In the ocean of seemingly identical summer blockbuster sequels, Bad Boys II seems to stay afloat with a good sense of humor.
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Michael Bay, narcotics officers Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) go after the evil Cuban drug dealer (Jordi Molia) responsible for the sale of Ecstasy in Miami.
Meanwhile, the partnership between Lowrey and Burnett is strained when Lowrey and Burnett's sister, Syd (Gabrielle Union), begin a romantic relationship. Syd is also a member of an investigative team seeking to capture the drug lord, who finds herself in need of rescuing.
It is the most over-used plot in bad movie history, and the acting is very uninspired and cliché. At 147 minutes, it definitely tested my patience.
However, Smith and Lawrence's comedic talents save this overly long movie.
There is a great scene when the duo bring a video into an electronics store to view. Besides containing essential evidence, the tape then cuts into a homemade porno, showing on every screen, appalling customers. Then Smith and Lawrence discuss Lawrence's gunshot wound to the butt while unknowingly appearing on camera throughout the store Thick with innuendo, from their conversation the customers come to believe the law enforcement partners are partners in another sense.
Another scene, where the two dress up as exterminators to infiltrate the drug lord's house, is what this movie should have stuck to instead of lukewarm, cheesy promises of comradery from Lowrey and Burnett.
There are, of course, countless expensive and fast cars that race and crash, multiple huge explosions, gratuitous butt shots of Syd and predictable snappy one-liners.
By no means would I say Bad Boys II was good, but if I had to pick a summer no-brainer sequel, I would suggest this one over 2 Fast 2 Furious which is almost the exact same movie. Both have strained cop-partner relationships, trying to bust a drug dealer with the love interest who is undercover on the case. From there, of course, the girl is captured and the partners have to rescue the girl and get the drugs through investigation, driving skills and an outpouring of testosterone.
Where 2 Fast 2 Furious is funny-stupid, Bad Boys II is mostly funny-haha.
