Detective Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) has a new grandson. This has him rethinking his future on the police force. He is realizing that family is more important than anything. His partner Mike Lowery (Will Smith), thinks this is ridiculous and makes fun of Marcus for being old and wanting to retire. When things get personal, Marcus agrees to join Mike for “one last time.”

Working with AMMO, the Miami Police Departments new high tech team, Marcus and Mike are paired with a group of young cops who spend most of their time in front of computers using modern techniques to solve crimes. Mike’s old school methods and tactics may get things done, but they tend to cause more problems than doing things by the book. What follows is a case that will, of course put their lives on the line as they try to track down a ruthless killer who has been targeting high profile targets.

Following up on Bad Boys II, almost 15 years after the fact, Bad Boys for Life is your typical “I’m getting too old for this” buddy cop movie that has a bit of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence flair.

If you’ve never seen Bad Boys or Bad Boys II, or if it’s been a decade since you’ve seen them, let me get you up to speed. Marcus and Mike are partners in the Miami Police Department. They go up against a lot of dangerous characters. They don’t follow procedures. A lot of people die, usually the bad guys. They usually find themselves in danger. Their captain (Joe Pantoliano) gets mad at them. That’s it. That’s about all you need to know.

Bad Boys for Life follows pretty much the same pattern, adding in the trope of old cops who do things their way partnered with young cops who use technology. It’s pretty standard stuff. OF course, Lawrence and Smith handle both the action and comedy well enough. The AMMO team is a mixed bag. It is led by Rita, played by Paola Nuñez. Nuñez’s performance swings between stiff and stunted to fine, depending on the scene. I feel she was cast as eye candy to play a potential love interest for Smith. The rest of the cast perform at the level you expect, even if the villains of the movie are a little overdone and underdeveloped.

If you have seen the previous films, or have any idea what they’re about, you know exactly what you will be getting. Bad Boys for Life is fine for what it is, a January sequel to a 25 year old buddy cop movie franchise. The action is intense and nonstop. The jokes land, for the most part. And the acting is passable. It is a fine movie, but don’t go in expecting anything spectacular. It’s a mindless two hour action comedy that you can just sit back and enjoy.