Bad Boys For Life (2020)

 You could wonder why, after so many years, they decided to get back to this franchise. For one thing, Will Smith's career isn't what it used to be. But on the plus side: this is actually pretty darn good, and I'm not just saying that because two promising countrymen of mine directed this one as their first major Hollywood-film. It actually is almost as good as the first one and easily surpasses the second one. 

Because we're now so many years later, they kept that in and now we meet Marcus and Mike as older police officers. Marcus is now a grandfather, but Mike is still acting as if he's just hit 30. It's almost endearing to see how well these guys play off of each other and their banter has developed but still keeps that juvenile tone we all know and perhaps love. 

But problems are afoot when a hitman guns down Mike and several retired lawmen (judges and the like) get killed. This has something to do with Mike's shady past, of which even Marcus knows nothing. 

Will the boys ride out one last time to get things done? 

Seriously, were you expecting the answer to be 'No.'? Then this would have been the shortest film ever. 

This film has the advantage of being the first one with a decent story. Is it a little predictable? Yes. Is it coherent? Also very much yes and this is one of the reasons why I like this one almost as the best one of the franchise. It all makes sense, the motivations of the characters are clear and it drops almost all of the juvenile humour that makes the second one so grating at times. 

Sure, there are still quips and silliness, but it is not aimed towards brainless amoebas this time. 

You will of course once again prefer the interaction between Martin Lawrence and Will Smith as the highlight of this project. But it's also fun to see the female characters not being portrayed as mere objects to be lusted after. This one is actually restrained in that respect. Go figure. 

The action is decent and easy to follow this time around. The only downside is that the chases are shot in a more pedestrian fashion. They're okay, but it is true that no one can shoot a car chase like Michael bay can, it is most definitely one of the man's excelling points. 

It is a lot of fun to see what Adil and Bilal (the filmmakers) have done with this one. Yes, they had to work within the framework provided by the studio, but they did manage to put their stamp on it and as a result, this is a film that is a lot of fun and it is not as brainless as the other two. I would almost rate this one as the best but for the pacing, which is a little slow at times here. The first one just bombards you the whole time and feels like a tighter film, even if on closer inspection it is not. 

In short: if you enjoy buddycop films, then this is one for you. You will not regret it.