'Bad Boys II'
(Will Smith, Martin Lawrence / R / 112 mins / Sony Pictures)
Overview: Miami police detectives Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) are back, this time investigating the booming ecstasy business in South Florida. Their drug busts lead to an evil kingpin who has started a violent turf war throughout Miami. To further complicate matters, Mike begins to fall for Syd (Gabrielle Union), the half sister of Marcus. It's a relationship that threatens Mike and Marcus' friendship and put Syd's life in danger.
Verdict: Although 'Bad Boys II' is nothing more than a bloated, unpleasant assembly-line extrusion in which there are a lot of chases and a lot of killings and explosions, it is also a movie that is entertaining and exciting and doesn't let up for a second — but one that is also sometimes jaw-droppingly awful too!! The overdone movie could've shaved off about half of the action (minimum) and although it certainly raises the action bar for cop movies in general, ends up to be really no different narratively than an old "Miami Vice" episode - extended to unconscionable length in order to accommodate redundant action scenes, endless banter between stars Martin Lawrence and Will Smith and several potential endings! 'Bad Boys II' gives new meaning to the word overkill!
Reviewed by Russell A. Trunk