When I saw the promotional material for Bad Boys 3, the immediate reaction was surprise that someone had made a third film in this franchise. Not that it is bad (although it is not great) but it isn't a film I expected to see in 2020. I watched it anyway because I thought it might be fun - but I was wrong because it wasn't. It very much feels tired and pointless; maybe a different film was sold to those involved, but this feels churned out and lacking in energy. The plot has no roots, with contrivances and developments just thrown onto the table whenever some device is needed. It makes for a very hollow experience - and I say that as someone that went into this pretty much happy to get a generic action movie, as long as it was a fun one.
While the plot is undeniably a mess, this was to be expected. The attempt at age-related reflection and repercussions doesn't fly one bit, and seems forced into a franchise that has never even glanced in the rear view mirror. What is a bigger disappointment is that the action and comedy is lacklustre. The second film was not great, but it had some very enjoyable action sequences, and plenty of excess. In this one there is the excess, but not much to enjoy in the same way. I didn't really find any of the action sequences to be thrilling or well delivered; they seemed obvious and overdone. The comedy is the harder thing to see fail - but it does it to itself by failing to make more of Martin Lawrence. In order to make the reflection and aging of Smith's character more engaging and real, it was important that Lawrence could be his anchor in a way that is grounded and funny. Lawrence does do that, but the film doesn't make enough of him - he feels side-lined for too long, and his material is not strong enough to get the good from him. Smith does his best, looks great doing it, but his material is hard going whether it is his unfunny banter, or the heavier material that we are supposed to care about. The supporting cast are decent but nothing more than that because there is not much for them to do.
In the end, this is a so-so film at best, but not one that inspires much excitement or justifies its mid-credits cocky link to a fourth film. It has a lot of money and polish, but there isn't much heart to any of it - not from the people involved, or from the viewer (who will mostly be passively watching).
While the plot is undeniably a mess, this was to be expected. The attempt at age-related reflection and repercussions doesn't fly one bit, and seems forced into a franchise that has never even glanced in the rear view mirror. What is a bigger disappointment is that the action and comedy is lacklustre. The second film was not great, but it had some very enjoyable action sequences, and plenty of excess. In this one there is the excess, but not much to enjoy in the same way. I didn't really find any of the action sequences to be thrilling or well delivered; they seemed obvious and overdone. The comedy is the harder thing to see fail - but it does it to itself by failing to make more of Martin Lawrence. In order to make the reflection and aging of Smith's character more engaging and real, it was important that Lawrence could be his anchor in a way that is grounded and funny. Lawrence does do that, but the film doesn't make enough of him - he feels side-lined for too long, and his material is not strong enough to get the good from him. Smith does his best, looks great doing it, but his material is hard going whether it is his unfunny banter, or the heavier material that we are supposed to care about. The supporting cast are decent but nothing more than that because there is not much for them to do.
In the end, this is a so-so film at best, but not one that inspires much excitement or justifies its mid-credits cocky link to a fourth film. It has a lot of money and polish, but there isn't much heart to any of it - not from the people involved, or from the viewer (who will mostly be passively watching).