A solid film that delivers on the action, comedy and strong emotional moments, but falls just a bit short on the execution of the plot. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the first two “Bad Boys” films, so I only vaguely remember most of the characters and their relationships to each other. Despite that, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith (and Joe Pantoliano) quickly reestablish their chemistry. This comradery leads to most of the film’s comedy, primarily through their often hilarious banter. While all of this helps the emotional beats hit their mark, it wouldn’t work so well if that acting wasn’t as good as it was. The overall plot has a good concept, but they really don’t seem to get around to actually pulling off what they were supposed to. Fortunately, the story does give plenty of opportunities for some solid action. There’s a solid mix of gun battles, car chases and hand to hand that are thrilling to watch.
***1/2 out of *****