--- title: "Bad Boys for Life: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bad-boys-for-life/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bad-boys-for-life" critics_score: 63 critics_reviews: 26 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bad Boys for Life (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 63 from 26 reviews: 11 positive, 13 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified enjoyment, with mixed notices slightly outnumbering positive ones. Praise centres on Will Smith and Martin Lawrence: their banter, comic timing and convincing affection give the familiar partnership some life. Lawrence’s reactions draw particular approval, while several critics welcome the greater attention to ageing, regret and friendship. Even reviews that find the sequel tired tend to acknowledge the appeal of its leads. The disagreement is sharper over the action and how much the series has changed. Empire praises the clear staging, while The AV Club misses the visual energy associated with Michael Bay. Reservations elsewhere cluster around the formula, overblown plotting and uneven finale. The spread runs from warm enthusiasm to outright rejection: Slant Magazine objects to the treatment of police brutality and finds that even Lawrence’s soulful performance is undermined by stale jokes. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2020. McCarthy calls it the best entry in the series, praising its heart and crowd-pleasing mix of comedy and drama. He especially singles out Smith and Lawrence, whose chemistry and performances make the familiar partnership feel fresh. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/bad-boys-life-review-1269838/) ## Empire — Chris Hewitt Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 16 January 2020. Hewitt calls it comfortably the best entry in the series, a reinvigorated and enjoyable sequel. He praises the action scenes for their clarity and easy-to-follow staging. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bad-boys-for-life/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B. 15 January 2020. Ehrlich finds the sequel a fun, thoughtful update that honors the franchise while making room for change. He especially praises the new AMMO team and its lively cast, while noting that some character deaths feel underdeveloped. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/bad-boys-for-life-review-will-smith-martin-lawrence-sequel-1202203377/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2020. Gleiberman finds the sequel more engaging than its familiar, formula-heavy premise suggests, calling it high-powered trash with a human touch. He praises Smith and Lawrence’s performances, especially the middle-aged edge and camaraderie they bring to the action-comedy. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/bad-boys-for-life-review-will-smith-martin-lawrence-1203466432/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 16 January 2020. Chang finds the film stylish, derivative and intermittently fun, with enough action to satisfy fans despite its overblown plot. He especially praises Martin Lawrence’s comic instincts and grounding presence, which complement the chemistry between the leads. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-01-16/review-bad-boys-for-life-will-smith-martin-lawrence) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page returned a browser-check screen, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No praise or complaint from the review is visible. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bad-boys-for-life-movie-review-2020) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 3/5. 17 January 2020. The critic finds the sequel surprisingly enjoyable, with a lighter mood and knowingly silly plot. She praises Will Smith and Martin Lawrence for poking fun at themselves with panache. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/bad-boys-for-life-review-will-smith-and-martin-lawrence-scoff-at-themselves-with-real-panache-a4336946.html) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 2/3/2. 16 January 2020. The review treats the film as a melancholy farewell to the franchise’s aging heroes. It singles out their struggle to remain relevant as the source of its sadness. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/bad-boys-for-life) ## The Guardian — Jordan Hoffman Rating 3/5. 15 January 2020. Hoffman finds the film’s story, politics and action weak, but says it remains an enjoyable watch. He singles out Martin Lawrence’s expressive comic reactions and the chemistry between him and Will Smith as its saving grace. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/15/bad-boys-for-life-review-martin-lawrence-will-smith) ## Time Out — Michael Gingold Rating 3/5. 15 January 2020. Gingold finds it disposable franchise entertainment rather than a meaningful reinvention. He notes it is less obnoxiously vulgar than the previous film, but still another installment. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bad-boys-for-life) ## Total Film — Jamie Graham Rating 3/5. 16 January 2020. Graham finds it a satisfying Friday-night action film and a welcome improvement over the previous installment. He praises the leads’ banter and chemistry, along with the film’s fresher direction and more self-aware tone. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/bad-boys-for-life-review/) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating C. 15 January 2020. Vishnevetsky finds the sequel underwhelming, lacking the visual energy and confident movement associated with Michael Bay. He praises the grisly Mexican prison escape sequence as the film’s most confidently directed scene. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/without-michael-bay-at-the-helm-bad-boys-for-life-is-a-1841008693) ## Radio Times — Patrick Cremona Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 16 January 2020. The review describes the belated sequel as flawed but not without appeal. It singles out the chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/bad-boys-for-life-review/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2020. Ebiri finds the film mostly slick, serviceable junk, though its strong finish makes him more open to a fourth installment. He praises the late revelations for adding moral stakes and narrative unpredictability, while giving Martin Lawrence room to shine. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/bad-boys-for-life-review-new-bad-boys-movie.html) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2020. The standfirst suggests the film is an unoriginal continuation of the franchise. It singles out the return of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, but describes the franchise as far from fresh. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/bad-boys-for-life-review/5146199.article) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 0.5/4. 15 January 2020. Cole argues that the film repeats the franchise’s toxic police-brutality politics, making its glib violence hard to excuse. He praises Martin Lawrence’s soulful performance, though he says the film ultimately turns it into material for stale jokes. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/bad-boys-for-life-review-will-smith-martin-lawrence/) ## Digital Spy — Jo Berry Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 January 2020. Berry says the long-awaited sequel is better than the original and a welcome surprise. She praises the chemistry between Smith and Lawrence, while criticizing the rather dumb climax. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a30532101/bad-boys-3-review-for-life-will-smith-martin-lawrence/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 6.5 out of 10. 15 January 2020. The critic finds the film a surprisingly entertaining, heartfelt return that ends the franchise on a high note. They especially praise Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s lively, funny banter. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/571654/bad-boys-for-life-review/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the sequel surprisingly successful, smart, funny, and emotional. They especially praise Martin Lawrence’s comic performance and the more character-focused writing. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/bad-boys-for-life-review/) ## The Ringer — Rob Harvilla Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 17 January 2020. Harvilla finds the film loud, silly, and most enjoyable as a communal theater experience. He singles out the chemistry between Smith and Lawrence, especially their heartfelt camaraderie amid the mayhem. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2020/01/17/movies/bad-boys-for-life-review-opening-weekend) ## Consequence — Mike Vanderbilt Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2020. The review finds the film an entertaining, potentially affecting conclusion to the trilogy, despite some franchise-building missteps. It praises the kinetic action filmmaking and appreciates the quieter character moments. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/01/film-review-bad-boys-for-life/) ## Paste — Dom Sinacola Rating 6.0. 16 January 2020. Sinacola finds the film better than expected but short of what the franchise demands. He praises Will Smith’s ability to convey Mike’s sadness and regret, while faulting the film’s smaller, less visceral action and forgettable finale. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/bad-boys/bad-boys-for-life-review) ## Film Stories — George Nash Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 January 2020. The review finds the sequel silly but more mature than its predecessors, with stronger emotional stakes. It particularly praises the goofy camaraderie between Smith and Lawrence. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/bad-bays-for-life-review-the-sequel-thats-grown-up-just-a-bit/) ## NME — Jordan Bassett Rating 3/5. 16 January 2020. The critic calls it baggy and dumb but the best film in the trilogy. They praise its playful send-up of Michael Bay’s style and its entertaining action set-pieces. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/bad-boys-for-life-review-baggy-dumb-and-kind-of-pointless-but-still-better-than-the-last-two-films-2597991) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 17 January 2020. The critic finds the sequel an amusing throwback but also a tired retread, with its appeal resting on familiar pleasures. Smith and Lawrence’s comic chemistry stands out as the film’s brightest spot. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/bad-boys-for-life-film-review-will-smith-martin-lawrence-3-2020/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 2.5/5. 15 January 2020. Kaye finds the film exhausting and mostly empty, despite occasional crowd-pleasing moments. He praises the directors’ clearer, more coherent action, especially a showstopping vehicular pursuit. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/bad-boys-for-life-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bad-boys-for-life.md