Bad Boys

Here, nostalgia still prevails, as this is a film that captivated me back in the late 90s, and I fell in love with the characters so wonderfully - meaning entertainingly - portrayed by Smith and Lawrence. It still endures - mainly because I enjoy buddy movies - although Bay's grandiose and melodramatic style is just so apparent and so off-putting here. (27/04/2017)

Bay was already showing a fair amount of talent for action movies with his first feature. He combines humorous and action elements, and both are pretty decent. Even though the bad guy is really gay. The only minor problem I see is the imbalance of the comedic passages with the action. It could have used more ammo, imho. But it's a fact that this is just a setup for a monumental sequel. (08/02/2010)

Bad Boys is a prime example of a 90s action comedy that has been mercilessly affected by the ravages of time. If the film had less talk and more action, it certainly wouldn't have been a bad thing. At times, some of the characters got on my nerves with their annoying speeches. The final action set-piece had gusto, and Michael Bay's fondness for explosions was already evident here. There were a few humorous moments, but a lot of them didn't work at all. A weaker three stars! (27/05/2020)

Nowadays, perhaps a classic that is always guaranteed to entertain. Smith is likeable and a great actor on top of that, and Lawrence again proved to me that when he gets a proper role in a proper film, he can handle it perfectly. I understand some of the negative reactions (especially from those who hate Lawrence), but for me personally, Bad Boys is an example of a perfectly balanced and entertaining action comedy. 75% (29/12/2012)

Pragmatically speaking, the first Bad Boys isn’t an exceptional picture in any way. More explosive, better written and filmed action pictures certainly exist; it’s just that very few of them can boast such a laid-back atmosphere. This is not yet Bay’s (high) standard either in terms of directing or pace, but maybe this is why the first Bad Boys is so pleasant. It is more reserved than his later pictures. It certainly has some problem areas, but overall it is simply the essence of cool. (13/08/2007)