Directors: Adil El Arbi, Billal Fallah
Writer: Chris Bremner, Will Beall, George Gallo
Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens
Synopsis: When their former captain is implicated in corruption, two Miami police officers have to work to clear his name.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fourth installment of the franchise. The original Bad Boys was a breakout hit for Will Smith, proving he could lead a summer blockbuster. It also paved the way for him to be cast in Independence Day, which signified a breakthrough in mainstream Hollywood films. An action franchise with two leading African American actors was born for the first time.
Yet, breaking through the City of Angels’ major studio exclusivity didn’t light a fire under those controlling the money. The studios do what they do. They refused to greenlight the Bad Boys II sequel for almost a decade, then waited another 17 years for the third chapter, Bad Boys for Life. Meanwhile, there have been three The Expendables films from 2010 to 2014, then a fourth less than ten years later.
Thankfully, nearly 30 years after the original, the franchise has a sequel that does Bad Boys justice. Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a nonstop, bombastic nostalgia machine, returning to its roots by adding an equal amount of humor—a revitalized Martin Lawrence—to its jaw-dropping and thrilling action sequences. The latest installment is spectacular fun and full action-packed hilarity, though the filmmakers have trouble keeping a consistent style and tone.
The story continues the saga of two mismatched buddy cop detectives: the uber-cool ladies’ man, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith), and the anxious, wise-cracking family man, Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence). Now, the plot returns to its original Bad Boys roots. The duo begins to investigate corruption within their own Miami police department. What spurs these well-respected detectives to break ranks and investigate their own?
After all, the police have a “rat” squad of their own. However, when some bad guys hack their late captain’s computer, it sends a video recording of Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano), left, claiming that if they receive it, he was murdered. So, these bad boys (I know, I regret typing it) drop everything, even after Mike’s recent nuptials and Marcus’s health scare.
It turns out that Captain Howard was accused of being in bed with the local cartels (it’s Miami, so if Colonel Jessup walked by, he would say, “Is there another kind?”). However, Mike and Marcus’s investigation soon takes a nosedive (quite literally) as they are set up and accused of being in bed with the cartels and their late captain, turning them into fugitives who must now prove their innocence.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is directed again by Adil & Bilall, who also helmed the third film (and are probably more famous for the Batgirl debacle at Warner Brothers). Working with a script from Chris Bremner (The Man From Toronto) and Will Beall (Aquaman), this installment is a marked improvement over Bad Boys for Life. For one, that film wasn’t funny; this one is hilarious.
I couldn’t quite recommend the two Bad Boys sequels. For one, they traded Martin Lawrence’s fast-talking humor and friendly friction with Will Smith for ominous tones and an excessive amount of violence. And frankly, the last film’s ridiculous twist of Lowrey’s lost child becoming a Sicario and shooting Lowery’s father figure was getting close to toxic male soap opera status.
Thankfully, Lawrence has abandoned the sleepwalking, cruise-control performances of the last two films. Here, the comedian brings a level of maximum overdrive energy we haven’t seen since the original. Lawrence is spectacularly funny here. He’s over the top in a few spots (alright, a lot), but anyone can do action, and not everyone can do what Lawrence is capable of when he’s on his game.
Several cameos from the original are included, and the team makes it a family affair. Some spectacular action scenes bring back the bombastic quality that is almost a nod to Michael Bay. And, of course, if you are a fan of ’90s action films like I am, seeing the iconic light strike graphic of a Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer production is like a quick hit of nostalgic action bliss. Not to mention the scene-stealing Dennis Greene, whose Reggie steals the film.
I will say the plot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I mean, it’s obvious, but when it comes to specifics, there seems to be a healthy dose of very graphic violence to distract you from it being completely contrived. The villain, played by Mr. McSteamy, Eric Dane, is incredibly one-note (and you need to get a sense of his motivation). You immediately know who the “hidden” villain is as soon as they walk on screen. However, Jacob Scipio’s Armando works much better in the story this time.
Seeing this duo back on the big screen with Bad Boys: Ride or Die in fine form is an absolute joy. Smith still brings the same charisma and action-star status. Yes, you turn to Bad Boys for the Bayhem magic (watch out for the Michael Bay cameo), the pastel-colored skies, and the beautiful guys and dolls filling the Miami streets. However, it’s the bromance—LawSmith, if you will—that keeps you coming back time and time again.
Heck, if the Fast and the Furious franchise can do ten movies, why can’t they?
