[FILM REVIEW] BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE Review (2024)
Summary: When their former captain is implicated in corruption, two Miami police officers have to work to clear his name.
Year: 2024
Cinema Release Dates: 6th June 2024 (Australia), 6th June 2024 (Thailand), 5th June 2024 (UK), 7th June 2024 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA
Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Screenwriter: Chris Bremner, Will Beall
Cast: Jeff J.J. Authors (Felix The Drunk Pilot), Bianca Bethune (Megan), Eric Dane (McGrath), Jason Davis (Grice), DJ Khaled (Manny), Dennis Greene (Reggie), Ioan Gruffudd (Lockwood), Tiffany Haddish (Tabitha), Quinn Hemphill (Callie), Vanessa Hudgens (Kelly), Jay DeVon Johnson (Russ Brown), Jasmine Lawrence (Reporter Johnson), Martin Lawrence (Marcus Burnett), Melanie Liburd (Christine), Alexander Ludwig (Dorn), Karter Reese Nesome (Little Marcus), Paolo Nunez (Rita), Joe Pantoliano (Captain Howard), Derek Russo (Lintz), John Salley (Fletcher), Jacob Scipio (Armando), Rhea Seehorn (Judy), Adriana Sheri (Reporter Cobb), Tasha Smith (Theresa), Will Smith (Mike Lowrey), Levy Tran (Wolf)
Running Time: 115 minutes
Classification: MA15+ (Australia), 15 (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)
OUR BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE REVIEWS
David Griffiths’s Bad Boys; Ride Or Die Review
Four years ago fans of the mammoth Bad Boys franchise waited with baited breath to see whether Bad Boys For Life could work not only without Michael Bay in the director’s chair and whether or not there was still interest in the series some 21 years after the last film.
Despite the fact that Bad Boys For Life did better than expected, both at the box office and with fans and critics alike. Now those same fans again on the edge of their seat as they wait to see whether Bad Boys: Ride Or Die will be received the same way especially as Will Smith tries to prove that he can still be a leading man after his infamous Oscars night slap.
This time around Adil El Arbi (Rebel) and Billal Fallah (Bad Boys For Life) are again pulling the director’s strings while the lives of Mike Lowery (Will Smith – Men In Black) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence – Big Momma’s House) are picked just a short time after the events of Bad Boys For Life.
The film begins with the wedding between Mike and his counsellor, Christine (Melanie Liburd – This Is Us), which ends in disaster after Marcus has a heart attack during the reception afterwards.
Ironically his health doesn’t slow him down though and instead gives him a new lease of life – one that is now full of philosophy and spirituality – which Mike despises.
Their petty differences are soon put on the back-burner though when their boss, Captain Rita Secada (Paola Nunez – Resident Evil), alerts them to the fact that their former boss, Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano – The Matrix), has been named in an investigation delving into corrupt cops that are working with the South American cartels.
Desperate to clear his name Mike and Marcus once again team up with other squad members, Kelly (Vanessa Hudgens – High School Musical) and Dorn (Alexander Ludwig – The Hunger Games), as their enquiries see them being hunted down by the insane McGrath (Eric Dane – Burlesque) while having to work with Mike’s jailed son, Armando (Jacob Scipio – The Outpost).
Cinematically Bad Boys: Ride For Life feels like a movie told in two parts. The first part of the film feels like both the directors and the screenwriters wanted to reach for the comedic laughs but in all honesty it felt like it didn’t work. Much too much was made about Marcus’s brush with death which felt like it was trying to mirror the emotion that worked so well when Mike was shot in the previous film. The difference there was with Mike the film was then able to centre on a man realising that he is not immortal whereas here the comedic touch to the plot didn’t work and the scenes felt laboured.
The film does come into its own though when it decides to focus a little less on trying to make the audience laugh and instead actually start to knuckle down in the crime and action genres. The crime story itself is fairly decent and the screenwriters have been creative with the way that they are able to bring Captain Howard onto the screen despite the fact he was killed in the previous film. My advice would be though don’t over-think the criminal case plot line though or you will find flaws and holes throughout it.
All of that is forgotten though once the film begins its intense action sequences. While the film doesn’t exactly breakthrough new ground the action sequences will be enjoyed by lovers of the genre. There are two amazing sequences – one on a helicopter and one at a theme park – both are creative and will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The directors also team up brilliantly well with cinematographer Robrecht Heyvaert (Revenge) to deliver a very memorable plane crash that is one of the highlights of the film.
When it comes to the performances Martin Lawrence steal the show when it comes to the comedy while Will Smith sends a strong reminder to Hollywood that despite what has happened in his private life he is still a worthy action hero that knows what his fans want and like.
When it comes to the secondary cast Jacob Scipio is a real standout while Eric Dane also does a great job playing the menacing villain. Sadly though the rest of the cast don’t really get a chance to shine though because there have been way too many characters written into the screenplay.
If you like a decent action film you will enjoy Bad Boys: Ride Or Die – just don’t expect it to be a genre changer. The film does show that Will Smith is still a great action star and overcomes a slow start to deliver some great action sequences that look on the big screen.
David’s rating Out Of 5
Alex First’s Bad Boys; Ride Or Die Review
The fourth film in the American buddy cop action-comedy franchise that dates back to 1995 has Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett defending their former boss’ honour.
Detective Lowrey (Will Smith) has married his physical therapist, Christine (Melanie Liburd).
His partner, Burnett (Martin Lawrence), has had a life-or-death experience, coming back from the brink after a heart attack. As a result, he mistakenly believes he is bullet proof.
The pair spring into action following accusations that their late captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) was crooked – tied to drug cartels. Of course, they are determined to find who is behind the set up.
Their hunt for the truth leads them to Lowrey’s estranged son, Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio), jailed for Howard’s murder. Lowrey and Burnett are hoping he can identify the illusive figure that has managed to alter Howard’s clean record.
In trying to uncover the brains behind the operation, they lock horns with the captain’s daughter, US Marshall Judy Howard (Rhea Seehorn).
She is not the only one in their cross hairs. Another is Lowrey’s ex-girlfriend, the head of Miami Police unit AMMO (Advanced Miami Metro Operations). She is now dating prospective mayoral candidate Adam Lockwood (Ioan Gruffudd).
The stakes are ratcheted up as the boys’ target appears to be anticipating their every move, leading to an explosive showdown in alligator infested waters.
Jive talking between the mismatched duo is in full swing in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, with a series of cringe worthy lines trotted out as Burnett goes all kumbaya.
Still, I found the family dynamics that links the pair to be a safe pair of hands. In other words, you know what you are in for when you enter a cinema to see a Bad Boys’ movie and, in that regard, it is no let down.
Rather, in amongst the trash talk and horse play, there is affection and action aplenty – showdowns, gun fights, explosions and exotic locales.
The film is a good looker and the connection between Smith and Lawrence remains strong.
A former Drug Enforcement Administration officer named James McGrath (Eric Dane) makes for a formidable adversary.
I also appreciated the performance of Jacob Scipio as Lowrey’s ever vigilant son, who has a good lie of the land.
Ensuring a similar feel to the previous instalment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die retains the directing duo responsible for the previous instalment, Bad Boys for Life (2020). One of that writing team, Chris Bremner, is also back for more, this time alongside Will Beall (Aquaman).
So, standby for more bickering and bravado, as there is clearly an audience for such neatly packaged hijinks and heroics.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
Other Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Reviews
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