Marcus Burnett is a henpecked family man. Mike Lowry is a footloose and fancy free ladies' man. Both Miami policemen, they have 72 hours to reclaim a consignment of drugs stolen from under their station's nose. To complicate matters, in order to get the assistance of the sole witness to a murder, they have to pretend to be each other.
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i must have seen a different film!!
Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are two Miami narcotics cops. Mike is privately wealthy and has a reputation as a ladies' man; Marcus is a family man. When a gang of thieves break into the police evidence room and steal $100,000,000 worth of heroin they are put on the case. Mike asks various contacts including former girlfriend Max to keep an eye open for anybody who has suddenly come into money. Max finds one but doesn't live to tell anybody; her murder is witnessed by her friend Julie. Julie gets away from the killers and tries to contact Mike; unfortunately he is out of the station when she calls so Marcus is ordered to pretend to be Mike. Now he must keep her safe and find out what she knows while the real Mike has to play Marcus something that isn't easy when he has taken Julie and her two dogs to Mike's luxury apartment! It isn't easy for Marcus either as Mike is staying at his house. The level of danger increases for all of them as they close in on the killers.If you are looking for a film with lots of great action, plenty of laughs and fun characters you could do a lot worse than this. The central story is interesting and Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have a great chemistry as Mike and Marcus respectively; it is easy to believe they have been partners for years. Téa Leoni is also impressive as Julie; a spirited character rather than just a damsel in distress. The rest of the cast are pretty solid too; most notable Tchéky Karyo as the villain Fouchet and Joe Pantoliano as Captain Howard, Mike and Marcus's under pressure boss. As one might expect from a film directed by Michael Bay there is plenty of action including an explosive finale. Thankfully this action is not the obvious CGI we get in more modern films. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody wanting a fun cop movie with loads of action.
It's definitely something to see when watching a film that kick-started a lot of Hollywood's contemporary stars. Although Will Smith was already a popular sensation with his hit TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996), this would be Smith's first entry into the action genre of films, thus having to never turn back after that. Martin Lawrence was pretty much in the same seat except that he didn't have as much notoriety as Smith. However, this film would too have Lawrence jump into the action film typecast role. Then there's the biggest realization of all. Other than directing a number of music videos, this would end up being the first film helmed by action director Michael Bay. It's interesting that there wasn't even a transition for this man. Straight from music to action blockbusters. Not even a TV movie before this, he must have had some connections.The plot follows a drug heist headed by mastermind Fouchet (Tchéky Karyo) where two cops who grew up together through childhood, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) only have a couple days to figure out where the deal to sell the drugs is going down. The only way these two can get the information is by protecting eyewitness Julie Mott (Téa Leoni), who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. For three writers consisting of Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland (who both wrote for comedy sketch shows for Dave Letterman) and Doug Richardson (Die Hard 2 (1990)), the script actually has nothing that stands out as something without good quality. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have energetic chemistry and work off each other well. Both also properly emote at the right times and give the right amount of clues to the audience on how each one grew up compared to each other. Will Smith is the smooth, calm and collected one. Even when he's mad, he's still calm. Martin Lawrence plays the opposite; a hyper, loud and rambunctious married man.Plus, there's a slew of other casting choices that make each scene worthwhile. Theresa Randle (a popular actress during this decade) plays Marcus' wife named Theresa (oddly enough). Joe Pantoliano plays Mike and Marcus' captain on the force that definitely acts like one. And then there's Nestor Serrano and Julio Oscar Mechoso who play another pair of cops who work along side Mike and Marcus. The only actor who isn't interesting in their role is Tchéky Karyo as Fouchet. Aside from trying to get his plan into action without being caught and speaking with his foreign accent, there's not much to say about his performance. Sure, Karyo is an unfeeling man with no conscious but much of his scenes don't involve him interacting directly with the main leads for the majority of the time. It just feels like there's a disconnect. Other than that, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have some very comical exchanges. Plus, with the film having an R rating, they both can really unleash their thoughts uncensored.Téa Leoni as Julie also adds some inventive scenes that aren't usually exploited in the buddy cop genre films. Although this film is in that vein, it doesn't feel so much like that here. Does the Julie character act with courage - yeah but does she do it because it's needed - no. It's always good to have a headstrong female character but here, Julie is just there to get Marcus and Mike hot headed. Then there's the action and special effects to this film. From what it looks like, this movie looked like it used no CGI, just practical effects. The action is also abundant as well with plenty of fistfights, shootouts and an occasional explosions. Which again, are all real looking. It's funny to see a movie directed by Michael Bay and see a movie done completely with practical effects and infrequent explosions. It just doesn't feel like the same guy everyone knows of today.However, the cinematography shot by Howard Atherton (best known for Fatal Attraction (1987)) isn't anything to cheer about. There are some camera shots that capture the Miami setting, but much of it is closed quarters. Whether it be in someone's home or warehouse, the angles from inside just don't suffice. There are a number of slow-motion shots (most likely due to Bay's request) that look good but again don't always stand out. Finally the music was an enjoyable listening experience. Composing the film score was Mark Mancina who had his first successful music release with Speed (1994) and then Fair Game (1995). Here, Mancina thankfully has a main theme for the franchise using guitar and what sounds like islander type drums. Considering the setting and who is starring in the film, it sounds appropriate. The action cues, which sound familiar to that of Trevor Rabin (but not entirely synthetic), are also lively enough to match the sequences that are displayed on screen. It's at those points; more percussion is used along with strings and horns. It is certainly effective. It's a fun watch.The plot's main villain isn't well defined and the cinematography is rather plain looking but the rest is wholesomely entertaining. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have peppy chemistry along with a number of other cast members. The catchy music and action sequences coalesce nicely too.
Bad Boys is an excellent,thrilling and hilarious Action-Comedy that combines great direction,a fantastic cast,amazing Action,non-stop laughs and a memorable score and soundtrack. All of those elements make Bad Boys one of better Action movies of the 1990s that is Michael Bay,Martin Lawrence and Will Smith at their best.Set in Miami,Florida,Bad Boys tells the story of Marcus Burnett(Martin Lawrence)and Mike Lowery(Will Smith)long time best friends who are also Cops and partners in the Miami Police department and are good at their jobs. When a large supply of Heroin is stolen from the police department Burnett and Lowery have to try and get back the dope while protecting and watching over a murder witness Julie(Tea Leoni)with Action,thrills and laughs coming from every corner.Released in 1995,Bad Boys is a terrific,Action-packed and hilarious Action-Comedy that looking back on the movie seemed like a big gamble at the time because it was the directorial debut of director Michael Bay with Martin Lawrence and Will Smith(who were both on very funny hit Sitcoms Martin and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)in lead roles. But the gamble was a big pay off with Bad Boys grossing 141 Million dollars dollars worldwide at the Box Office and is one of the better Action-Buddy-Comedy films in the genre that is still watched to this very day and is one of my favorite Action-Comedies. Bad Boys is a movie that I have loved since I first saw it in theaters in 1995 and is a film that I watch to this very day whenever it's and is just a movie that is just pure,solid entertainment from start to finish for 2 whole hours with Action,thrills and laughs that come at a non-stop rate and is a film that grabs your attention with lots of style. While Bad Boys has an air of predictability and the storyline isn't very groundbreaking or revolutionary there is just something about Bad Boys that makes it so re-watchable after many viewings. The Action scenes in Bad Boys are terrific and memorable with plenty of gunfights,explosions and chases that are exciting and well-done like any Jerry Bruckheimer-Don Simpson production. All of the Bruckheimer and Simpson style is in this film:slow motion,flashy visual style and camera movements presented in all of it's glory in this film. Also,Miami,Florida in Bad Boys is stunning and gorgeous and is one of the best movies set in Miami because with Bad Boys you as a viewer are sucked into Miami and you are having fun while being thrilled. The Comedy and laughs in Bad Boys are just hilarious and funny with scenes and dialog that come alive thanks to the antics of Burnett and Lowery whether it's the back and forth bickering between them or the one-liners that are said. The thing that makes Bad Boys so entertaining all of these years what holds the movie together is the duo Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowery. Unlike most Buddy movies or Action-Buddy-Comedy where the duo are put together and take time to gel together,Burnett and Lowery are already partners and best friends who know each other like the back of their hands. You feel like there is a love and brotherhood between the two and when there is always trouble they will be there for one another no matter what. We also see the differences between them in terms of their personal lives where Burnett is a married man with kids and Lowery is a bachelor with a lavish life style,but when they get into a shootout or chase the two manage to work together and get the job done. Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowery are a great and funny duo that are in my opinion one of the better buddy cop duos in the Action-Comedy sub genre. The ending of Bad Boys is fantastic and great with plenty of Action and thrills that will leave viewers smiling and wanting more. A wonderful ending.The cast is wonderful. Martin Lawrence and Will Smith are excellent and hilarious as Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowery,with Lawrence and Smith being funny and having great chemistry. Tea Leoni is terrific,beautiful and sexy as Julie,a witness who's being watched by Burnett and Lowery. Tcheky Karyo is fantastic as Fouchet,the main villain. Joe Pantoliano is great as Captain Howard,Burnett and Lowery's commander. Theresa Randle is memorable and beautiful as Theresa Burnett,Marcus' wife. Vic Manni(Ferguson),Frank John Hughes(Casper),Nestor Serrano(Detective Sanchez),Julio Oscar Mechoso(Detective Ruiz),Marg Helgenberger(Captain Ailson Sinclair),Michael Imperioli(Jojo),Saverio Guerra(Chet),Mark Macauley(Noah),Karen Alexander(Max),Emmanuel Xuereb(Eddie Dominguez)and John Salley(Fletcher)give good performances as well.The direction by Michael Bay is wonderful and stylish,with Bay giving the movie a nice pace and a cool visual style using different angles and doing a great job with the Action scenes. Fine direction,Bay.The score by Mark Mancina is great,intense and matches the Action throughout the film. Good score,Mancina. There is also a terrific Hip-Hop/R&B soundtrack with songs that goes with the energy of the film.In final word,if you love Michael Bay,Martin Lawrence,Will Smith,Action films or Action-Comedies,I highly suggest you see Bad Boys an excellent,thrilling and hilarious Action-Comedy that you will watch again and again. Highly Recommended. 10/10.
Continuing my plan to watch every Will Smith movie in order, I come to Bad Boys (1995)Plot In A Paragraph: Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowry (Will Smith) two Miami detectives, must protect a witness to a murder while investigating some stolen heroin.This was the first Will Smith movie I seen in the cinema, I went with a friend, and I wanted to see Mr Holland's Opus, But a game of rock, paper, scissors determined I would see Bad Boys.People say a lot of negative things about Michael Bay, however the man did know how to direct a solid action flick. His first three movies Bad Boys, Armageddon and The Rock are all superb action movies of the highest calibre. Truthfully Bad Boys still holds up very well twenty two years later. OK, it borrows or recycles a lot from other movies, it's style over substance and some of the dialogue is more than a little hokey and lame, but that is only a minor problem when the movie is this much fun. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence (improvising a lot of scenes) are a lot of fun, and have great on screen chemistry. Tea Leoni is gorgeous, but her delivery at times is awful, though I'm not sure if it was the fault of the awful dialogue or the actress, "No, it's another murder case, you twerp!!" Stands out, as does what a noisy eater Martin Lawrence is!! I've said a few times, how much I hate noisy eaters!! Theresa Randle is fun and Joe Pantolianao steals all his scenes as Captain Howard. On a budget of $19 million, Bad Boys grossed $65 million at the domestic box office, to end 1995 the 27th highest grossing movie of the year.