad Boys and Bad Boys 2, this movie had Lawrence shinning like a diamond. Lawrence jokes were on point from calling Smith’s character out on every single thing. The most significant moment of this is when Smith’s character gives him his whole backstory, and Lawrence can only think of something that defeats the purpose of the entire story. You can only laugh because you see how and where his mind goes.
Smith and Lawrence still got it in this film, but it is really, really, really time to hang it up. That is what the film does. Makes an introduction to a new team. Yet, looking at this new team, you really don’t know if they can reinvent this franchise. A franchise that once had a shirtless Mike Lowery running down the street and a complaining Marcus Burnett still afraid of his loving wife, Theresa. Now, this doesn’t mean that the new squad can’t find their own identity. Vanessa Hudgens as Kelly, Alexander Ludwig, as Dorn and Charles Melton as Rafe were okay in their respective roles and can still find their own way. It was a gentle little introduction to the series, but it could’ve been better.
Special shout out to Joe Pantoliano as Captain Conrad Howard. You were in Bad Boys 2 for a little while, but in this one, you showed your best outing as Captain Howard. Even though you still yelled your ass off, father time sure did catch up with you. You have know become a silver-haired, wise old man who sees the end of his line also. The story about the Buddhist and horse was PERFECT for the main character to hear.
Bad Boys for Life isn’t as impressive as the first film or even as entertaining as the second film. Yet, it still does enough to keep hold of your attention while trying to figure out how to move this franchise in a new direction. This is a film that should be the official end, but we know it’s not because its Hollywood. With that said, we will end this review in the immortal words of Sean “Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, Brother Love and/or Diddy” Combs and his Bad Boy Entertainment.
“We ain’t goin’ nowhere, we ain’t goin’ nowhere
We can’t be stopped now, cos it’s Bad Boy for life.”
