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Year:    2003
Studio:  Columbia Pictures Corporation,
         Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Feature: 3/5
DVD:     0/5

It took eight years to get around to doing a sequel of Bad Boys. Partly this was because the two stars got really famous and expensive. Bad Boys 2 rejoins the Miami police department duo of detectives Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey (Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, respectively).

It's an indeterminate amount of time later. There is a Cuban drug kingpin, Johnny tapia (Jordi Molla), who wants to get his money back to Cuba so he can live like a king. Burnett and Lowrey are part of the new Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) headed by Captain Howard (once again played by Joe Pantoliano).

But it's not Miami PD's case. The DEA is running its own operation with the lovely Special Agent Syd Burnett (Gabrielle Union) as lead undercover agent. Syd is Burnett's younger sister. She and Lowrey have also been dating behind Burnett's back. And we add to the mix that Burnett is thinking of tranferring to another department and ending a long partnership.
Compared to the first movie, this sequel had a lot more funding. The camera work is sharper, the special effects are good, the explosions and gunfire are more real and the sound is a lot better. But it still comes down to the chemistry between Lawrence and Smith.

It's still there and all is mostly good. The whole "Burnett fed up with Lowrey" subplot seemed a bit forced. You don't need to inject turmoil into the relationship to make it interesting. Also there were some parts where it was just getting more and more unbelievable. With a bigger budget you can do more things but sometimes you shouldn't.

Overall I thought it was a movie that was trying to do a bit too much to the point of gaudiness. Still, it was an ok movie to watch. There are no extras which is a bit disappointing.

Copyright (c) 2006 Kevin C. Wong
Page Created: March 20, 2006
Page Last Updated: March 20, 2006