Bad Boys for Life Review

I laughed. I cried. I learned.

Actually, that's a lie, except I did laugh, sometimes out loud and frequently grinned, during my screening of "Bad Boys for Life." Released seventeen years after the previous entry (and twenty five after the first film), this threequel is far better than it has any right to be, a mostly smart action picture with a good sense of humor.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back as Detective Lieutenants Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, respectively, with Marcus turning in his badge after the birth of his grandkid. That miffs Mike, particularly once he's gunned down and returns to the force with a vengeance expecting his backup. What follows are a series of tears, revelations, explosions, shootouts, and many, many one-liners.

The two have lost zero comedic timing, bickering about everything from cars to ladies, sometimes involving secondary or background characters into their paltry squabbles; they go back and forth with increasingly silly comebacks that you can't help but picture these two knowing each other since childhood (or, at least twenty five years). It's really a joy to watch, two maturing icons who's intimacy with the characters help prevent the humor from feeling forced- I really did believe that Marcus was upset when Mike brought up breaking up with his sister that one time!

The plot was a bit deeper than your usual blockbuster, with enough twists and surprises that it holds your interest in the moments between the bloodshed and quips. There is an unanticipated level of drama in the narrative, thanks to the film's willingness to allow the stars to play with their age (both of which are in their early fifties). The age aspect is handled with grace, and the leading men know how to do more than simply make jokes and flex muscles- well, the latter is more for Will; Martin looks paunchy with chipmunk cheeks.

What extends this flick above other action pictures, such as "6 Underground," the most recent picture by the series' previous director Michael Bay, is how the more tender scenes are handled, particularly with the two inevitably facing retirement (and/or death). We're allowed to explore the less glamorous possibilities faced by Mike and Marcus, and our heroes are given several opportunities to do more than simply raise their eyebrows at the camera.