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[tab title="Movie Review"]

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

What does a filmmaker do when attempting to revive a franchise that has lain dormant for more than a decade? In the case of Bad Boys For Life, directors Adil and Bilall do what most other filmmakers have done: they adapt the story to fit a new cultural landscape, they riff on the advanced age of the main characters, and they otherwise play into evolved audience expectations. However, unlike most who try and fail, Adil and Bilall hit in a very big way with Bad Boys For Life as they inject a newfound excitement and exuberance into a series that had long since been left for dead.

"reminds us of what we loved so much about the original. It is just a whole lot of fun to watch!"


 

If it sounds like I enjoyed this one more than the original, it’s because I did. And a large part of that comes from the joy of watching a pair of seasoned actors having fun in a type of film that Hollywood rarely ever gets right anymore.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as Detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett respectively, roles they originated in Bad Boys back in 1995 as new-on-the-scene movie stars. Though that film – as well as 2003’s awful followup Bad Boys II – featured newcomer Michael Bay and all the explosiveness that comes with a Bay film, this revisit gets its excitement from a totally different place. Gone are Bay and the slo-mo shots of an open-shirted Smith chasing bad guys, replaced by Mike and Marcus contemplating their own legacy and mortality while heatedly discussing what happens when Bad Boys become old men.

This self-awareness is never illustrated more vividly than in the opening scene which features Mike and Marcus zooming through the streets of Miami in a sexy new 992-Generation Porsche. With police hot on their tails, it is clear they are in pursuit of something. But as they finally reach their destination, there is no shootout to be had. They have arrived at the hospital just in time to see the birth of Marcus’ granddaughter. {googleads}

The razor-sharp script, from writers Chris Bremner, Peter Craig, and Joe Carnahan perfectly blends humor, action, and loads of heart while never forgetting that Mike and Marcus’ story has lived inside our imaginations for over twenty years. Yes, it is dumb, and please don’t think too much about the preposterousness of it all. This odd-couple pairing reminds us of what we loved so much about the original. It is just a whole lot of fun to watch!

The plot initially feels like a throwaway piece through which to weave an onslaught of funny bits and outlandish action sequences as Mike and Marcus set out on one last mission. But it is actually a quite intricate and well thought out revenge conspiracy story which sees the two aging police hot shots teaming up with a younger and much more technologically savvy police outfit that calls itself AMMO or Advanced Miami Metro Operations. Together the new and old will combine their unique talents to bring down the head of a criminal ring whose motives may involve a personal vendetta.Bad Boys For Life (2020)

At the core of what makes Bad Boys for Life (as well as the original) work is the bond shared by Marcus and Mike, two tough old guys who’ve quite literally been to war together. But what makes their bond so special and believable for the audience are Smith and Lawrence whose brilliant on-screen chemistry is a tough thing to find, and an even tougher one for a director to nurture. Fortunately, Adil and Bilall not only find a way to stay out of the way, but also skillfully show how friendships can pull people apart if they aren’t willing to grow.

Don’t be fooled by the notion that films released in the January dumping ground are almost always downright stinkers. And don’t let the rancid memories of Bad Boys II spoil your anticipation of a return to form for everybody’s favorite crime-fighting duo. The Bad Boys are back on their beat, and they are as big a blast as you remember. Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

4/5 stars

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Video
Available on Blu-ray
- April  21, 2020
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles
: English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Indonesian, Korean, Malay, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Thai
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1; Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set; DVD copy; Digital code
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

The bad boys are back on their beat, but this time in sparkling 1080p on Sony Pictures Home Video Blu-ray + DVD + Digital edition of Bad Boys for Life.

This is a beautiful presentation that ticks all the boxes and makes for the perfect way to show off your home video system. Included in the cardboard-slipped eco-case are the blu-ray disc, a DVD copy, and a digital redemption code card. Blessing the release is a wealth of bonus material including extended and alternate scenes, a blooper reel, behind-the-scenes featurettes, easter eggs, and an alternate ending. What more could we ask for in this spectacular release? Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

Video

Not many releases come along that so spectacularly put on display the capabilities of the blu-ray format. But this is one of them. Visually, there's a lot going on in Bad Boys For Life, from bright exterior sunlit scenes, to the saturated colorful art-deco hues of a fluorescent-lit Ocean Boulevard. And it is handled perfectly here. The entire presentation remains sharp and crisp, even during the darkest nighttime scenes which never falter. This is reference quality stuff and one any videophile and Bad Boys fan should be proud to own

Audio

Not to be outdone by the spectacular visuals, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track makes a worthy case for star of the show. Fast forward to any of the gunfight scenes to see what your system's got.

Accompanying the release are a Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, a Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, a French Dolby Digital 5.1, a Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and a Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track.

Supplements:

Sony doesn't hold anything back with a wealth of extras that perfectly compliment this splendid release. Sadly, there is no audio commentary.

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

  • Alternate Ending
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Outtakes & Bloopers (02:47)
  • Ride or Die: Making Bad Boys for Life (13:51
  • It's About Damn Time
  • Partners in Crime
  • Epic Stunts
  • Easter Eggs
  • Stephen A. Smith Audition
  • Trailers

Blu-ray Rating:

  Movie 4/5 stars
  Video  5/5 stars
  Audio 5/5 stars
  Extras 4/5 stars

Overall Blu-ray Experience

4.5/5 stars

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[tab title="Film Details"]

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

MPAA Rating: For Strong Bloody Violence, Language Throughout, Sexual References, and Brief Drug Use.
Runtime:
123 mins
Director
: Adil El Arbi (as Adil), Bilall Fallah (as Bilall)
Writer:
Chris Bremner, Peter Craig
Cast:
Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens
Genre
: Comedy | Action | Crime
Tagline:
Ride Together. Die Together.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I'mma penetrate this man's soul wit my heart."
Theatrical Distributor:
Sony Pictures
Official Site: https://www.badboysforlife.movie/
Release Date:
January 17, 2020
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
April 21, 2020.
Synopsis: Marcus and Mike have to confront new issues (career changes and midlife crises), as they join the newly created elite team AMMO of the Miami police department to take down the ruthless Armando Armas, the vicious leader of a Miami drug cartel.

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[tab title="Art"]

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

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