Jan. 18, 2018|Portugal|120 Min.
Genre: Action;Comedy;Crime;Drama;Mystery;Thriller;Western
Description: Romeu, a corrupt police officer, enlists the help of Cid and Alex to apprehend a notorious criminal who has fled Mexico and is heading to Galicia, Spain, seeking revenge for his brother’s murder. An FBI agent is also on the hunt for the same criminal. The story is packed with corrupt cops, killers, cheating spouses, and a few innocent characters, including a hapless FBI agent who is out of his depth and a morally upright cop who becomes one of the most disliked figures in the film.
Romeo, a dishonest deputy commissioner (played by JD Duarte), manipulates Alex and Cid (Luís Ismael and Francisco Menezes) to trick FBI agent Sam Folkes (Eric da Silva). Their mission is to track down Xavier (Enrique Arce), a dangerous criminal on a path of vengeance. However, the operation spirals out of control. This marks the return of director Luis Ismael following the conclusion of the “Balas e Bolinhos” trilogy. While comparisons to the previous series are inevitable, “Bad Investigate” focuses more on production quality and screenplay.
The film features hilarious moments, sharp dialogues, and memorable characters. JD Duarte’s portrayal of Romeo stands out, as does Francisco Meneses’s performance as the bumbling yet amusing Cidalio (or Cid). Enrique Arce delivers a serious and compelling performance as the villain Xavier. Despite budget limitations that hindered more elaborate action sequences, the movie remains engaging throughout its two-hour runtime, blending action, comedy, crime, and mystery. It is a testament to Portuguese cinema and highlights the potential for further exploration of such genres in local filmmaking.
Cast director: Luís Ismael
Cast actor: Francisco Menezes, Luís Ismael, Enrique Arce, Eric Da Silva, J.D. Duarte, Robson Nunes, João Pires, Luisa Ortigoso, Carmen Méndez, Laura Galvão
Original name: Bad Investigate