Bad Boys II

Very weak for Michael Bay’s standards, with tons of awkward dialogues that hinder an otherwise decently started storyline. The director covers up all the holes in the script with what he does best, breathtaking action. But even that has its flaws. The shootout at the intersection is practically a weaker copy of Mann's shootout outside the bank in Heat, with the same camera positions, the same shots, etc. Bay, of course, cuts much more disproportionately and the camera filters reduce the dose of reality to a minimum, but that's not the point here. Martin Lawrence is traditionally awkward, but we're already used to that. Annoyingly American crap. Movies like this won't make a great name for the current Hollywood film industry... (26/01/2006)

It's just a sequel. Bay wants to be even more spectacular, but he's basically just repeating himself. There are even more slow-motion shots, and even more technique, and it almost forgets about the main thing - camaraderie. But the lead duo thankfully saves the day and still has some bright and funny moments to win you over. (28/04/2017)

I'm not a racist, but the Hollywood nigga-macho archetype is really getting on my nerves. And when the two come together, they get an arsenal of stupid catchphrases, designer clothes, and a flimsy story about drug dealers... Well, what's going to come of it? An incredibly simple film with great action sequences. I would like to narrow the film down to them, avoid unnecessary interludes and "humorous" speeches by both Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Two stars for Michael Bay's traditionally great direction, a thoroughbred edit and a colorful camera. Which, unfortunately, doesn't mean you can watch Bad Boys II with your brain online. (05/11/2005)

A depraved, vulgar, hyper-destructive fetish for “modern audiences”, filmed with a retarded screenplay on the table and ecstasy on the brain. Bad Boys II is funnier and more electrifying than Bad Boys, but it’s also dirtier, more hectic and more chaotic. That includes the action scenes, which are far from the elegance of those in The Rock, with the exception of the car chase on the bridges of Miami, which is one of the best in the genre. Joe Pantoliano cuts the most comical figure, though he is unfortunately given very little space. It’s also a shame about the unused potential of the Russian slimeball played by Peter Stormare. The main bad guy is OK. Overall, Bad Boys II is VERY funny and brisk in some places, and utterly dumb and dull entertainment in other places. Michael Bay unleashed and stripped of any sense of proportion. Woosa! Three and a half stars. (15/08/2003)

Bad Boys II? - well now, what do we have here? Old friends in visually perfectly rendered action, a lot of excellent, good and awkward jokes, some family hijinks, an unnecessarily overlong runtime (would have been great if they cut 25 minutes), a delicious highway chase, a passage set in a morgue that made me laugh to tears, a perfect ending in Cuba ("Plan C" is a ride so unreal that it's almost impossible)... Peter Stormare appears in a supporting role (Bay, why on earth didn't you give him more space?), Jordi Molla, the villain, may not be Karya from the first film, but he is charismatic and swinish to the point of being over-the-top. And then there are thousands of other decidedly unnecessary things that make Bad Boys II feel like it’s full of useless stuffing. Bottom line - three stars is just right. There will only ever be one original Bad Boys. And the absence of music (the main theme) from the first film was also disappointing. (19/07/2010)