The Miami PD has $100 million of seized-heroin get stolen from their evidence locker in an expert heist. Narcotics detectives Marcus Burnett (a family-man who can’t get any from his paranoid wife) and Mike Lowrey (a wealthy bachelor? orphan?—like a black Batman, without the gadgets?), are tasked with finding the culprit. Max, a police informant and Mike’s ex-girlfriend, takes the investigation into her own hands and is shot by the Mafia. Her friend Julie witnesses the murder and narrowly escapes capture. Julie calls the police department but refuses to talk to anyone but Mike Lowrey. However, Mike is absent, so Marcus pretends to be him and takes Julie into his protection. Hilarity ensues as Mike and Marcus pretend to be each other and deal with Julie’s high-maintenance needs, all while trying to re-secure the largest drug bust of their careers. Oh, and there will be explosions. Lots of them. With fire.
I went into this flick excited for a Will Smith movie produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. But what I somehow missed was that the film was directed by Michael Bay—whoops! His directorial debut, too. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are actually fun and working hard with what little they have. I think I wanted more from each of their characters. Why was Mike rich, alone, and why does he push himself so hard? Why can Marcus not talk to his wife? I know this film is a silly action flick that doesn’t ask for the benefit of the doubt, but there were glimpses when these characters almost felt real and it never quite got there. I don’t know how else to critique this film. It was fun, and entertaining. I laughed and mostly enjoyed the ride. But despite $100 million in heroin going missing in the first act, it never ever felt like there were real stakes. I was disappointed, not because this a popcorn action flick—but because I sense there’s a better movie hidden inside of it. Then again, this is a film franchise based on a reggae song.