The Hollywood stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are returning to free TV for the first time as “Tough Boys” with “Bad Boys for Life”.
Since the resounding slap that Will Smith (53) gave comedian Chris Rock (57) at this year’s Oscars, the star’s clean image has been permanently battered. And the title of his film “Bad Boys for Life” also takes on a cynical connotation afterwards. On Monday (June 6), the third part of the action series, which began in 1995 and was first continued in 2003, celebrates its free TV premiere (10:40 p.m., ProSieben). Ironically, in the latest entry of the riot blockbuster, Smith lacks the clout that he flaunted at the Academy Awards.
That’s what the “Bad Boys” expect in part three
Mike (Smith) and Marcus (Martin Lawrence, 57) are still detectives in Miami. Things are going well for both of them. But then a criminal (Kate del Castillo, 49) breaks out of prison and sends her son (Jacob Scipio, 29) on a vendetta. Mike should also bless the time. That’s how he escapes with his life while other lawmen die. As a result, Marcus actually retires, which causes the “Bad Boys” to drift apart. Mike wants to find out who wanted his death at all costs.
His ex-flame Rita (Paola Nunez, 44) and her young squad should help him. Not an easy task, since the methods used by Rita and her team are not the same as Mike’s. It comes as it must: Marcus cannot escape the investigation and learns a well-kept secret from Mike’s past. The big showdown in Mexico takes place according to the well-known motto: “We stand together, we fall together! Bad boys forever!”
Dream team Will Smith and Martin Lawrence?
“Bad Boys for Life” reunited Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in front of the camera after 17 years. It seems like nothing has changed. Smith’s alter ego Mike continues to love his freedom, fast cars and cool clothes. He has not entered into a firm bond since the second part. In one sentence, it is clarified what happened from Smith’s liaison with Gabrielle Union (49), who played the sister of Martin Lawrence’s character Marcus in “Bad Boys II”. Marcus, on the other hand, is still a family man through and through and wants – of course – to retire again.
The chemistry between Smith and Lawrence, from which the first two parts live, isn’t that convincing anymore. They still fight like an old married couple, but they’ve lost the oomph. They chew on the tried and true, making the jokes seem redundant and predictable. Little seems to have remained of the “tough guys”. They keep shooting like crazy, rushing through the streets of Miami with crazy stunts, beating up bad guys and blowing things up. But part three does not come close to the first two films by Michael Bay (57).
The nostalgia factor can’t really score either, even if numerous well-known faces appear. In addition, this time more scenes are accompanied by meaningful music, which seems a bit out of place. Where hot beats, hard-hitting action and cheeky sayings used to score points, a lot now seems too wanted, posed and sometimes even a bit cramped. The “Bad Boys” are just getting on in years and act more like “Good Guys”, even if Will Smith tries to prove the opposite.
Conclusion
With “Bad Boys for Life” Will Smith and Martin Lawrence didn’t manage the big coup. Maybe 17 years was too long a break and the tough action time of the two is simply over. It’s a fun pastime that Smith fans in particular will enjoy. A third part of a series that falls into the category “Nice to look at, but you wouldn’t have needed it”.
