Epidemic of nostalgia : "Bad boys forever"

Epidemic of nostalgia for the 80s and 90s. of the last century, with which grown-up children of Generation X infected millennials, is growing. It seems that over the past five years, most directors have been shooting, if not films, about the 80s and 90s. XX century, then at least films in the style of the 80s and 90s.

Sequels, triquels, quadriquels, spin-offs, remakes, reboots, soft reboots, etc. In most cases it doesn't work very well, sometimes it's acceptable, very rarely - better than the originals. Well, Bad Boys for Life, the third action movie about a couple of cops from Miami's anti-drug department, falls into the latter category, primarily because the quality bar was not raised very high in the first two films.

No, I'm serious. Before going on triquel, I specifically reviewed Bad Boys and Bad Boys II. There is absolutely nothing in these films that would not be in every second police action movie of the mid-90s, except that there were more explosions. Well, this is understandable, after all, the original Bad Boys is Michael's first big film "Let's Blow It Up!" Bay, and in the sequel, Bay was clearly flexing his muscles in front of Transformers. The only thing that draws out both films is the acting duet of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, complementing each other perfectly. Plus, live filmed car chases and stunts, now (almost) do not do that.

The first Bad Boys became successful only because of the cheapness. The film, shot for only $ 19 million, grossed as much as $ 141 million worldwide. Jerry Bruckheimer's investment paid off handsomely, and in 2003 he financed the sequel ... The second part, the budget of which jumped to the figure of $ 130 million, earned $ 273 million, that is, the film recaptured its money, but nothing more. 17 years later, all the same Bruckheimer, this time in the company with Will Smith himself, decided to shake off the old days, "as if for the last time." And suddenly, in the wake of interest in the 80-90s. of the last century, the film shot, and how.

Bad Boys for Life raised $ 100 million in the first weekend , beating off its more modest budget of $ 90 million than in the second part. At the same time, Sony announced that it was ready to start work on the fourth part of the series, even on the first day, after looking at the box office of one of the day (in the US, the film was released on January 17). The quad is preparing for 2021. Let's figure out why the third film in the Bad Boys series turned out to be better than the first two.

First, let's be honest. Bad Boys for Life is a fairly simple action movie with a predictable plot, filmed according to the templates of the 1990s, with some corrections for the sake of the 2010s. By and large, these are the same first Bad Boys, directed by Michael Bay's talented students. Two bright actors, pouring jokes in the most tense moments; insane gunfights, even crazier car chases; beautiful girls; explosions; more explosions, fire and falling helicopters - that's the whole secret. Plus Michael Bay himself in a funny cameo. Less sexism and racist jokes. As it turned out, this is exactly what we were missing.

In addition, the actors themselves, who draw the entire film, have only gotten better over the years. Calmer, more self-confident, more textured. They have not yet reached the age when it is already indecent to act in action films, but they managed to acquire a certain status of serious actors. Moreover, the film raises questions that had no place in the first two parts. Will Smith's aged hero, millionaire and playboy, who works as a police officer just because he likes it, realizes that his partner, whom he made fun of all his life, has something that he himself is deprived of - a family, loved ones, a place that he wants return.

Interestingly, in addition to Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, the creators of the picture also collected most of the actors involved in the original dilogy in secondary roles. Teresa Randle as Detective Burnett's wife, Joe Pantoliano, as Captain Howard ... even the guy who asked Burnett's daughter out on a date in Part 2! To the old proven actors, a new team was added under the leadership of Paola Nunez - an absolutely politically correct police unit of the 2010s. With computers, drones, universal equality and brotherhood. At first, the newbies look a little ridiculous, but Detectives Lowry and Burnett will quickly teach them the bad.

The plot revolves around a series of murders of representatives of the law committed in Miami. As it turns out, the trail leads to an old case from Detective Lowry's early life. In general, the plot could even be called good, albeit too banal, if not for the "unexpected" twists in the spirit of Star Wars. Here there was a place for reckoning for the sins of youth, and forgiveness, and even some kind of sacrifice. And, of course, a falling helicopter, where without it.

And at the moment with the helicopter, it is worth remembering what, among other things, attracted us to the original Bad Boys and Bad Boys II - about live tricks. In 1995, and in 2003, cars on the set crashed into other cars for real, and it was felt, especially in the scene of the chase on the bridge in the second film. Now the real tricks are improved with CGI, they are not so awkward, not so rough and ... not so impressive. No, the chases are still interesting to watch, but there is no longer a sense of reality in them. But the shootouts in Bad Boys for Life are clearly better and more dynamic than in the first films.

Bad Boys for Life, of course, lacks stars from the sky, but it looks very good and leaves a pleasant aftertaste behind. An excellent soundtrack, good actors, explosions and shootings - an action movie from the 90s with digital touch-up of the 21st century. What you need to go to the movies on Saturday night. If the fourth part follows in the footsteps of the third, then personally I will go to the sequel with great pleasure. Moreover, despite the promise "For the last time!" Which the hero of Will Smith gives to the hero of Martin Lawrence, in the final of the picture there are enough leads even for several sequels. And then, you see, you can give the reins to the new generation of cops. Fortunately, there is someone.

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