Starring WILL SMITH, MARTIN LAWRENCE, JOE PANTALIANO, THERESA RANDLE.
Directed by MICHAEL BAY
Director Michael Bay never does anything by halves. Having helmed the original 'Bad Boys' of 1995, this good Bay's also directed 'The Rock' and epic blockbuster 'Pearl Harbour.' 'Bad Boys 2,' seriously, is just about more explosive than all those three movies blown together. And brace yourselves� because this runs in at 145 minutes long - and the action is relentless.
Aside from the controversy it's generated through being ridiculously violent (which it is), 'Bad Boys 2' is a bloody brilliant film. Bloody being the operative word, as it revolves - as in the first film - around bulk drug trafficking-induced shoot-outs in and around Miami. The twist is that the drugs are being smuggled 'in' dead people. Yep, you did read write, I mean 'right'� as the deceased's organs are removed and the drugs thus assume their position, before the dead bodies are sewn back up again and shipped forth. Simple.
All the original stars return, which is nice, because most sequels seem to find it hard to entice back all the original characters and some have to rely on crap C-list actors & actresses to step into a certain character's shoes which very rarely works. But how could any dudes other than Will Smith and Martin Lawrence play the 'bad boys.' And thank God, also, that Joe ('The Fugitive') Pantoliano is back as their easily stressed and consequently hilarious boss.
The stunt-blasted set pieces really are massive; look out for the sensational car chase down the highway in which every vehicle in striking distance spectacularly winds up on the one-way drag of death to the scrapyard. Still, the beauty of this all-out action adventure is the comedic chemistry between Smith & Lawrence, and just you wait for the scene in which Lawrence goes a lil crazy after foolishly taking some ecstasy.
To be honest, the film is at its greatest when the focus is on their banter - and even that banter doesn't have to be routinely crude to be funny because both stars are naturally funny whatever they're saying. There is no need for the OTT levels of gun-based violence, but whatever your opinion on violence in the movies, you'll be hardpressed to watch this and not agree that it's one of the most mesmerizing action-comedies in the history of Hollywood.
And guess who makes a bewildering cameo appearance? Yep, no one other than ex-NFL player Dan Marino� having made a name for himself playing for the city in which the movie is set, no less - the 'Miami Dolphins.' Mmm, mmm.
5/5 (Steve Rudd)