Yes, that shirtless scene really did make Will Smith a movie star. But perhaps more specifically: this shot. All the reasons why I love Bad Boys is here.

Bad Boys took two of our favourite household sitcom stars and made them action heroes. I can't think of a mainstream studio action movie before it that paired two Black actors and let their swagger carry the movie.

And then there's that Michael Bay aesthetic, where he takes every possible opportunity at swooping, glistening, slow-motion shots that are built specifically with the trailer in mind.

The reason Michael Bay movies feel like parody now is because he can now afford to make every shot a stand alone money shot.

And his movies since Armageddon felt more and more like feature-length trailers.

But in Bad Boys and The Rock, there was room to breathe, build up some action narrative coherence and earn those money shots.

And let's not forget the soundtrack.

Thanks for tuning into all the reasons why Bad Boys was 13-year-old Rad's favourite movie of all time (at least for that brief period where I must have watched it fifty times).

Trying to stay optimistic about Bad Boys For Life. But yikes at the guys who directed it. https://nowtoronto.com/movies/black_1/