Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent, crude buddy-cop "threequel" is chaotic, tired.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Bad Boys for Life
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 20 parent reviews
Based on 29 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is entertaining and funny but contains a lot of strong language and violence, making it more suitable for older teens rather than younger audiences. While some viewers appreciate the action and on-screen chemistry of the main characters, many express concern over inappropriate content for younger viewers, with reminders that it is not a family-friendly film.
- entertaining comedy
- strong language
- excessive violence
- not for kids
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In BAD BOYS FOR LIFE, Miami narcotics detectives Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) have been partners for 25 years. But when Marcus becomes a grandfather, he starts thinking about retiring. Meanwhile, Mike, who wants to keep being a cop, is shot by a mysterious assassin. While Mike recovers, Marcus promises God that he won't bring any more violence into the world. Mike decides to go after the shooter himself, but the captain (Joe Pantoliano) pairs him with a new, young team of computer specialists (Paola Núñez, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Charles Melton). Before long, Mike finds a clue to the villain's identity—and it has something to do with his own dark past. For what may be their final showdown, Marcus realizes he can't let his old partner down.
Is It Any Good?
Coming nearly 20 years after the last entry, this third buddy-cop action comedy continues with the series' same kind of cluttered, noisy filmmaking, now accompanied by a sense of pained weariness. Belgian filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah take over for original director Michael Bay but continue with his chaotic style—i.e., the logic of a scene doesn't matter as much as how big it is. It's often exhausting trying to follow the haywire chronological and spatial logic of the action in Bad Boys for Life, as characters move through space and time at different rates, depending on what the plot needs.
As for the "boys," they're now in their 50s, and Lawrence in particular looks like he's in physical pain most of the time, as if he can barely move. His comic timing is off, too. The rest of the characters are so thinly drawn that they're lucky if they get a single character trait. (Poor Hudgens' character has none, except for a bleach-blonde cornrow hairstyle.) Smith at least proves he's a pro by selling a few of his one-liners and soul-searching speeches, but even he can't keep the phrase "for life" from sounding like a punishment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Bad Boys for Life's violence. Is it designed to thrill, or shock? How did the filmmakers achieve this effect? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How is sex talked about in the movie? Why is it done with humor? What values are imparted? What would the effect be if it were discussed seriously?
Two of the characters try to be nonviolent but are encouraged back into violence. Are there consequences for these actions? Is violence seen as a good thing?
How does the theme of family (or bonds of friendship) run through this series? What are the positives and negatives of these relationships?
Do you consider these law enforcement characters to be role models in any way? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 17, 2020
- On DVD or streaming : April 21, 2020
- Cast : Will Smith , Vanessa Hudgens , Martin Lawrence
- Directors : Adil El Arbi , Bilall Fallah
- Inclusion Information : Middle Eastern/North African Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 123 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence, language throughout, sexual references and brief drug use
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : September 23, 2024
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