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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Bad Boys II
By Gareth Von Kallenbach Published July 18, 2003
US Release: July 18, 2003
Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Martin Lawrence , Will Smith , Gabrielle Union , Joe Pantoliano
R
Running Time: 146 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $138,500,000
Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Martin Lawrence , Will Smith , Gabrielle Union , Joe Pantoliano
R
Running Time: 146 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $138,500,000
B
A summer action film that delivers
Eight years after the success of the first film, the creative talents responsible have reunited and produced a summer action film that delivers.
Bad Boys 2 not only improves on the action content but it sets new standards for buddy cop movies to aspire.
The film continues the adventures of Miami narcotics cops Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Bennett (Martin Lawrence). They battle the bad guys and each other to stop a dangerous drug trafficker named Tapia (Jordia Molla) from flooding the streets with his deadly version of ecstasy and from smuggling millions of dollars out of the country.
While the plot may seem like any other taken from other films in the genre, Bad Boys 2 benefits from the great chemistry between Smith and Lawrence and the steady flow of action from director Michael Bay (who keeps the action flowing, but never lets it upstage the characters in the film). The action is nonstop and gripping, and there are numerous chases in the film that will not only delight but also raise the bar for future films to follow.
The film also had some great moments of humor. One scene in a video store where a frustrated Marcus bares his soul to Mike unaware that their conversation is not private is hysterical, as is a scene where the two harass a young man who has come to take Marcus?s daughter on a first date. While the action is hot and constant, it should be noted that it is very violent and there are some scenes that upped the ante on graphic violence; it is never gratuitous but often appropriate for the situation that it was presented in.
The supporting players in the film are good, especially the work of Joe Pantoliano as the long suffering boss of the detectives, and Theresa Randle as Marcus?s younger sister (D.E.A. agent Theresa Burnett). However, it is Lawrence and Smith who make this film fly, as they feed off one another without trying to upstage one another.
I have always thought that Lawrence works best when paired with a talent that will push him and allow his gifts to show. And his portrayal of the turbulent yet confused Marcus is dead on, as he blends action and humor in a manner that comes off as natural for the character rather than forced as he had in some of his recent work.
Smith exudes an easygoing charm that makes his character Mike a likeable person despite his flaws. Mike and Marcus are good people who often have to do bad things in order to make the world a better place and are not Teflon action heroes as they are affected by the violence around them. Mike has learned to accept it, while Marcus has to debate if a less violent way is more appropriate and better for his family in the long run.
Bay keeps the film clicking and despite its nearly two and a half-hour length, it never becomes boring and the action sequences are original and captivating. Bad Boys 2 is easily one of the best action/buddy cop films in years and yes, better than the original film.
Bad Boys 2 not only improves on the action content but it sets new standards for buddy cop movies to aspire.
The film continues the adventures of Miami narcotics cops Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Bennett (Martin Lawrence). They battle the bad guys and each other to stop a dangerous drug trafficker named Tapia (Jordia Molla) from flooding the streets with his deadly version of ecstasy and from smuggling millions of dollars out of the country.
While the plot may seem like any other taken from other films in the genre, Bad Boys 2 benefits from the great chemistry between Smith and Lawrence and the steady flow of action from director Michael Bay (who keeps the action flowing, but never lets it upstage the characters in the film). The action is nonstop and gripping, and there are numerous chases in the film that will not only delight but also raise the bar for future films to follow.
The film also had some great moments of humor. One scene in a video store where a frustrated Marcus bares his soul to Mike unaware that their conversation is not private is hysterical, as is a scene where the two harass a young man who has come to take Marcus?s daughter on a first date. While the action is hot and constant, it should be noted that it is very violent and there are some scenes that upped the ante on graphic violence; it is never gratuitous but often appropriate for the situation that it was presented in.
The supporting players in the film are good, especially the work of Joe Pantoliano as the long suffering boss of the detectives, and Theresa Randle as Marcus?s younger sister (D.E.A. agent Theresa Burnett). However, it is Lawrence and Smith who make this film fly, as they feed off one another without trying to upstage one another.
I have always thought that Lawrence works best when paired with a talent that will push him and allow his gifts to show. And his portrayal of the turbulent yet confused Marcus is dead on, as he blends action and humor in a manner that comes off as natural for the character rather than forced as he had in some of his recent work.
Smith exudes an easygoing charm that makes his character Mike a likeable person despite his flaws. Mike and Marcus are good people who often have to do bad things in order to make the world a better place and are not Teflon action heroes as they are affected by the violence around them. Mike has learned to accept it, while Marcus has to debate if a less violent way is more appropriate and better for his family in the long run.
Bay keeps the film clicking and despite its nearly two and a half-hour length, it never becomes boring and the action sequences are original and captivating. Bad Boys 2 is easily one of the best action/buddy cop films in years and yes, better than the original film.
Gareth's Grade: B
Gareth's Overall Grading: 50 graded movies
| A | 6.0% | |
| B | 44.0% | |
| C | 40.0% | |
| D | 10.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
'Bad Boys II' Articles
- Craig's review D
July 20, 2003 The dumbest action movie to hit theaters this year -- Craig Younkin
