Bad Boys

Tonight I went and checked out the new “Bad Boys” movie so I will let everyone know what I thought about that, but first, I feel it would be right to tell you my thoughts of the first two movies. Let’s start off with the first “Bad Boys” movie, released in 1995.

The “Beverly Hills Cop” trilogy may have driven itself into the ground, but Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer look to have made a smash-hit with “Bad Boys.”

Saying it’s “an action comedy with attitude” isn’t exactly the newest thing every made – with some small changed that could have been a “Lethal Weapon” movie – but casting Martin Lawrence (one of the funniest comedians) and Will Smith makes a successful comic chemistry.

Playing best friends for years who also are Miami officers, the instant comedy duo of Lawrence and Smith looks like there will be sequels and other movies with them casted in them. Michael Rechtshaffen said in his review, “In the meantime, Bad Boys is sure to be very good to Columbia's coffers.”

Breaking away from their popular TV shows, Lawrence (“Martin”) and Smith (“Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”), respectively play the fearful Marcus Burnett and the cool Mike Lowrey, both members of the Miami police force special narcotics unit.

When $100 million amount of heroin is stolen from the station’s vault, Burnett and Lowrey are put on an assignment by their jittery captain (Joe Pantoliano) to find the criminal responsible (Tcheky Karyo from “La Femme Nikita”). On the mission, they protect an appealing witness into protective custody (Tea Leoni).

Rechtshaffen said, “There's some top-notch work from cinematographer Howard Atherton (Fatal Attraction) and production designer John Vallone (Die Hard 2), who convey a neon-injected Miami that is both seductive and dangerous.”

Meanwhile, the soundtrack vibrates with songs from 2Pac, Ini Kamoze, Warren G, XSCAPE, and, obviously, Inner Circle, whose popular Cops theme inspires the movie’s title.

Whatever people think of director Michael Bay, there’s a laugh in his directorial credit in “Bad Boys II,” released in 2003, comes up over a burning alley.

Those who don’t like him can laugh at the irony of this mindless action movie putting out yet another horrendous movie. Nick Rogers said in his review, “But I prefer to think it’s a visual middle finger, a lunatic acknowledgment that the guy simply doesn’t care if people (ahem, critics) think he’s the Antichrist.”

Rogers continued, “Bad Boys II boasts a how-can-they-get-away-with-that vibe that the film’s solid-as-titanium R-rating brings and lots of funny, snappy byplay between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. It’s a loud, occasionally grotesque return to Bay’s gleefully destructive qualities.”

Rogers continued, “Like the cross, the film’s bombastic bloat might even be an in-joke. Bay, Lawrence and Big Willie Style’s britches all have gotten bigger since their original teaming in 1995. And even though the 147 minutes is somewhat taxing, the movie is lots of over the top fun.”

Smith and Lawrence play Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, two Miami narcotics cops who are assigned to find a huge ecstasy shipment as they break into a Ku Klux Klan rally. (One can only think the actual Miami Police Department would have the mocking sense of humor to give two African-American officers in real life.)

The confusing hunt goes to Cuban drug dealer Johnny Tapia, played by Jordi Molla. Past attempts to track Tapia have not only failed, but ended up with him suing the department and winning. These attacks of the U.S. judicial system doesn’t feel right with the protagonists, so you can get some sense why they can’t use normal methods and will hurt Miami and, eventually, Cuba to take him down.

Rogers said, “It’s OK to cringe when seeing Ron Shelton’s name come up as a screenwriter, lest Bad Boys II become a scattered mess a la his Hollywood Homicide. And while this sequel bares his shopworn touchy-feely, male-bonding stamp, more present is the likely work of co-writer Jerry Stahl.”

Rogers continued, “Saddle the stomach up — Bad Boys II features at least five bullets to the head, dismembered bodies, amorous rats, decapitated bodies being run over and sliding into the camera, embalmed kidneys, popped-off heads, iguanas stepping on land mines and exploding torsos. Nasty, but consider Stahl is a former heroin junkie who, if you believe his book, injected into his neck.”

Sometimes it’s appalling, but Bay keeps the film going at a good pace, Lawrence remembers what it means to be funny (his accidental ecstasy intake is chaotic), and amazing action scenes (even in a “Matrix” summer, this chase with cars and boats rocket all over the freeway is one of the coolest things ever put into an action film.)

Rogers admitted, “Unless it’s on Pearl Harbor as proof he knows jack about narrative and character, the usual knocks on Bay bother me. “He has no spatial coherence.” Just watch the way the camera swoops through the Haitian shootout enough times so you can follow the gunfire. “He pays no attention to the obvious civilian deaths in his movie.” Show me one action film other than Terminator 2: Judgment Day that really does (and even that one, not so much).”

Rogers noted, “Bay shouldn’t have to apologize for being a crackerjack action director, and neither should Bad Boys II for being a crackerjack action movie.” It’s always enjoying and it may not be as fun as the first movie, but it’s a fun ride that thankfully has a surprisingly rare, energizing motive. Gabrielle Union is in here as Lawrence’s kid sister, Sydney “Syd” Burnett.

If the very entertaining “Bad Boys” is one of Michael Bay’s best movies and “Bad Boys II” might be one of his worst (however, I think the second one is better than the first), then where does that put “Bad Boys for Life,” which came out 11 days ago? It’s not one of Bay’s movies, as his name is nowhere in the behind-the-camera credits (however, he has a cameo appearance that you can easily miss him in). Say whatever you want about this, but this movie ends up being the best of this exciting trilogy.

The first film was released during Bill Clinton’s presidency and the second during George W. Bush’s presidency, so there’s been a lot of time for Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett to mature. Even though Marcus has evidently calmed down and accepted his old age (helped partially by the birth of his grandson), Mike still thinks he is an unstoppable cop: bold, bulletproof, and crazy over youthful energy. That changes completely after being shot by a few bullets that puts him in the hospitals, where he stays in critical condition while Marcus stays by his bedside.

The person who shot Mike is at first unknown to him but not to the viewers. He’s Armando Armas, played by Jacob Scipio, the son of a Mexican drug lord who was arrested by Mike a long time ago and died in prison. He’s also the son of Isabel Aretas, played by Kate del Castillo, a supposed witch who wants vengeance on everyone responsible for her late husband’s death, from the judge to the forensics officer to Mike Lowrey.

Obviously Lowrey survives the shot (or this would be a really short movie), and despite being ordered by his boss to let others investigate the case, he refuses to not get involved. He’s finally allowed to be the consulting officer on the case, but despite him expecting Marcus to honor their lifelong slogan of “We ride together, we die together,” Marcus has other plans – mainly, retirement.

Directed by Belgian filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (credited as just Adil & Bilall), “Bad Boys for Life” is often funny and really fast-paced that always finds time to slow down and take in the consequences. Not really a mindless action flick, this one has a real feel for the two protagonists and the personal dramas they deal with. This also revolves around the two main villains, whose backstories are told in interesting ways as the film goes on.

The chemistry between the actors is stronger than ever, and while you expect Smith to play to his strengths as a cool and charming man, the real surprise is Lawrence. Matt Brunson ended his review by saying, “He grounds this film with unexpected gravitas, and he even contributes several moving moments amidst all the gunplay. I’ve generally liked Lawrence better than the movies in which he appeared (Big Momma’s House, anyone?), so it’s nice to see him in a sturdy vehicle that’s custom-made to match his talents.”

If you saw the first two movies and really love them, definitely go to the theater to see the new Bad Boys movie. If you haven’t seen this trilogy, go out and see it, you will love all of them. Don’t listen to the critics or other people saying that they are bad, because each one (in my opinion) got better with each installment. You’re going to love this trilogy, especially if you’re a fan of buddy cop movies. This one is one of the best, hands down, and quite possibly another one of my favorite trilogies.

Thank you for joining in on tonight’s review, stay tuned this Friday for the finale of “Bruce Lee Month.”