Bad Boys : Ride or Die Review - A Perfect Summer Knock-Out Action Flick
A great aspect of the Bad Boys franchise is how it's continued to explore Marcus and Mike at different stages of their lives. It would be easy to stick to the status quo and leave things unchanged, but life moves on and so do the characters. Adil and Bilall highlight a decades-long friendship, framing it as being just as integral to the characters' survival as their families. Without Smith and Lawrence's unmatched camaraderie and banter, Bad Boys: Ride or Die would just be another mediocre, forgettable action film.
Detective lieutenants Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) enjoy much more tranquil lives now that Bad Boys For Life has ended. Mike is making a fresh start by becoming married to Melanie Leburd, a physical therapist. When Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), the late employer of Mike and Marcus, is made publically known to have been corrupt, things swiftly go out of hand. The group known as the "bad boys" realize that something is up, and they learn that their beloved captain was killed while looking into a conspiracy inside the Miami police Department. To clear Howard's record for both their buddy and his U.S. Marshall daughter (Rhea Seehorn), the two will have to look for assistance from an unexpected source: Mike's imprisoned son Armando (Jacob Scipio).
The movie has its share of absurd and even ludicrous moments, but these are never allowed to stay for too long before the action moves on. Although the pacing is quick and deft, it nevertheless gives the relationships time to grow. Ride or Die is more than simply a fast-paced, action-packed movie; it also has heart and style. As much fun as it was to see Marcus and Mike battle the enemy McGrath (Eric Dane), I was often just pleased to watch them joke about Marcus' love of confectionery. Occasionally, the former provided greater satisfaction than the latter.
Without sacrificing their hilarious timing, Smith and lawrence take advantage of that. They are aware of their appeal. Their clever banter keeps the movie cohesive even during its most daring adventures. The true villain's identity is immediately apparent to the audience, and the emotional undertone is barely discernible. At least the jokes are nearly always funny. The astute observer surmises that their success is primarily due to Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
The action sequences in Ride or Die are thrilling on their own, but they're not particularly noteworthy. They accomplish the task, but one scenario in particular sticks out from the others. With the perspective changing to resemble a first-person shooter game, Marcus and Mike are firing at their attackers. Both the last confrontation between Mike, Marcus, and McGrath, as well as the entertaining moment where they transfer firearms while in that first-person perspective, are highlights. There are only so many situations in which there are real stakes, even when the action heightens the narrative.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die has the vibe of an abandoned action movie from the past. Take a slightly formulaic plot, add two endearing characters, and then intensify the action to the fullest. It sounds very good.
Overall, This is the movie that the office desperately Needs Right Now!
Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐