Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Bad Boys for Life Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 2, 2020

Whether Michael Bay's Bad Boys franchise has surpassed the Lethal Weapon family of films as the definitive "Buddy Cop" movie experience is up for debate, but with Bad Boys for Life the franchise turns 25 years old and proves that there's still staying power in the chemistry-laden duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, playing a pair of mouthy, high energy Miami detectives who skirt the law in order to uphold it. For this film, a pair of relatively unknown directors -- Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah -- take over for Bay, who with the original 1995 film redesigned style, re-imaged cool, and made a name for himself and stars out of Smith and Lawrence. Bad Boys for Life misses his finishing touch but Arbi and Fallah certainly impersonate it with vigor and demonstrate great potential as filmmakers within this genre; it's unsurprising to see their names attached to an upcoming Beverly Hills Cop film.

Some spoilers for the film appear in the plot description below.

Now that Marcus (Martin Lawrence) is a grandfather, he finds that his life priorities have changed, including losing any and all desire to go all-in on the risk-taking busts that have come to define his law enforcement career with his longtime partner Mike (Will Smith). Both are getting up there in age, dying their beards and denying the truth that they’ve both lost a step. Their relationship is about to face its ultimate test when Mike is gunned down in the streets in cold blood. Marcus stays by his side and promises God to never kill again in exchange for Mike’s recovery. It takes months but Mike recovers and wants blood. But with Marcus' newfound religion, Mike may have to go after whoever shot him alone.

“There’s nothing sadder than old men revisiting the past,” a gray-haired Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) tells Marcus and Mike when whatever testosterone they have left has them competing for late middle-age bragging rights. That said, Lawrence and Smith certainly don’t look too old for another round and pull off an impressive feat of endurance and rekindled rapport in Bad Boys for Life, a film that ultimately feels like an unnecessary, but nevertheless welcome, entry into the aging franchise. As it is, with Bay gone and the movie left in the capable hands of co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, there’s little freshness and only a focus on its two main characters, which is where it should be. The filmmakers certainly demonstrate command of the Bay style and make a movie in the Bad Boys tradition (and with Bay making a fun cameo in the movie, there’s little doubt he had quite a bit of input) but rightly leave the focus on Marcus and Mike. Their chemistry remains the selling point, even as in the movie both men have turned personal and professional corners and approach their new places in life -- and, for Mike, a startling realization later in the movie -- from radically different perspectives and with their own unique motivations. The movie has fun with that newfound contrast between Marcus, who wants to settle down with family, and Mike, who wants back in the game in a big way. It’s no surprise that a reluctant Marcus eventually agrees to have one last go at bringing down the bad guys in the movie -- it can’t be all minivans and soap operas for two hours -- and even without Bay’s polish there’s enough rapport between the actors to carry the movie even through otherwise paint-by-numbers action scenes and familiar comedic routines.

The film soars when its focus is on Marcus and Mike, and the latter's personal connections to the developing story only add a necessary dramatic current to what is otherwise a style over substance experience. That's good, because the film's villains (Jacob Scipio, Kate del Castillo) are cut-out characters, and it's only when the full story is unveiled that they gain a sense of purpose and personalization to set them apart from other run-of-the-mill baddies and bolster the movie's previously predictable cadence. The new AMMO squad adds a new dimension that pits a more old-school Mike with tech-savvy up-and-comers who don't always go in guns blazing and/or with foot firmly on the accelerator. Add that Mike's old love interest (Paola Núñez) leads the group and there's some opportunity for a few interesting sidebars, but ultimately none of it moves the needle all that much. This is squarely Smith's and Lawrence's movie and everything else is just filler to let them do their thing and, for a nice change of pace, watch them grow personally, which they do with a satisfying level of sincerity.

Bad Boys for Life Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Bad Boys for Life foregoes the franchise's film roots for a digital production that fares well but lacks the distinctive grainy texturing of the originals, replaced here with digital noise that is seen in frequency but not usually in excess. Additionally, the movie retains some of that Bay-esque hot Miami contrast but it doesn't push things overboard. Colors are certainly a highlight, yielding impressive depth and vibrant output though it might be the most neutrally colored film in the series. Still, fundamentally loud color splashes are seen in frequency, whether bright neon lights, natural greens, or vivid blue skies, each tone presented for effect but not pushed to screen dominating intensity. Black levels are solid in low light, though dampened by noise, and skin tones appear spot-on for the duration. The film is texturally alive, too, with close-ups offering impressive and nearly impeccable intimacy, revealing pores and hairs with screen-commanding clarity. Environments are sharp across the board, from sun-drenched city exteriors to low-light club interiors. The Blu-ray never falters in bringing each location, and all of the various odds and ends therein, to clear, highly detailed life. Beyond source noise, there are no problematic source or encode issues of note. The image is way better on UHD but Blu-ray only fans will certainly find this to be a high performing presentation.

Bad Boys for Life Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Bad Boys for Life features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack whereas the companion UHD includes a DTS:X option. Yet even without the added channels, this track is a winner, a high quality support for the film's musically charged moments and action frenzy sonic delights. Gunfire rips from all directions in chapter six, yielding a fluid barrage that even without the additional back and overhead channels delivers an impressive sense of space and danger. Shots punch with positive wallop and various impacts, along with general action din, make for a satisfying experience that is carried on through several more sonically similar moments when gunfire takes center stage. Music engages with powerful front and surround engagement and excellent clarity throughout the range, supported by a healthy but balanced low end support structure. Club beats in chapter ten prove plenty aggressive and immersive, one of the finest musical output examples the track has to offer. Environmental details abound in many locations, pulling the listener into the film's world with ease, efficiency, and lifelike detail and positioning. Dialogue is clear, center-focused, and well prioritized for the duration. While there's more immersion with the UHD's added channels, the Blu-ray's presentation wants for nothing as it's configured.

Bad Boys for Life Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Bad Boys for Life's Blu-ray includes a handful of featurettes as well as deleted scenes and outtakes. Of note is that the disc sports a new menu system similar to Universal's new layout that places extras vertically along the right-hand side. The difference here is that only the first page receives thumbnails, and they are stills rather than video clips. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a slipcover.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 8:11 total runtime): Included are Mike and Rita in Kitchen, Mike and Rita in Elevator, Spa Receptionist, Rita in the Rain, Returning to the Police Station, Getting into Zillion, Armando and Isabel in Mirror, and Alternate Ending - Terrace Showdown.
• Outtakes & Bloopers (1080p, 2:47): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Ride or Die: Making Bad Boys for Life (1080p, 13:51): A basic overview that covers returning cast and the chemistry shared between Smith and Lawrence, the familiar locations and style, action and humor, story detail, Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, shooting locales, and more.
• It's About Damn Time (1080p, 6:44): A look back at the franchise that has been around for more than a quarter-century now, exploring pairing Smith and Lawrence, stories and style, action, favorite moments, and more.
• Partners in Crime (1080p): A three-part feature.
  
  
  • Bad Boys Meet Good Kids (6:30): Smith and Lawrence's chemistry and looking at some of the other characters and actors in the film.
  • The Bad Guys of Bad Boys (5:53): A closer look at the film's villains.
  • Behind the Lens with Directors Adil & Bilall (3:56): In praise of the film's fresh directing duo.
• Epic Stunts (1080p, 9:12): Breaking down some of the film's most exciting moments.
• Easter Eggs (1080p, 6:38): Unwrapping some of the winks and nods in this film that pay homage to the first two.
• Stephen A. Smith Audition (1080p, 1:20): The famed sportscasting personality "auditions" for the film opposite Smith and Lawrence.
• Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.

Bad Boys for Life Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Bad Boys for Life looks and feels a lot like the original two, even without Michael Bay's polished, familiar touch. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah certianly know their way around moviemaking and are clearly passionate about the franchise, yet the film can't quite reach that same level of moviemaking magic and technical excellence found in the first two, try as it might to imitate it. It's quality escapism and a natural continuation of the story, which is all most anyone could reasonably want 25 years into the franchise. Sony's Blu-ray delivers impressive technical output and a healthy assortment of extra content. Recommended.