Bad Boys

Directed by Michael Bay, Bad Boys follows loose-cannon cops Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) as they attempt to take down a notorious drug kingpin named Fouchet (Tchéky Karyo). It’s interesting to note that Bad Boys, Bay’s first feature, boasts (or suffers from) all of the elements of excess with which Bay has come to be associated, with, for example, the movie containing a heaping handful of obnoxiously over-the-top instances of comedy and several unabashedly larger-than-life action sequences. (In terms of the latter, it’s hard to deny the effectiveness of many of the film’s high-octane moments – including a third-act chase that’s genuinely exciting.) The promise of the movie’s initial stretch is heightened by a feeling of genuine chemistry between Smith and Lawrence, and it’s obvious that Bad Boys benefits substantially from the affable, charismatic work of its two stars (although, by that same token, Lawrence’s frequently broad performance can occasionally be difficult to wholeheartedly stomach). Bad Boys‘ passable vibe persists right about until it saunters into its middling midsection, with the narrative dwelling on the silliness that ensues as Mike and Marcus are forced to switch places. It’s a momentum-killing subplot that slowly-but-surely drains the viewer’s interest and ultimately lessens the impact of the action-packed third act, which, in the end, confirms the movie’s place as just another typically erratic endeavor from Bay.

** out of ****