Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate del Castillo, Nicky Jam, Joe Pantoliano, Jacob Scipio, Theresa Randle, DJ Khaled, Happy Anderson, Bianca Bethune, Dennis Greene, Michael Bay, Gissette Valentin, Rose Bianco, Edelia Merida, Jasmin Lawrence, Shacai O’Neal, Carlos Guerrero, Massi Furlan, Chick Bernhard, Jennifer Badger, Jeff J.J. Authors, Keith Wheeler, Brandi Cohen, Jay Amor, Yessenia Hernandez, Anthony Molinari, Ivo Nandi.

In a world of sequels, there is always going to be a film that echoes the statement and themes of another legendry tetralogy, the action may have changed, but the sentiment remains, and in Bad Boys For Life, the long awaited third part of the detective buddy movie franchise starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, nobody would blame the viewer for thinking of another series which deals with many of the premises involved in this particular film; the only difference being is the creativity in the conclusion.

Whilst there is always time to see Will Smith and Martin Lawrence spar off each other once more, the echoing of the Lethal Weapon series is more apparent than ever; so much so that the adage of there being no more new stories in which to delve, has perhaps never felt more applicable.

Time can be cruel if you don’t keep a watchful eye on it, and while there is no denying that both actors have been busy in their respective careers and that there might have not been the right scenario in which to showcase both sets of talents, to return to a previous arena after 17 years is to look Time in the eye and almost beg that the majesty of age and magic can still be found and not left wanting.

The set up itself is creative enough, relying on both humour and drama to bring it together, but that aside the action feels forced, dragging in places where the two men are separated due to different outlooks as age has caught up on them. However, if the viewer can get past the jarring insistence that comes with such scenarios, one explored as equally well in the Lethal Weapon series, then the piece becomes entertaining, the interaction between the two actors still able to gel and thrill the audience.

There will always be the urge for the film studios to delve into the mismatched buddy movie, but there has to be a point where it has to admit that there are only so many scenarios in which the film can explore both the characterisation and the way they fit into modern society.

Bad Boys For Life is a decent enough film to get lost in for a couple of hours but it won’t change your life, it won’t give you hope that the genre can be saved.

Ian D. Hall