When I want to re-live some seriously over the top cinematic spectacle, I always come back to Bad Boys 2. It is the apex of Michael Bay’s vulgar, jocular style. It is a balls-to-the-wall, R-rated, studio-buddy-cop action film that has seen a wide release.
Explosive, racist, homophobic, pornographically violent, absurdly divorced from reality, and completely bonkers with its various action set-pieces.
Taking the long-standing formula and going completely insane on a production values level with a rather routine story marked by serviceable dialogue in between memorable zingers. Bay and a zillion credited and un-credited screenwriters dismantled this well-worn genre.
They went for broke with some massive-stakes action that displayed a loving affection for physical pyrotechnics. Every single moment in this set-piece demonstration is jacked for a potent visceral impact.
With the ultra-stylized and supersaturated images scorching the eye-balls, while all of the almost-impossible-to-believe action was staged with a minimum of computerized artificiality.
Seriously – there have been very few big-budget action films to rival this one over the last 20 years. I’m not talking on a story/dialogue level. It’s all very standard here, nothing more, nothing less. BUT – the style – the ferocity – Amir Mokri’s aggressively sexy and hilariously glossy yet somehow still gritty cinematography. The confrontational attitude (REGGIE!) – the obscene stunts.
Currently streaming on Netflix and also available on Blu-ray/DVD and via various streaming providers.
Bad Boys 2 Review by Nick Clement
Bad Boys (1995) Review – https://www.backtothemovies.com/bad-boys-1995-review/
Bad Boys for Life (2020) Review – https://www.backtothemovies.com/bad-boys-1995-review/
Summary
Nobody has topped what Bay and Bruckheimer and all the various daredevils and technicians did on this dangerous production. Working at the front desk at Jerry Bruckheimer Films when Bad Boys II was in production will forever remain one of the key highlights of my Los Angeles experience.
