August 12, 2020
'Bad Boys'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Logan Murdock hop in Mike Lowrey's Porsche and head to Miami to rewatch the 1995 action comedy 'Bad Boys' starring Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, and Tea Leoni.
Cast
Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett
Will Smith as Mike Lowrey
Tea Leoni as Julie Mott
Joe Pantoliano as Captain Howard
Tcheky Karyo as Fouchet
Michael Imperioli as JoJo
Directed by: Michael Bay
Notes
- The script was originally written for Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz under the title 'Bulletproof Hearts.' Bay, Smith, and Lawrence all hated the inherited script, so much of the dialogue was improvised.
- Michael Bay's first feature film. His personal 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo was used as Will Smith's car because they didn't have budget for one. Bay also spent $25,000 out of his own pocket for a key explosion.
- $17 million budget, grossed $141.4 million. Dark scenes were intentionally dark to hide cheap sets.
- Martin Lawrence had top billing and had to vouch for Will Smith to get cast. At that point, Lawrence had 'Boomerang', You So Crazy, and the Martin show; Smith only had a sitcom and Six Degrees of Separation.
- Will Smith refused to say 'I love you too' in the ending scene and argued with Michael Bay about it for half a day before Bay guilt-tripped him into it.
- 'Bad Boys' was the first buddy cop movie with two Black leads, 14 years into the genre (starting from 48 Hours in 1982).
- Tea Leoni was accidentally knocked out by Martin Lawrence's stunt double, hit by an AK-47 prop, and hospitalized.
Categories
Most re-watchable scene
- The opening Porsche scene (improvised by Smith and Lawrence): 'No cup holder, no back seat, just a shiny dick with two chairs in it.'
- The baloney scene – Tea Leoni talks Martin Lawrence out of eating his sandwich by describing how baloney is made.
- The hotel lobby shootout with Will Smith running in slow-motion with his shirt open. Bay told Smith: 'This is going to make you a movie star.'
What aged the best?
- Younger Will Smith – his movie star presence is undeniable from the first scene.
- Miami as a backdrop – the city as a character has only gotten more appreciated.
- The comedy/banter between Smith and Lawrence.
- Tupac's 'Me Against the World' playing during the apartment scene – roots the movie in 1995.
What aged the worst?
- The Michael Jordan retirement joke – MJ had already come back before the movie even opened in theaters.
- Police malpractice throughout the film – no warrants, no Miranda rights, shooting people in the back. 'Every instance is now triggering to watch.'
- Martin Lawrence's wardrobe – vests over tank tops, 90s fashion that has NOT come back.
- The Club Hell car chase – feels shoehorned in.
Casting what-ifs
- Originally written for Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz. Carvey backed out after a horrifying Las Vegas trip with Don Simpson.
- Arsenio Hall turned down Mike Lowrey (now says it's the worst mistake he ever made).
- Laurence Fishburne also turned down Mike Lowrey (also turned down Jules in 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Die Hard' 3).
Best "that guy"
- Joey Pants (Joe Pantoliano) automatically wins because he's in the movie (house rule).
- Michael Imperioli as JoJo – the doofus informant.
- Tcheky Karyo – 'nobody knows how to say his name, so they just know him as that guy from 'Bad Boys'.'
Re-casting couch
- Halle Berry for the Tea Leoni role – would have brought charisma and a comedic side.
- Jennifer Aniston for the Tea Leoni role (Van's pick) – citing her energy in She's the One.
Half-assed (internet) research
- Heavy improvisation: Smith calling Lawrence 'a bitch' (Lawrence got genuinely mad). The entire liquor store scene was improvised.
- Michael Bay used Gatorade mixed with Coca-Cola for fake urine in the Club Hell urinal scene.
- Bay convinced Smith to do the open-shirt hotel lobby scene, then later claimed he deserved half of all Smith's salary for making him a star.
Apex Mountain
- Martin Lawrence – debated. Bill says yes (Martin show + this movie = peak juice).
- Club Hell – yes (Bill jokes it never got better for Club Hell).
- Mid-1990s Porsche – yes.
Picking nits
- Why didn't they tell Julie earlier that Mike was Marcus and Marcus was Mike?
- Julie sees all of Mike's personal photos and still doesn't realize the bait-and-switch.
- Julie wears the same clothes for six straight days and still looks great.
Who won the movie?
Will Smith – 'becomes the biggest movie star in the world within three years because of this movie.' Van: 'Martin won the battle, Will won the war.'
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- Did this movie's identity-switch premise lead to 'Face/Off' (1997)?
- What is the deal with Mike Lowrey's trust fund? They casually mention it but never explain it across three movies.