Bad Boys

Directed by Rick Rosenthal, Bad Boys follows Sean Penn’s rebellious Mick O’Brien as he’s sent to a juvenile detention facility after accidentally killing an eight-year-old kid during a robbery gone wrong – with the narrative detailing Mick’s efforts at making a name for himself within said facility while also avoiding the advances of his various enemies (including Esai Morales’ Paco, the brother of the aforementioned dead kid). Filmmaker Rosenthal, working from Richard Di Lello’s screenplay, kicks Bad Boys off with an impressively engrossing and stylish opening stretch that’s heightened by Penn’s predictably intense turn and an overall air of authenticity, with the movie, beyond that point, seguing into a midsection and second half that feels fairly typical in terms of the prison-movie genre (ie many of the conventions and tropes one might’ve anticipated are present, although, surprisingly enough, the narrative eschews the expected evil, abusive guards). It’s clear, then, that the picture benefits substantially from its strong performances and smattering of electrifying sequences (eg Mick finally confronts and beats up two menacing bullies), and although the 123 minute running time does pave the way for a handful of lulls, Bad Boys concludes on a fairly exciting note that ultimately cements its place as a solid drama that is, for the most part, more involving than other similarly-themed efforts.

*** out of ****