Movie Breakdown: Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
Pre-Screening Stance:
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is coming to us from directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who also did 2020’s Bad Boys For Life. That was a solidly fun time, and I’m guessing this fourth entry into the franchise will be as well.
Post-Screening Ramble:
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is one silly, silly movie, but it works. It begins with super cop Mike (Will Smith) getting married and his partner/best pal Marcus (Martin Lawrence) having to be hospitalized after having a heart attack on the dance floor of said wedding. After a quick death-dream chat with the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), Marcus finds himself with a new zest for life … while also being certain that he can’t die. Meanwhile, Mike is dealing with panic attacks, plus there’s the troubling detail that Captain Howard is being framed for having been a cartel mole. In other words, it’s your pretty standard Bad Boys entry in that Mike and Marcus must overcome some personal challenges while racing against the clock to bring down a big time criminal. And just like the other movies, there’s a ton of jokes – some of them hit, some of them don’t – and a lot of gunfire. I will say this though, while Ride Or Die doesn’t reinvent the wheel, there’s still noteworthy work on display. Lawrence seems more committed to the bit than usual, and Smith showcases he’s still got the charisma and the presence to drive a blockbuster of this sort. Also, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, whose previous film, Batgirl, was shelved despite nearly being completed, flex their creative chops here and turn out a few nifty action sequences. Honestly, the whole movie just really has some great underdog energy.
If you’ve liked any of the other Bad Boys movies, then you’re going to be into Bad Boys: Ride Or Die. It’s in theaters this Friday, June 7.
One Last Thought:
This is a ridiculous movie littered with unhinged performances, but the actor resting at the top of WTF mountain is Rhea Seehorn (from Better Call Saul). She plays the daughter of Joey Pants’ Captain Howard and her line deliveries go so fucking hard that I felt like she – as in Rhea, not her character – was truly out to avenge his death.
One More Last Thought:
This franchise has now taken on a level of lore that rivals the Fast & Furious films, meaning that there are a zillion characters and such from the previous entries. So, is this me saying you need to have seen the other movies to enjoy Ride Or Die? No – it’s still just an action comedy where the overall plot is easy enough to follow – but it will be more of an enjoyable experience if you’re aware of all the ins and outs.
