Movie Review: Bad Boys for Life

At about the midway point of the long-in-development threequel Bad Boys for Life, Detective Lt. Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) turns to his longtime partner/best friend Detective Lt. Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and says"It's time we be good men" before they go question a perp that's involved in a string of connected assassinations in which Lowery was targeted.

Does that elusive transformation from "Bad Boys to "Good Men" happen over the course of this film? Not quite. Bad Boys for Life- which sees Michael Bay pass the directorial torch to the very capable Belgian duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah-features the same combination of fast cars, massive chaotic gunfights and crude humor that this series reveled in during its younger years. However, that doesn't mean there hasn't been any maturation since these characters last graced the screen in 2003. Bad Boys for Life makes a point to emphasize that Burnett and Lowery aren't the invincible warriors they once were. They get overpowered in fights, they reluctantly accept roles on a team headed up by younger cops (Paola Nunez, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton) and they even admit that they're closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. They may not be good men yet, but the bits of perspective they gain on the fragility of life during their latest explosion-filled romp around Miami have them heading down the right path.

Let's be honest though: This is a buddy movie above all else and no amount of thoughtful reflection on the mortality of the 50+ heroes would matter if the central pairing's relationship was no longer convincing. Fortunately, Smith and Lawrence remain a terrific tandem. The energy they bring to their respective characters along with the lovingly smartass dynamic that exists between is every bit as strong now as it was 25 years ago. Sony should be thrilled that Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz decided to exit the original because it's highly unlikely that Bad Boys would've become a sleeper success story that eventually morphed into a franchise without this electric pairing at the top of the marquee.

Now the question turns to whether or not Bad Boys will be back for more after a spectacular opening ($73 mil domestic over the MLK Day weekend) this past weekend. Bad Boys for Life is a fitting final chapter for a series that has remained consistent in quality throughout, but the ending also provides a potentially interesting jumping off point for another chapter if the powers that be decide to keep it going. All I'll ask is if they do decide to make a fourth installment, please let it retain all of the laughs, unapologetic excess and wall-to-wall excitement that has allowed Bad Boys to become a banner buddy action comedy series.          
Grade: B+