41
Metascore
24 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 63San Francisco ExaminerSan Francisco ExaminerWith more sophisticated writing, one suspects they could really soar: Even here, slowed by clunky, character-establishing lines and an all-devouring plot, they hit more often than they miss.
- 60VarietyTodd McCarthyVarietyTodd McCarthyCrucially, the teaming of standup favorite and "Martin" star Lawrence and "Fresh Prince" Smith clicks from the outset, with both right at home handling action and comedy on the bigscreen. Even when it's not particularly funny, their interplay is engaging, and their lively, raucous personalities keep the proceedings punchy and watchable for the slightly overlong running time.
- 50Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertWhom do they make these movies for? What exercise in self-deception inspires them to go to such effort and expense for what is obviously going to be a lame exercise in retreadmanship?
- 50TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineAside from the racial twist, this is pretty conventional fare, but it's consistently diverting.
- 50Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranThough audiences will leave theaters with an increased appreciation of this pair's talents, they will also leave pondering the perennial Hollywood question: How come so little of interest could be found for performers who are capable of so much more?
- 50San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleBenefits from Smith and Lawrence's chemistry. As long as they're on screen together, things breeze along. But when they're apart, the movie flounders.
- 50ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliThere's only so far a movie can go on loud music, nicely-framed shots, testosterone, and adrenaline. Bad Boys takes the often-traveled road, and leads the audience to a dead end.
- 30Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonEven by the low-low standards of cheap action flicks, this one's bad, boys.
- 30Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovAustin ChronicleMarc SavlovFrom the swooping aerial shots of downtown Miami, to the long, long-legged beauties that seem to crop up every time the action threatens to slow down, to the nonsensical lack of logic that permeates the film like the acrid odor of wasted cordite, Bad Boys oozes Eighties Hollywood clichés like no film since "Top Gun."
- 0Chicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumChicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumFormulaic sass machine... I was writhing in my seat.