Two Good Men Play 'Bad Boys For Life'

(l-r) Will Smith and Martin Lawrence

By Darlene Donloe

They ride together they die together, Bad Boys for Life.

“Bad boys, bad boys/Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do/When they come for you?”

It’s been 17 years since the last installment of the Bad Boys franchise, but Will Smith and Martin Lawrence haven’t skipped a beat. Old school cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett still have their ears to the street.  They are back together for one last ride. The movie hits theaters Friday, Jan. 15, 2020.

It’s been 25 years since the original Bad Boys, but the chemistry is still there between Smith and Lawrence, who might be a step slower than their younger days, but whose instincts still make them the best and baddest detectives in Miami.

The third movie in the popular action franchise sparked by Michael Bay’s 1995 hit, doesn’t disappoint. It comes at you with full barrels. There are the popular and ever-present car chases, the slow-mo rise from the ground, lots of things blowing up, numerous fights and lots of bang, bang, shoot ‘em ups.

Will Smith even takes a dramatic turn in the film as he’s confronted with a life-changing reality.

The through-line of the film is how the Bad Boys are getting old. Burnett, now a grandfather, still wants to retire, while Lowrey, who is also on the other side of 50, is still trying to be the playboy, fashionista, badass cop.

In an attempt to get his partner to slow down and commit to one woman, Burnett pressures Lowrey to give it another shot with a fellow cop played by Paolo Nunez.

This film isn’t as funny as its predecessors. It takes a dramatic, very violent turn.  This film confronts mortality, religion, and family.

This time around, someone is exposing one of Lowrey’s old stories and begins killing everyone connected with an old drug case he worked on long before he teamed up with Burnett. Enter a dangerous and crazy cartel boss wife (Kate Del Castillo) that the Bad Boys have to take on and the violence is amped up even more.

To make if a fair fight, Lowrey and Burnett are joined by four younger cops who also know how to kick ass.

Alas, the finale is played out in a rundown Mexican mansion in Mexico City. It’s over the top. Even though they are far outnumbered, Lowrey and Burnett are able to pick off every last one of the bad guys.  It’s a miracle!

This may not be the Bad Boys’ last ride.  There was a hint of a potential sequel during the end credits.

Bad Boy for Life has plenty of action. It’s a great popcorn movie. The chemistry between Smith and Lawrence is worth the price of admission.

Bad Boys for Life stars Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Joe Pantoliano, Paola Nunez, Nicky Jam, DJ Khaled, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Kate Del Castillo, Charles Melton. The film is directed by Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Will Smith.

Rated: R for strong, bloody violence, language throughout, sexual references and brief drug use. Running time: 124 minutes.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent) Bad Boys For Life gets an O (oh, yeah). Columbia Pictures.