Bad Boys 2

There are plenty of reasons not to like Bad Boys 2. Yet despite its flaws, the movie actually works. Perhaps its the chemistry between its two leads, or perhaps its the way director Michael Bay pounds action sequence after action sequence. One things for sure: The film proves, ultimately, to be a perfect example of mindless summer escapism. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, lifelong friends and partners on the Miami police force. As the movie opens, Lowrey and Burnett are on the trail of Johnny Tapia (Jordi Molla), a Cuban drug dealer who is using his funeral home to smuggle Ecstasy. While Lowrey and Burnett try to gather enough evidence to stop Tapia, Burnetts sister Sydney (Gabrielle Union), a New York DEA agent, is also trying to infiltrate Tapias operation. Sydneys involvement leads to trouble, both at work and at home, as Burnett soon learns that his baby sister and partner have secretly started dating. Its been eight years since the first Bad Boys, but thats probably a good thing. I liked the first film, but I really cant remember much about it which makes the banter between Smith and Lawrence seem fresh. Both actors have good comic timing and play off each others performances well, making the films overstuffed two-and-a-half-hour running time a little easier to take. The comedic interplay also helps to soften a film that is very brutal the corpses in Tapias funeral parlor play a vital role in the smuggling. Bay (Armageddon and Pearl Harbor) has never been known as a subtle director, so it comes as no surprise that the films action pulsates from the first frame until the closing credits. While some of the action (such as a finale in Cuba that would create an international incident in the real world) doesnt quite gel, there are several action sequences that click. The highlight is an attempted heist of laundered money by a Haitian Mafia that results in a car chase rivaling that of The Matrix Reloaded. Of course, this summer has already seen plenty perhaps too many action films. While Bad Boys 2 isnt up to other summer fare such as The Italian Job and Reloaded, its still a lot of fun. And thats more than you can say for the majority of major releases in the past three months. And now for something completely different …If youre tired of bullets and explosions, then the film Whale Rider (B+, playing at Plaza 6) is definitely the right film at the right time a quiet study of a young girl trying to fulfill her destiny. Whale Rider follows a young girl named Pai (Kiesha Castle-Hughes) and her struggles with gaining her grandfathers acceptance. Pais ancestors, the Whangara, have long been believed to be the dominant ruling presence in an east coast New Zealand village. That is threatened, so Pai, the only heir, leaves her grandfather (Rawiri Paratene) to search for a worthy male heir in the village. Pai continues to fight to earn her grandfathers respect, proving in the process that she is a worthy warrior. Castle-Hughes and Paratene both give very good performances that work well together. Its refreshing to see a film so intent on showing the love and sorrow that comes from interaction between family members. I also enjoyed seeing a film that opened up a world with distinctly different cultures and beliefs. Its like a visually entertaining travel guide, without all the hassle of reading. It adds up a delightful small film that deserves to stand out in a very crowded and abrasive marketplace. Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton has never dealt drugs, been involved in a car chase or ridden a whale. But he has watched a movie or two, and hell be more than happy to tell you what he thinks of em. If you want to listen, or just want to comment on his reviews, e-mail him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.