Bad Boys For Life - Cheap Thoughts

There’s something engrossing about the Bad Boys franchise despite the grossness of their own existence. Bad Boys was considered a dated formula in a flashy body with young hot talent trying to carry a dull script. Bad Boys II is vehemently cynical in its DNA and tries to be more violent, ostentatious and all round unlikable, but it doesn’t care. Yet somehow they made it work, granted that’s not a universally agreed statement but it’s a franchise that has its fans because it embraces those ghastly elements.

Now we have entered Bad Boys For Life when our stars and crew are past their prime and can no longer be as showboaty or aggressive as they liked in the past and we’ve entered an age where that behaviour doesn’t appeal to audiences. Naturally the film does incorporate this perspective within the text as Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett team up with a younger and higher tech police squad and rather than pick a side on who’s method is better the film somehow comes out viewing both as effective, especially when forced to team up? Which is an unusually progressive perspective than one would expect.

Furthermore what wouldn’t have been expected is actual emotional honesty between the two characters, 17 years on from the last film this latest instalment seems much more inline with Martin Lawrence’s character of wanting to retire, live a quiet life as the two are past the days of loud fast violence. Will Smith on the other hand still trying to desperately cling to the good old days and claim he’s just as cool & relevant as he has been in the past is portrayed as ignorant and the film is rather critical of him. Whether this is meant to work as a meta-narrative or not is difficult to say, it would be rather obnoxious to claim that level of commentary is above this film but then again the film is already splitting off in several directions that was unexpected.

None of this is to say the film is ashamed of it’s origins or doesn’t fulfil the exaggerated and bombastic shoot outs and car chases fans of the franchise would want or expect, the film is chocked full of them and is sure to please hardcore fans and casual viewers alike. It’s simply more surprising and noteworthy of when then the film does play its hand at something softer and isn’t afraid to show the fragility of these characters, after all they are still two middle-aged men acting half their age. Which is not to say this is going to bring the franchise in an entirely new direction with the inevitable Bad Boys 4, but it certainly breathes a breath of fresh air in an aging franchise by blending together the old and the new to create an entertaining flick that most people will thoroughly enjoy. Unless of course you were one of those people that understandable hated the prior films for their over the top, overbearing and somewhat detestable nature, then this film probably won’t be as detestable to you as the prior ones, but certainly won’t be an enjoyable experience. For everyone else, it’s a guaranteed fun time.

-Danny