Rated R for graphic violence, gore, endless profanity, nudity and sexual innuendo.

Review by Tom Johnson
(tomjohnson@thecinemasource.com)

Awe. Shock. Wonder. These are the drooling, single word reactions “Bad Boys II” pulled from me while it played out, pummeling me to a blissful catharsis over the course of a brutal two and a half hours. Catharsis is the key word there, as it should be the goal of every summer action flick. “The Matrix Reloaded” is an intense head trip, “T3” is a surprisingly fun return to a great franchise, and “Pirates of the Caribbean” is a rollicking, old-fashioned adventure, but none offer the pure escapism that “Bad Boys II” provides in large, hearty abundance. If you’re looking for the summer movie that finally delivers it all, look no further. “Bad Boys II” isn’t just the best movie of the summer, it’s also the most exhilarating action film of the past few years.

These are big words from someone who doesn’t think much of Michael Bay, the film’s flashy, overrated director. The original “Bad Boys” was decent but clichéd and a bit generic, carried to something special entirely by the chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. With the sequel, it turns out the only thing that needed to be done was to go further with the clichés. Every cop movie, Miami drug movie and, well, Michael Bay movie stereotype is on display here. While eyes may roll at first when white trash southerners, “Scarface” inspired drug lords and MTV-level rave scenes flash across the screen, the film puts so much sheer force behind it all that it’s impossible not to get wrapped up, despite the familiar territory. And once it has you, it’s not letting go for anything. The first rate Smith/Lawrence chemistry is still on glorious display, but this time it’s just the icing on the cake. Carson Daly and Carrot Top could be the leads, and the film would still be watchable(though just barely), thanks to the excellent script, strong supporting cast and a high speed highway battle that tops them all, even in the “summer of the car chase”. It somehow manages to leave “T3” and “Reloaded”, not to mention the Hotwheels-by-comparison action of “2 Fast” and “The Italian Job” in the proverbial dust as boats fly, cars fall and hilarious one liners fire as quickly as the bullets. Not that the film is a one trick pony by any means. From a 360 degree shootout as gory as it is hilarious, to an epic, nation-spanning finale I couldn’t begin to describe if I wanted to, there’s never a dull moment. Finally, moviegoers can forgive Bay for “Pearl Harbor” and “Armageddon”, where he slowly honed his craft at the expense of entertaining the audience. Here, Bay shows that he has become, dare I say it, king of the blockbuster.

The director’s wild eye for violence has always been over-the-top, but here, ...