Movie Review: “Bad Boys For Life” finds the series returning after a 17-year hiatus

Movie Review: “Bad Boys For Life” (R)

It’s hard to believe that “Bad Boys 2” is already 17 years old! It’s even harder to believe that the original film is 26 years old! It’s true, though. And given the success of those films, it should come as absolutely no surprise that Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back for a third time. What is surprising is that it took them this long to make a return.

“Bad Boys For Life” finds Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) continuing to fight the good fight as decorated cops in colorful Miami. At this point, though, Marcus is ready to call it a day, particularly upon the arrival of his first grandchild. Mike, however, would just as soon continue doing the job until the wheels fall off. When a mysterious killer attempts to execute Mike on the streets, it only fuels this officer’s fire. Marcus, on the other hand, tries to convince Mike that this is all the more reason to leave the job. Ultimately, this difference of opinion drives these bad boys apart. Of course, it wouldn’t take an expert to figure out that at some point Mike and Marcus will ultimately be brought back together again.

Michael Bay has stepped aside as director, making room for relative newcomers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (“Black”). But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of that old Bay spirit to be found throughout this excessive action movie in more ways than one — look closely at the wedding emcee at the halfway mark in the movie. Screenwriters Chris Bremner, Peter Craig, and Joe Carnahan — who at one point was supposed to direct this film — have clearly been influenced by the likes of the “Fast and Furious” franchise as “Bad Boys For Life” brings to the fold an elite squad made up of multicultural characters for Mike and Marcus to team up with as they comb the city looking for the urban gangster responsible for all the Bayhem on display. This film also has a bit of that “Fast and Furious” family dynamic that is partially responsible for turning that series into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut. Additionally, the Mike/Marcus banter audiences come to expect from these movies has a bit of a “Lethal Weapon” ring to it, but that should come as no surprise since the same could be said of the first two pictures.

From where I’m sitting, “Bad Boys For Life” isn’t a great movie. But I found it more amusing and more exciting than the first two pictures mostly because there’s a little more heart here. As usual, the film offers up a zany balance of dopey comedy and the prerequisite action you’re probably expecting, the best sequence being a motorcycle chase in which Mike is at the helm with Marcus riding in the side car, “Last Crusade” style. “Bad Boys For Life” also benefits from a somewhat ridiculous but nifty, drama-fueled twist in the final act. No spoilers here, but it’s a doozy.

A lot of the jokes land with a thud, and as expected the whole thing is completely over-the-top and chaotic. But there is a welcome sense of ’80s-inspired action, violence, and laughs and the addition of a back-up crew — most notably, a lumbering techie played by Alexander Ludwig — does make it all go down a little smoother. Bonus points for a true witch of an antagonist (effectively played by Kate del Castillo), her pitbull of a son (a charismatic Jacob Scipio), and a charming Joe Pantoilano (“The Fugitive”) as a wisdom-spewing police captain with a heart of gold.

And then, of course, there’s the dynamic duo that is Smith and Lawrence leading the charge. As an a pair of aging detectives looking to decide whether they should continue being bad boys or transition into good men, these superstars look to be having a fun enough time. Their schtick certainly does feel a little out of date after 17 years, but given that that’s part of the theme of “Bad Boys For Life,” it hardly seems fair to knock the film for that.

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