And Some Skittles (Bad Boys (DVD))

Member Name: nathaninnit

Product:	Bad Boys (DVD)
Date:	06/05/07 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Performances, storyline and effects

Disadvantages: Nothing, it's honestly perfect

Looking at Bad Boys there is no way I would imagine this was released when I was just 6 years old back in 1995, as it's a film that can stand tall even to this day. I'm not sure how groundbreaking it was back in the day but to me it seems like it must have been a film ahead of its time, because surely films haven't evolved for over 10 years? This morning I rewatched Bad Boys, and what follows is my verdict.

Martin Lawrence is the star of the film playing Detective Marcus Burnett, stealing the film, although his co-star is just a big of household name - if not bigger. Will Smith plays Detective Mike Lowrey and together are are partners in crime - Bad Boys. Previous to this Lawrence's biggest appearance was in Big Momma's House, and unlike Smith I haven't really seen Lawrence in any films that have grabbed me, he's currently in pre-production for a 2008 released called The Better Man. Unlike Smith who always seems to be involved in something, whether it be a music career or more big releases like 'iRobot' and 'Pursuit of Happyness'.

Opening scenes are always crucial for a movie, whether it be a film like Scream where they've got to do the big murder at the start, or a film like American Pie where they've got to do the big embarrassing comedy scene. I had no idea what to expect from Bad Boys and as it opens Marcus and Mike are driving along in Mike's posh car. We are immediately handed some backstory on the character, where Marcus has a wife and children, whilst Mike is a rich kid leading the batchelor life. Marcus drops some fries in Mike's car, and the banter is upped, even continuing when a couple of crooks try to carjack them. Crime comedy at its best.

The main storyline is going to be a bit more difficult to solve than a carjacking however, as the film hands out no tiny mystery to ease us into the franchise, but instead dishes out a full blown meal of an organised crime group stealing $100 million worth of heroin from the Miami Police lockup - that's all the drugs Marcus and Mike have helped seize in their career. For a big robbery scene it is very well done, and they don't over do it at all. Captain C Howard (Joe Pantoliano) knows that it had to have been an inside job, and gives the duo a 72 hour deadline to solve the crime before it becomes a media frenzy.

Marcus and Mike are given Detective Sanchez (Nestor Serrano) and Ruiz (Julio Oscar Mechoso) for their disposal to help them solve the raid and with them being Mexican and the others being black it makes for an interesting work ethic, although they didn't really max out everything they could have done with this, but why would they when it doesn't affect the quality of the film at all? It still creates some great laughs, and about the only time Marcus and Mike aren't arguing amongst themselves is when they're arguing against them. Captain Alison Sinclair wants to shut them down though, so there's no room for time wasting if they want to keep their jobs.

Lowrey immediately thinks to go visit Jojo (Michael Imperioli) who they all know for his involvement in drugs previously, however now apparently he has gone straight and all he knows is rubber - he's mechanic. Jojo is just one of the many excellent supporting characters in the film. With nothing seemingly happening with Jojo, they head off to a gym where Maxie (Karen Alexander) is working out. Her employment allows her to see and hear a lot of things that the police usually don't, and the sexual tension between her and Lowrey is obviously - who would have thought Will Smith would play ANOTHER smooth operator. This leads Maxie, along with her friend Julie (Tea Leoni), to visit the ex-policeman who was involved in the drug raid. As Julie is up at the bathroom, the real bad guys enter and that is the sad end to Max.

Julie now knows her life is in danger because of what she has witnessed, and she knows that the only person she can trust is Mike Lowrey because of what Max told her about him. With Lowrey out on other business however this leaves Marcus forced to play Lowrey, and this role reversal ends up playing one of the key storylines in the film. Marcus stays with Julie in Mike's penthouse, whilst Mike stays with Marcus' wife, Theresa (Theresa Randle), and pretends that Marcus is out of the state.

If you want lots of laughs and sexual inuendos from Mike to Marcus, then that's one reason to watch this film. If you want more than a typical action film that takes you to dead ventalation contractors and Club Hell, then there's another reason. And of course there is all the shootouts, big explosions and chase scenes. To me Bad Boys really has it all, and pokes fun at itself in that who would have an opening in a vent lead to a massive drug stash? Everything has been performed to a tee, and at 6 minutes off 2 hours you will not feel like it's a chore to watch, and an 18 certificate makes it something you can enjoy as you pass a couple of hours on a night with nothing else to do.

Oh but how could I finish this review would saying.. "Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?"

Summary: One of the best crime fighting movies.