Bigger and Badder (Bad Boys II (DVD))

Member Name: gillyman

Product:	Bad Boys II (DVD)
Date:	29/10/03 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great effects, Top script, Lots of fun

Disadvantages: Cliched Action movie sequel

Bigger and badder would be a fair summing up of the vast majority of action movie sequels. In order to justify making a sequel, the special effects and set pieces have to be bigger and more impressive than those in the original film. Studio bosses are prepared to put more money into the films on the basis that the success of an initial film makes a sequel a banker. Excellent examples of this type of thinking that have hit the screens recently include Terminator 3 and The Matrix Reloaded. Both of these films also fall into the "Badder" category - in the sense that they are not as good as the originals.

Indeed it is very rare for a sequel to live up to the original film. Godfather part 2 is still the only sequel to win the Best Film Oscar (although it can be argued that it is not really a sequel at all) and particularly in the Action genre, most films seem to fall into the trap of style over substance - the hope that big effects will lead the public to forgive the lack of a decent storyline. Notable exceptions to the rule would include the Lethal Weapon series and Aliens. Bad Boys 2 you will not be surprised to learn, is "Badder" than the original.

*****Plot - no spoilers - its an Action movie after all and therefore you know what to expect!*****

Marcus and Mike (Martin Lawrence and Will Smith respectively) reprise their roles in the original Bad Boys. This time they are involved with trying to bring a drugs ring down. The head junkie is a particularly sadistic Cuban who like all the best Hispanic bad guys, loves his Mama. They are trying to smuggle ecstasy in from overseas and the drug money out, using a funeral home as cover by stuffing the appropriate contraband into corpses and coffins.

Marcus' little sister Cyd is a welcome new character - played to good effect by the stunning Gabrielle Union. She is an undercover cop who is also trying to bring the gang down as well as providing Mike's love interest
(without Marcus' knowledge of course).

The stars are likeable and do a good job. They manage to project the chemistry which is necessary in buddy cop movies although Marcus, who has been going through anger management therapy is mildly annoying at times. The dialogue is crackling and in places very funny.

Action wise, there is lots of shooting, excellent effects and several big car chases including one in which a transporter sheds its load all over the road which rivals the car chase in Matrix Reloaded.

Towards the end of the film it starts to get a bit on the silly side - now this is not uncommon in action movies either but I for one do prefer to watch a movie where I can kid myself that "it could really happen" and the ending (I'm not going to spoil it) quite clearly stretches the boundaries beyond breaking point. This is the films downfall. A little too convoluted and not all that believable - the sort of things which sequels traditionally do wrong.

That does not mean that it is a bad movie however. If you put aside the gripes about believability then you are left with a movie which is a lot of fun, will not tax your brain overly much and although it is a little bit too long (2 1/2 hours), will leave you with a smile on your face.

Probably a little too much blood, guts and sexual innuendo for the younger members of family. This film is not going to change your life but if you fancy escaping into the world of fantasy for an evening it fits the bill quite nicely.

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