Plot
When a Harvard-educated CIA agent is killed during an operation, the secret agency recruits his twin brother.

Release Year: 2002

Rating: 5.4/10 (23,297 voted)

Critic's Score: 37/100

Director: Joel Schumacher

Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Chris Rock, Peter Stormare

Storyline
When a CIA agent is killed during a nuclear arms purchase, his partner Oakes, recruits his twin brother, Jake Hayes. Jake had no idea he had a twin brother, let alone that he worked for the CIA. Jake, a.k.a. Michael Turner, has nine days to fill his brother's place. However, the enemy terrorists learn of his secret identity and kidnap his girlfriend/fiancee. He has to rescue them and save New York city from an imminent nuclear terrorist act.

Writers: Gary M. Goodman, David Himmelstein

Cast:
Anthony Hopkins - Officer Oakes
Chris Rock - Jake Hayes / Kevin Pope / Michael Turner
Peter Stormare - Adrik Vas
Gabriel Macht - Officer Seale
Kerry Washington - Julie
Adoni Maropis - Jarma / Dragan Henchman #1
Garcelle Beauvais - Nicole (as Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon)
Matthew Marsh - Dragan Adjanic
Dragan Micanovic - Michelle 'The Hammer' Petrov
John Slattery - Roland Yates
Brooke Smith - Officer Swanson
Daniel Sunjata - Officer Carew
DeVone Lawson Jr. - Officer Parish
Wills Robbins - Officer McCain
Marek Vasut - Andre

Taglines: The World is in Good Hands

Official Website: Official Website | bventertainment [United States]-trailer |

Release Date: 7 June 2002

Filming Locations: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $11,007,367 (USA) (9 June 2002) (2944 Screens)

Gross: $65,977,295 (Worldwide)

Runtime: 116 min  | Spain: 125 min

Trivia:
Originally titled "Black Sheep" until it was discovered that there was already a film with that title, Black Sheep. That film starred David Spade and the late Chris Farley, who both co-starred with Chris Rock on Saturday Night Live. Ironically, the new title "Bad Company," is also the name of a 1995 film, Bad Company.

Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When the agents are setting up in the warehouse just before the chase in the countryside, you can see the dolly track below the camera in two shots.

Quotes:
[first lines]
Adrik Vas: Your friend is late.
Michael Turner: He'll be here.
Adrik Vas: Yeah, I *do* have other bidders.
Michael Turner: I personally vouch for this man.
Adrik Vas: Oh, well I trust you Michael. You see, each degree of separation comes with a degree of uncertainty.

Clichéd, undistinguished but still brainless fun

Rating:

Hayes is a suave, distinguished spy with the CIA who is part of a set up to buy a stolen nuclear weapon and then capture those involved. When he is killed mid-operation, his handler goes to the only man who can replace him, his twin brother. However his brother Jake is a hustler in New York City and not spy material. Oakes has nine days to get him ready to take over his brother's identity and take up the assignment.

Despite the awful reviews, I still decided to give this film a go because I was in the mood for a dumb film that really didn't require me to think even once: this was that film! The film deserved every bad review it got - the only thing you need to worry about is whether or not you can accept the massive weakness or not. The plot is a real shambles and if you think about it logically then it all goes to hell. The idea that this is a reasonable plot, even for this type of film, is absurd. The script backs this up with dialogue that is fitting for a stupid comedy but not for the situations in the plot (`does it play dvd's?' or dialogue about Dr's Dre and Irving while trying to stall terrorists). Some of it is funny, but to be honest, if you dislike Chris Rock then there will be practically nothing for you.

The plot brings the bomb back to the US towards the end in an effort to inject tension and urgency into the action, but it doesn't really work. The action is reasonably slick but it isn't ever really exciting - only polished like a product. The action, like everything else, is quite clichéd and not distinctive enough to really stand out from the crowd of other action movies. The gags about race are subtle but still quite broad in the style of Rock. I didn't find it offensive, but I never really understand why films have to constantly perpetuate racial myths such as all black people listen to hip hop and like certain sports etc. Some of it is funny though.

Rock is the main reason for this; as I said, if you like him then you should enjoy this as most of the comedy is driven by him (even if nothing is anywhere near the sharpness of his act). He is not very funny but he helps the film have an overall comic tone that works pretty well Hopkins is totally slumming it. He manages an air of cool detachment but the material is way below him and his autopilot light is on the whole time. Stomare is poor and none of the villains really bring genuine menace - Eastern European hoods and clichés that they are. Beauvais is sexy - but that is all she is here for, to put on black underwear! Her character breezes in and breezes out with no real reason or consequence, plainly all she is here for is to have a bit of sexy black ass in there - something that Washington doesn't bring.

Overall this is a slickly made film that is clichéd, absurd, undistinguished and not as entertaining as it intends to be. Despite the fact that the film is very average and not really one to stand out, it can be quite enjoyable if you are ready for that. If you can turn off your brain and lower your standards then this can be OK, however just don't expect it to be great no matter what you do.

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