Very much enjoyed this sequel, it's pretty much a you get what you expect blockbuster with the bad boys sauce all over it. From the familiar bad boys tune, to the miami setting, the action and camaraderie between the leads it hits every check mark well. Lawrence is still his comedic self and Smith the cool one and it's not getting tired yet. As it is also referred to in the film these two actors and characters just complete each other well and that chemistry is appealing. The baddie in this is pretty lame, but I like how they kept Smith's latin son in the story and Lawrence son had something to do too. The action is well above par too, and the apparent budget of around $100m is well spend. The film doesn't re-invent any wheels and I miss a kind of prestige or original factor with this to make it really stand out, but it's just a fun and entertaining ride throughout. Also Smith still showed me he has that movie star charisma few actors have, he's simply a cool dude made for blockbuster spectacle.

B+

Pretty entertaining. Builds off the other films and doesn't feel like a lazy sequel.

Awesome. 9.2/10

I wasn't looking forward to seeing it (loved the first one in 1995, didn't like the second one and never saw the third) but I was pleasantly surprised. This is both entertaining and captivating enough. Action was good.

B+

“It’s not my time.”

All I kept thinking was that the captain was kind of vague when he said that being in the afterlife and all. The captain said it wasn’t his time, but what if he meant today? So what about tomorrow? Marcus spends the movie acting with a devil-may-care attitude, but I’d need more specifics from the beyond.

I need to rewatch “for Life” but I feel like this has the best action in the series aside from the second one (minus the nihilism). All the action is well directed, choreographed, thrilling, and imaginative. This is also the first action movie I’ve seen to really capitalize on drone photography.

Eric Dane is kind of a forgettable villain but he might be the best in the series. He’s ruthless. He makes multiple people do his bidding and then just shoots them point blank anyways.

I kind of wish that it didn’t sag in the middle and was kind of funnier*, but I’d say this is the second best in the series.

*I feel like the series needs its Joe Pesci/Leo Getz character. It needs a comedic ringer. I wonder what Chris Rock is up to?

Rhea Seehorn looks like Lily Rabe, June Diane Raphael, and Jessica St. Clair somehow conceived a child.

B+

I think Lawrence already provides that comedic role, another character like that feels like it would be too much.

Reggie turning into John Wick was some MCU-level long term payoff. Loved it. Probably my second favorite scene in the whole series besides the highway chase in BB2.

Also, Will Smith getting slapped over and over and over and over again was amazing. I had a small audience at lincoln center imax 1pm Monday showing, but they reacted to all the right parts. Even the Bay cameo got a huge laugh.