Review of Bad Boys II (2003) by James O — 28 May 2011

Bad Boys II is really a mixed bag. The reason for this is because the film almost plays completely like a checklist. Let me explain. If you're not familiar with the original Bad Boys, that film worked mainly because of the chemistry between Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. Their characters may not have been the most original addition to the buddy cop genre, but it was nevertheless fun to watch them on screen. Add to that some expertly staged action sequences, and Joe Pantoliano's Captain Howard, who gives the film a lot of great comic relief by chewing out Lawrence and Smith for their reckless antics, and Bad Boys was a solid and memorable action picture.

So Bad Boys II is more of the same. The film is a pattern of scenes. One features Smith and Lawrence banter, then we see the villain being bad, the next is an explosive action scene followed by Captain Howard yelling and screaming. The film pretty much rotates these scenes for 147 minutes.

This is a bad thing if you like your movies intelligent and with a compelling story. Bad Boys II has neither. It's a turn off your brain action picture that only works if you like Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. I like these two actors. I particularly like Will Smith. He is one of the few actors who has the ability to make any film good just by being onscreen; maybe that's why he hasn't had a flop in over ten years.

The thing is that I know Bad Boys II isn't exactly a "good" movie. It's ridiculous, silly, and is less concerned about story than stitching scenes together that provide nothing but mindless entertainment. Strangely enough, I was entertained by them. I liked the action scenes. I liked the characters, and I laughed at the humour. Call me an idiot, but the scenes work, even if the film as a whole doesn't.