BAD BOYS II is the sequel to 1995's ... now what was that name? Although downright exhilarating in a small dose, this buddy action picture, again pairing Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett and Will Smith as Mike Lowrey, becomes an endurance contest for the audience. Some of the jokes may be funny and the chemistry cute, but most of the movie is like getting stuck on an amusement park ride when the operator goes on a very long lunch break and forgets about you.

With fast camera work and editors paid by the cut, the movie's greatest fear is that it may lose its viewer if it ever slows down for a microsecond. They've got one-hundred-and-fifty-million dollars to spend, so the picture has to have major mayhem in every scene.

In addition to its few humorous moments, as Miami officers Burnett and Lowrey chase the villains, the only other thing the movie has to offer is Gabrielle Union as Burnett's younger sister and a competing DEA agent. Union isn't a convincing action hero, but she does bring a sexy swagger to her role that takes your mind off of the death and dismemberment on the screen. Please, no BAD BOYS III.

BAD BOYS II runs 2:27. It is rated R for "strong violence and action, pervasive language, sexuality and drug content" and would be acceptable for most teenagers.

My son Jeffrey, age 14, gave it *** 1/2. One of Jerry Bruckheimer's biggest fans, he thought the movie was as good as or even better than BAD BOYS. He loved the action and said that he laughed much more this time.