Bad Boys

While The Rock was a massive adrenaline ride, here it's more like massive blabbering. If only it was funny, but the dialogue is not very good and Martin Lawrence is more suited to his toilet comedies. (04.07.2002)

I don’t like Michael Bay films very much (with the honourable exception of The Rock), and I watched Bad Boys only because I didn’t have anything else to do and didn’t want to think. At best, I expected that the megalomaniac action wouldn’t be boring and that I wouldn’t drown in pathos. Be lo and behold! Bad Boys doesn’t have that much action or pathos. It’s a better film than Transformers or Pearl Harbour, but nothing that would make me jump in joy. (29.06.2011)

Pragmatically speaking, the first Bad Boys isn’t an exceptional picture in any way. More explosive, better written and filmed action pictures certainly exist; it’s just that very few of them can boast such a laid-back atmosphere. This is not yet Bay’s (high) standard either in terms of directing or pace, but maybe this is why the first Bad Boys is so pleasant. It is more reserved than his later pictures. It certainly has some problem areas, but overall it is simply the essence of cool. (13.08.2007)

Bad Boys, or else the directing debut of Michael Bay, a guy who if he filmed a pile of manure, it would look effective. Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in roles that fit them like a glove. Tchéky Karyo as the nicely slippery murderer with no morals who kills people for failing to brush their teeth after dinner. Excellent verbal exchanges are framed by sweet action sequences that will entertain you even on the worst day of your life. (22.11.2006)

This is where Michael Bay rehearsed his camera filters, overhead shots and thrilling action scenes, which he would then perfect in future films. (08.11.2004)

There's nothing like reminiscing nostalgically and having some fun at the same time. For example, I watched the DVD of Bad Boys today after many years... It's an incredible hit - these guys haven't lost any of their charm in 15 years! If it weren't for the fact that cell phones somehow don't exist in the film yet, you'd think Bay only made it last year. Four and a half stars (and tonight I'll get to the second film, which has - ahem - eluded me so far).__P.S. I love the soundtrack (score) and could listen to it all the time. (18.07.2010)

Nowadays, perhaps a classic that is always guaranteed to entertain. Smith is likeable and a great actor on top of that, and Lawrence again proved to me that when he gets a proper role in a proper film, he can handle it perfectly. I understand some of the negative reactions (especially from those who hate Lawrence), but for me personally, Bad Boys is an example of a perfectly balanced and entertaining action comedy. 75% (29.12.2012)

Bad Boys is a prime example of a 90s action comedy that has been mercilessly affected by the ravages of time. If the film had less talk and more action, it certainly wouldn't have been a bad thing. At times, some of the characters got on my nerves with their annoying speeches. The final action set-piece had gusto, and Michael Bay's fondness for explosions was already evident here. There were a few humorous moments, but a lot of them didn't work at all. A weaker three stars! (27.05.2020)

Bay was already showing a fair amount of talent for action movies with his first feature. He combines humorous and action elements, and both are pretty decent. Even though the bad guy is really gay. The only minor problem I see is the imbalance of the comedic passages with the action. It could have used more ammo, imho. But it's a fact that this is just a setup for a monumental sequel. (08.02.2010)

Here, nostalgia still prevails, as this is a film that captivated me back in the late 90s, and I fell in love with the characters so wonderfully - meaning entertainingly - portrayed by Smith and Lawrence. It still endures - mainly because I enjoy buddy movies - although Bay's grandiose and melodramatic style is just so apparent and so off-putting here. (27.04.2017)