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List Price: $14.99 | | Label: Walt Disney Video
Salesrank: 23225
Released: November 12, 2002 |
| Our Price: $4.60 |
| Used Price: $0.37 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Academy Award(R)-winner Anthony Hopkins (Best Actor, 1991, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) and the irrepressible Chris Rock star in this spy action thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat! Veteran CIA agent Gaylord Oakes (Hopkins) must recruit streetwise punk Jake Hayes (Rock) when Jake's identical twin brother is killed in the line of duty. With only nine days to complete a nuclear weapons negotiation, Jake has to go from smart talking to smooth operating and convince all parties he is the sophisticated brother he never knew. From Prague to New York the chase is on and the clock is ticking when more than a preemptive arms deal goes "bad."
Description of Bad Company:
Bad Company boasts all the gloss one expects from A-list Hollywood talent, but you get a lot of chaff with the wheat. Pay attention to Anthony Hopkins as a weary CIA veteran, and you'll see the reliable work of an old pro giving his best in the absence of challenge. That sums up this movie, however: Hopkins and costar Chris Rock are already fighting clichés when Rock is recruited into the CIA after his identical twin brother (they'd been separated at birth) is killed in the line of duty. Rock and Hopkins must carry out a sting against nuclear terrorists, but apart from this coincidental similarity to The Sum of All Fears, director Joel Schumacher seems asleep at the wheel, rotely crafting a thriller without thrills for Pearl Harbor producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Those expecting comedy from Rock will be disappointed; Bad Company reins him in, and that restraint affects the rest of the movie. --Jeff Shannon
Bad Company Reviews:
Routine Action Film 
2009-11-07 - Admittedly, I had never heard of Chris Rock until looking him up a moment ago. I had the impression he was playing the stereotyped civilian type dragged into action but felt that he did so in a style somewhat similar to what the public knew him for. Apparently, that is roughly correct. At any rate, while generically suitable to the role of unwilling sidekick to a veteran CIA agent, I found it grating in its particulars. Perhaps, that was only a personal response. Anthony Hopkins, wildly miscast, or rather, cast against type, as always, turns in a highly professional performance. For the rest it is into and out of trouble, lots of shooting, yelliing, car chases, derring do and general violence which are entertaining if it's your night for that.
So, I can recommend it as a no-brainer with well-done fireworks. some plot to provide continuity, and a generally acceptable cast to while away a couple of hours harmlessly.
Bad Company 
2008-11-25 - Bad Company has nothing to do with the ledgendary Southern Rock band of the 70's. This is a well acted, suspensful production with many twists and turns which usually do not work in a film with Chris Rock as the co-star. I was greatly impressed with Chris Rock's ability to deliver a top-notch performance throughout the entire movie. Of course there were a few places where he added comedy pieces, but they were well placed and effective. One can be supremely confident Sir Anthony Hopkins has never given a less than steller performance in any movie he has made, Bad Company is no exception. Antony Hopkins portreys a top agent and handler of the look-alike brother of another agent (Chris Rock). The movie is filled with suspense, intregue and action. Do yourself a favor and put Bad Company near the top of your list of movies to own.
Action and comedy at their worst 
2008-03-25 - Bad Company wasn't a perfect film and it could have been. With the direction of Joel Schumacher and the on screen partnership of Chris Rock & Anthony Hopkinks but I was wrong. The film is slowly paced and Chris Rock looked bored in the role. Skip this one even if you're a diehard Rock fan.
More Than Expected! 
2007-06-06 - I don't usually watch a film too concerned about who is in it, who produced and directed it. If any of these are familiar, so much the better (e.g., Tony Scott). First of all, the pairing of Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock was simply a surprise. The soundtrack is excellent (and who cares if any of it was used before?). It begins as what looks like a fairly serious film (several killings in Prague) and then BAM! it is a comedy. If they spent any time showing how they figured out that Michael Turner (Kevin Pope's alias) had a twin brother (the husling Jake Hayes) it would have spoiled the film completely.
Much of the hilarity and charm of this film comes from that BAM--and it comes through. Does anyone expect Anthony Hopkins to be anything but dry as an FBI Agent? I mean, his boss, after all, seems to be 30 years younger than him. Why is he taking orders? Why does he have a crew of geeky 30-somethings to handle, as well as groom Jake Hayes for a critical job?
It isn't perfect. I'll bet Chris Rock made up 40% of his lines on the spot (like, what does C.I.A. stand for?). Anyone expecting "Three Days of the Condor" gets what is expected, disappointment. Taken for what it is (such as, why is one of the head criminals an ex-K.G.B. Colonel named "Vas" which is at best an OLD nickname for an out-of-date Russian first name.....it moves, it is funny, and is definitely worth two viewings, so at least, well, $9.99. And there are so FEW comedies worth the time these days!!!
Amazing Hopkins-Weak Movie 
2006-02-04 - Bad Company was a quite a disappointment, considering the presence of Anthony Hopkins.
The movie sheds light on a CIA operation that is about to go awry when one of its operatives is killed in Prague. Following the discovery, however, of a long lost twin to take the deceased's place, it just might work...
The plot has elements of both comedy and adventure, though it fails to take off. The acting is pretty weak (with the exception of Anthony Hopkins who does a great job of trying to cover up the mess that is Bad Company), while the humor and the plot are just about average.
On the positive side, the movie's European location was quite enjoyable and Anthony Hopkins is Anthony Hopkins.
On the negative side, Chris Rock really overdoes it with all the hoopla. ENOUGH already!
Moreover, weak/uninteresting story/script/dialogues, with the cherry on the cake being the nationalities of the "terrorists" (who surprisingly say some pretty accurate things!) which are not openly mentioned, but the leader "Dragan" has a Serbian name and his No2 speaks Greek (with a very strong American accent mind you). No further comment needed here...
Though the potential for a great movie was definitely there it fails to take off. A shame really...
In a nutshell, it's an ok movie if you've got nothing else to do, and that's about it; it lacks that extra something to put it over the top. No masterpiece here.
If Anthony Hopkins is what you had in mind, check out the AMAZING movies: Remains of the Day, Instinct, and of course, the Silence of the Lambs, among others.
