Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) Columbia/Action-Comedy RT: 115 minutes Rated R (strong violence, language throughout, some sexual references) Director: Adil & Bilall Screenplay: Chris Bremner and Will Beall Music: Lorne Balfe Cinematography: Robrecht Heyvaert Release date: June 7, 2024 (US) Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nunez, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Rhea Seehorn, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Pantoliano, DJ Khaled, John Salley, Bianca Bethune, Dennis Mcdonald, Quinn Hemphill, Derek Russo, Karter Reese Newsome, Levy Tran, Jay DeVon Johnson.
Rating: ***
Should we start by addressing the proverbial elephant in the room? Bad Boys: Ride or Die is Will Smith’s first theatrical film since the infamous Oscar slap in 2022. The big question is whether or not fans have forgiven him for his lapse in judgment. Some of the comments I’ve seen on social media indicate he’s still in the doghouse with several people. A few have stated they will no longer watch anything with his name attached. Others are willing to let bygones be bygones. Me, I think Will did an amazingly stupid thing smacking comedian Chris Rock on live TV, but I’m not going to hold it against him for the rest of his life. If Rock can forgive him (which he apparently has), why can’t we all? End of sermon; let’s proceed with review.
The Bad Boys series has never been one of my favorites although I freely admit to loving every single mayhem-filled moment of Bad Boys II, the very definition of the term “over the top”. I wasn’t wild about the previous installment Bad Boys for Life and I expected to feel the same about Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth movie featuring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as a pair of Miami cops who rarely (if ever) play by the rules. My feeling was one of lukewarm indifference as I settled into my seat. Imagine my surprise when I ended up liking this entertaining but unexceptional action-comedy. It’s actually a pretty good flick.
Like its immediate predecessor, it’s directed by Team Adil & Bilall who took the reins from original director Michael Bay. It still bears the logo of producers Don Simpson (RIP) and Jerry Bruckheimer which means you can still expect plenty of noise and pandemonium from Bad Boys: Ride or Die. A direct follow-up to BB for Life, it opens with our heroes Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) racing through the streets of Miami trying to get to a wedding on time, Mike’s to be exact. Along the way, they pull over at a bodega so Marcus can buy a ginger ale for his upset stomach. Naturally, some dopey thug tries to hold up the place while he’s there. M&M make short work of the guy, telling the owner to call 911 before they leave. Trouble sure has a way of following these guys.
Speaking of which, M&M finds themselves on the run from the law and the city’s criminal underbelly while trying to exonerate their late CO Capt. Howard (Pantoliano, Memento) on charges of official corruption. Somebody has it out for him bad enough that they want to tarnish his image posthumously. A team of armed-to-the-teeth baddies led by James McGrath (Dane, Grey’s Anatomy) fabricate evidence making it look like Howard had cartel ties. Mike and Marcus don’t believe it. They’re determined to prove their ill-tempered mentor innocent.
To do this, Mike will need the help of his son Armando (Scipio, Expend4bles) who’s currently serving life in prison for Howard’s murder. He can identify the real dirty cop in the department. The bad guys can’t let that happen, so they cause the plane that’s transporting him (with M&M on board) to a safe location to crash. The three of them survive, but now the cops are wanted for murder.
A movie like Bad Boys: Ride or Die doesn’t require deep analysis although one could make something of the scene where Lawrence slaps Smith across the face several times. Aside from that, it’s a fun movie with plenty of action and a few laughs. By now, Smith and Lawrence are like an old married couple who can finish each other’s sentences. They can anticipate every zig and zag. They have good chemistry. It’s enjoyable to watch them for the most part even when they get loud which they frequently do. The problem is they’re both over 50 now; how much longer can they keep this up? Then again, look at Liam Neeson; he shows no signs of slowing down at 72.
I wish Bad Boys: Ride or Die had made more use of the young AMMO team cops, Kelly (Hudgens, Spring Breakers) and Dom (Ludwig, The Hunger Games). On the upside, they give Marcus’ Marine son-in-law Reggie (Greene) one of the movie’s best scenes when he takes down a dozen bad guys who break into house and threaten his family. The action scenes are the best part of Bad Boys: Ride or Die. They’re so well-crafted even if they don’t break any new ground. The finale at an abandoned alligator farm is sufficiently thrilling even if you know right away somebody’s going to be gator chow before it’s all over.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a good, early summer action-comedy. It moves along at a nice pace and it’s funny. There’s a good running joke involving Marcus’ newfound sense of immortality after a near-death experience following a heart attack. The bottom line is this: I really liked it. It’s not going to win any awards nor do I think it will return Will to superstar status. It’s a good start though.
