BAD BOYS FOR LIFE: The Boys Are Back With A Mixed Bag

To talk about the Bad Boys franchise is similar to discussing the city that serves as its backdrop. Miami is glitzy, glamorous, bold and all about appearances. The third installment in the franchise is much like a third trip to Miami – you know what you’re going to get. You’re not going to Miami to learn about the city’s culture, visit a museum or gain a new appreciation for a people. You’re going to sit on the beach, party and go home hungover with some stories.

Bad Boys for Life, the first Bad Boys in 17 years, delivers exactly that – the plot is straightforward, the action doesn’t push any boundaries, and yet you still leave having had a pretty good time.

The team of Mike (Will Smith) and Marcus (Martin Lawrence) are back. As Marcus tries to retire, Isbael Aretas (Kate del Castillo) a Mexican criminal sends her son to Miami to hunt down the cops and judges who took down their family, Mike among them. When Mike gets shot, Marcus decides to hang up his badge, while Mike wants to get revenge.

Bad Boys for Life is easily the best of the series, although that doesn’t really say much. Part of the step up is because it was directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah rather than Michael Bay (although he does have a cameo). But mostly, it’s because of the chemistry of Smith and Lawrence, the slightly elevated stakes, and a bit of a darker tone.

At the same time, it feels like Bad Boys is a franchise that should have been left behind with The Transporter and Crank among others. The action genre has evolved with films like John Wick and Mad Max: Fury Road. And sure, there’s still a place for a reliably fun franchise like Bad Boys especially in the cinematic wasteland that is January. But as Kylo Ren once said, “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.”

Bad Boys For Life is clearly a step forward for the franchise

In rewatching Bad Boys II, I was reminded why leaving Michael Bay behind us was for the best (see also: Bumblebee). The film uses mediocre and hard to follow action sequences and overshadows how well Smith and Lawrence work off of each other. Luckily, Bad Boys for Life does go back into their characters more than its predecessor. Mike has to face some decisions he’s made in his past while Marcus is looking to find a new life after his career.

As the two face their internal struggles and the end of their careers (Marcus even says it’s time for them to be “good men”), the film takes an unexpected and darker tone. It doesn’t all work – there’s a whole bunch of religion stuff hamfisted into it – it’s a nice balance to the scorching Porsche and loud explosions, of which there are many. There’s an earnestness in the screenplay and the on-screen relationship between Mike and Marcus that is certainly unexpected.

Just like the city of Miami, Bad Boys for Life is great to look at. The set pieces are captivating and the while the action action isn’t anything ground breaking, they’re shot much better than the previous two films. Rather than a million quick cuts, you can finally follow what is actually happening. There are a few great shots, especially during the climax.

But perhaps the best – and most surprising – thing I can say is that Bad Boys for Life doesn’t feel like reviving a franchise just for a cash grab. It feels like it was done with more care and effort than either of the first two. From the story and the screenplay to the actual production, Bad Boys for Life feels like a genuine effort to revive the franchise and make it better than ever.

Still, it’s hard to call it a good movie

Yes, Bad Boys for Life is a huge step forward in an otherwise average action franchise. There’s certainly a lot to enjoy, but is it good? It’s hard to say. There’s plenty of cringey moments, the humor (while subjective) seems juvenile and at times it feels like Smith and especially Lawrence are past their prime. There’s only so many times you can cut to Lawrence scrunching up his face yelling “Oh shit Mike” and find it funny or enjoyable. Marcus talking about porn while the rest of the team can hear him is another gag that would feel more at home in a 2000s Will Ferrell comedy than here.

The use of technology stuck out as especially out of touch throughout the film. We get references to the dark web, “uploads trending,” and drones – all of which are sadly beyond the suspension of disbelief in how they’re used. It feels very “how do you do fellow kids?” It’s a situation where the effort is there, but it just needs to go one step further to feel remotely authentic.

When starting to explore themes like religion, death, family and how it determines who you are, Bad Boys for Life starts to feel like it’s forgot what makes it enjoyable. Tonally, the film jumps from intense action to slapstick joke to serious introspective moment and it becomes jarring after a while.

Bad Boys are back and better than ever. But is it enough?

Bad Boys for Life, much like the city of Miami, nails the glitz and glamour. It’s great to look at and is fun enough in the moment. As soon as you walk away though, you realize how little lays below the surface.

Bad Boys for Life is leagues better than anyone anticipated for a 17 year gap between films. It’s a welcome return to what Will Smith does best, and his chemistry with Martin Lawrence is as good as ever. Leaving former director Michael Bay behind allows the film to go new places and take on a different tone for the better.

Ultimately, Bad Boys for Life still feels like a second rate action franchise thanks to mediocre humor and jarring tonal shifts. Sure, it’s enjoyable and you’ll have a good enough time for two hours, but it’s still hard to call Bad Boys for Life a good piece of filmmaking.

What did you think of Bad Boys for Life? Sound off in the comments.

Bad Boys for Life is now playing everywhere.