This is a debate that I have basically had my whole life a debate I had at the lunch tables, the barber shop and now recently in the work place. Both Rush Hour and Bad Boys are two franchises that are a staple in the pop culture community stamped as some of the best comedy films of all time. Rush Hour did a great job of blending African American and Asian culture. The Rush Hour films showed the difference between cultures similarities between cultures and the ability too enjoy both cultures. Two people from different walks of life can form a long time friendship. Bad Boys helped us realize that even though friends may be going through different phases in life true friends will always have our back " We Ride together We Die together Bad Boys For Life". So today I will be going round by round and breaking down the films against each other and pick a winner each round.
Round 1 Rush Hour vs Bad Boys
Bad Boys 1 came out in 1995 directed by Michael Bay Will Smith and Martin Lawrence starred in a buddy cop action film. The chemistry between Martin Lawrence and Will Smith was on display. Will Smith played Mike Lowry a cop who was also an attractive bachelor all the girls loved officer Mike Lowry. Martin Lawrence played Marcus Bennett a married cop who loves his family and all he wants to do is do his job and get home to his wife and children. Lowry and Marcus grew up together and decided to work together for the Miami Police department. While working on a big time case involving a french drug king pin. To keep a witness safe Mike and Marcus had to pretend to be each other. Marcus had to be a single bachelor and Mike had to stay at Marcus house and be a family man. This created great jokes like when Mike called Marcus's wife in front of him to discuss plans for the night or when Julie who was the witness on the case thought Marcus who was pretending to be Mike was gay for having so many pictures of Mike on his wall.
The first installment of Rush Hour was released in 1998 directed by Brett Ratner was a global smash. Rush Hour had a good balance of comedy and action. Jackie Chan played Detective Inspector Lee a legendary Chinese offier who is the right hand too Consol Han. Chris Tucker played detective James Carter a slick talking selfish LAPD detective. The two were very different but had some similarities both of their fathers were cops who died on the job and both are dedicated too solving tough cases by all means.Both Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker complimented each other on both comedy and action. Jackie had some hilarious moments like when he was waiting for Chris Tucker in the bar and goes up to the bartender and says "what's up my N-word". He then had to fight for his life in the bar. Chris Tucker also stepped into Jackie's world and had some good action moments as he held his own against the movies villain Sang and his goons and was the one to kill Sang.
When I have too decide what movie was better I would have too say Rush hour because the plot was better and Chris Tucker was the better comedian between him and Martin Lawrence in the film. Martin was really good but Chris Tucker was excellent. He had so many moments of inappropriate comedic genius. When he said to Sang"I've been looking all over for you're sweet and sour chicken ass". That would never be allowed to come out today but in the 90's it was accepted. Even Jackie saying the N- word wouldn't be allowed today. Nobody looked at it as racist it was just funny. Rush Hour was a movie where African Americans and Asian Americans could laugh at themselves while also showing the appreciation of both cultures. Scenes like when Carter is asking Lee what he should order at the chinese food truck and him actually enjoying a big box of grease as he suggested the chinese dish looked like. Or Carter showed Lee's goofy ass how too do the War while Yee turned around and showed him karate techniques. That type of chemistry is special and despite Martin and Will being friends before Bad Boys was shot they couldn't get to the level in which Jackie and Chris reached.
Round 1: Rush Hour
Round 2: Rush Hour 2 vs Bad Boys 2
This was the closest round Rush Hour 2 is the best movie in the Rush Hour trilogy and Bad Boys 2 was the best film in the Bad Boys trilogy. These two films have some similarities including new love interests for the main characters Lee in Rush Hours and Mike in Bad Boys. Mike started dating Marcus's little sister without consulting Marcus this caused arguments and lack of trust between the two and Lee fell for a Secret Agent named Isabell who was supposed to distract Lee from a case but ended up falling for his kindness and charm. Rush Hour 2 was released in 2001 and Bad Boys 2 was released in 2002. Rush Hour 2 would take place in China this time on detective Lee's home court. Detective Lee and Carter collaborated to take down the man who killed his father Ricky Tan who was also Lee's fathers police partner. Lee got his revenge kicking the hell out of Ricky Tan through a window.
In the second installment of Bad Boys the film has one of the funniest intros of all time. Mike and Marcus took down a bunch of KKK members in a shoot out. The shootout resulted in Marcus getting shot in butt. In this film Marcus is trying to live a more low key stress less life. He's been going too therapy and spending more time with his family. Mike who really has no family loves being a gun slinging, smooth talker who is a bachelor by day cop by night. He loves getting into shoot outs and putting himself into dangerous situations. Marcus decides to make a change and puts in a request change and he no longer wants to be Mike's partner. This news hurt Mike as Marcus is his best friend and the only family he has. The two were tasked with taking down a Cuban drug lord named Jon Tapia. Marcus sister who was an undercover DEA agent was working the same case as Mike and Marcus. Marcus later finds out that Mike has been dating his sister Sydney who was played by Gabrielle Union. Mike and Marcus had to save her as she was kidnapped by Tapia and taken to Cuba. Mike Marcus, the Miami PD and DEA traveled too Cuba too save Sydney. Michael Bay improved this time around as the action scenes were well put together and didn't just rely on explosions. The last scene where Marcus shoots Tapia in the head saving Mike and Tapia falls down and his body explodes as he falls on a landmine was awesome. The slow motion was great the way Tapia fell down too his death as his soul left his body poetic. Mike yelling" Now that's how you shoot!" Was epic as he makes his way too make out with Sydney in front of Marcus was a heck of a way to end the movie.
Rush Hour 2 was about Lee finding peace about the murder of his father. Carter comes to China as he is on vacation from the LAPD. Carter thought he would enjoy China meet some women go clubbing all vacation but for the most part all he really did was help Lee work his cases including trying too take down the leader of the most powerful gang in China Ricky Tan was also Lee's fathers partner and was responsible for Lee's father death. Lee tells Carter about his father and how much he wants to bring down Ricky Tan so the two travel to America too take down Ricky Tan the Triads and Millionaire Steven Rain who was in business with Ricky Tan. With the help of DEA Agent Isabella Milina. Lee and Carter have a little competition about who she was into more but she eventually chose Lee is kind soft spoken and brave. Not only did Lee have the love of a beautiful woman but he had the release of a burden off his back as he got his revenge by kicking Ricky Tan out of a window as he fell too his death after. Ricky was so confident that Lee would not hurt him as he bragged about killing Lee's father a big mistake that ended up being his last. Lee was finally able to put his past to rest as he even gave Carter his fathers old police badge showing Carter how much of a brother he is to him. .
What made these two movies so great was not only the comedy but the bond that these characters developed between each other. Even when Marcus who no longer wanted to be partners with Mike knows he can rely on him to not only save his sister but make sure his daughter's date knew that you better treat his niece right. "SPEAK UP REGGIE!" That scene made every father relate to Marcus and Mike I could imagine how many fathers and there friends have reenacted this scene. Rush Hour 2 made us realize that you don't have too lie too your friends or feel like you can't share something with them. No matter what a true friend will help you through anything and get over anything .Jackie Chan also was better in this film in every aspect including his English accent, comedic timing and his karate moves.
Martin Lawrence was more funny in this movie than in the last movie but Chris Tucker was generational. I'm surprised too say that because I think Martin is a way funnier comedian but Bad Boys just wasn't his best work and Rush Hour is some of Chris best work. Martin made it close enough with the Reggie scene, the Hatian shoot out scene and when he was accidentally high on drugs. Chris stole the show with lines like "We could have made a good couple we could have been something special but you are one crazy ass B-word" Or when they were at the massage parlor choosing girls and Lee interrupted when it seemed like Carter was going too pick every girl at the parlor too massage him. The fight scene at the parlor was some of the best scenes in cinema. A creative blend of comedy and action on display. Bad Boys 2 had some scenes like this but not to this level. Although it is close between both movies I have too give the edge too Rush Hour 2. I think Kung Fu Kenny was the deciding factor.
Round 2: Rush Hour 2
Round 3: Rush Hour 3 vs Bad Boys For Life
Both of these movies are the worst in their trilogies it's just a matter of which one was worse. Rush Hour 3 was pretty funny. The french taxi driver who hated Americans and almost got beat up by Carter for insulting Americans, the NBA and even Halle Berry by the end of the movie wanted to be an American living on the run chasing bad guys. The opening scene of Carter dancing too Prince while directing traffic is one of Carters best scenes in the trilogy. Lee once again had some demons to battle as this time he was facing his old foster brother Kenji someone who Lee admired but had too take down. The two had an epic face off on the Eiffel tower which results in Kenji falling too his death even after Lee tries to save him.
In Bad Boys for life was going through a mid life crises. He had no family and no longer was that young hot shot Cop. His skills were fading and even got shot ending up in a coma for months. Mike was determined to get his revenge. Marcus who once again wanted to settle down and retire came to Mike's aid and helped him.Mike finds out that his past has come down to bite him in the back side. Back in the day Mike was working undercover officer where he fell in love with Isabelle Areta's widow of a drug king pin and had plans on running away together until Mike realized how dangerous she was. She ended up having a son Mike's son and now Mike had to deal with a younger more ruthless version of him. With Marcus on his side, a younger team and a new love interest Mike took down Isabelle and opened a new chapter in his life as an Uncle to Marcus grandson and a father to his son.
I hate to give Rush Hour a clean sweep over Bad Boys but B that is the case. Rush Hour 3 had bad moments but it was a more enjoyable film than Bad Boys For Life . Rush Hour 3 had some of the funniest moments of the trilogy. Bad Boys 3 did not really have any stand out moments although I did think it was a well written story. But how can Bad Boys 3 compete with the scene where Carter thinks Lee is taking care of business but actually fighting for his life "Come on Crouching Tiger don't hide that dragon" . Both of these films are a huge part of pop culture as Will Smith, Jackie Chan, Martin Lawrence and Chris Tucker are all legends you have done great things before and after Rush Hour and Bad Boys. All six of these movies are some of the best action movies of all time. Rush Hour just slightly has the edge.
Round 3: Rush Hour 3
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