Movie Info
Movie Name: Bad Boys II
Studio: Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Genre(s): Action/Adventure/Comedy
Release Date(s): July 18, 2003
MPAA Rating: R
We’r taking down the Klan!
Marcus Barnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) are back, but things aren’t good between the Bad Boys. Marcus is secretly planning on transferring away from Mike, and Mike is secretly dating his Marcus’ sister Syd (Gabrielle Union). As Mike and Marcus work to run down Russian gangsters, they learn that Syd is working with the D.E.A. to do the same thing. Syd becomes a target of the mob, and Mike and Marcus must travel to Cuba to save her.
Directed by Michael Bay, Bad Boys II is a follow-up to immense 1995 hit Bad Boys. The movie was met with mostly negative reviews but still became a financial success at the theaters. A spin-off game Bad Boys: Miami Takedown was released as a tie-in.
Yeah, we’re bad boys…with a bad girl
I wasn’t a huge fan of the first Bad Boy film, and this film just took the ideas of the first film farther. For fans of action, the movie should adequate with big explosion, gun fights, and banter…the movie just isn’t very memorable.
The basic plot of Bad Boys II is decent, but feels repetitive of the first movie. Lots of car chases and lots of showdowns just feel like a continuation of the first film. I do enjoy the raid of Cuba and the race to reach Guantanamo Bay. The end sequence is pretty strong, and I wish the majority of the movie had the energy.
The main problem with this movie (and the previous movie) is that I am not a big fan of the actors involved. The movie is a showcase for Will Smith and Martin Lawrence to crack jokes and play off each other. I don’t like their acting style, and I think they think they are far funnier than they really are. I do like Gabriel Union better than the previous romantic lead Téa Leoni. The film also features appearances by Michael Shannon, Joe Pantoliano, Henry Rollins, and Dan Marino. Michael Bay also cameos in the film as a driver.
Explosions…Check! Will Smith…Check! Martin Lawrence with a gun…Check!
Visually, the movie is a Michael Bay film. The movie does look good and sounds good. There are a lot of big booms, and the Miami local provides a great location for nice scenery. Once again however, this feels just like the first film…but with not as much charm. It starts to really feel old.
Bad Boys II is a rather dull action film. The movie relies too heavily on its stars, and if you don’t like the stars, it has already lost you. With big box office numbers, the movie was surprisingly not immediately followed-up by a sequel, but the plans for Bad Boys III still are in the works.
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