Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Eric Dane, Jacob Scipio
Directed by Adil & Bilall

Michael Bay's "Bad Boys" and "Bad Boys II" defined the 90s action comedy, putting Will Smith and Martin Lawrence together as lifelong friends and detectives in Miami who solve crimes with big explosions, frequent sarcasm, and exciting action sequences. Everyone thought the second film was the end, but 2020 gave us "Bad Boys for Life," and even though Michael Bay was no longer the director, everything else about the franchise continued to flourish. The comradere between Smith and Lawrence made you feel like only days have gone by since the second film due to their natural chemistry, and the action, excitement, and humor were all there once again. Now with "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" (they really should've switched the names, so the fourth film should've been the "Bad Boys 4 Life" title), we get a repeat performance of the 2020 film that proves the film still has some traction, but maybe it's time to put this franchise back in the garage for another decade or so.

After suffering a heart attack at Mike's (Will Smith) wedding, Marcus (Martin Lawrence) has a vision from their deceased Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) who warns a storm is coming. They soon discover that Captain Howard is being set up from beyond the grave by former U.S. Army Ranger James McGrath (Eric Dane) who transfers drug money into Howard's account to frame him to be a crooked cop. Mike and Marcus are the only ones who believe his innocence, and sets out to find the real culprit - but the only one who can identify him is Mike's estranged son Armando (Jacob Scipio), who's in prison for murdering Captain Howard in the first place. Having been framed themselves by McGrath, Mike, Marcus and Armando go on the run, trying to track down McGrath as the Miami PD, the U.S. Marshals led by Captain Howard's widow Judy, and McGrath's men are all hot on their heels - as well as a millions dollar bounty on their heads bringing out every lowlife imaginable.

"Ride or Die" is essentially a continuation of the third film moreso than the others, having focus set on Mike's son Armando and Captain Howard's untimely death from the third film serving as the narrative force, as it were. The story itself is simple and carbon copied from several other films like this: heroes turned villains, at least in the eyes of the law, unjustly accused and on the run to clear their names. Enemies turn allies, allies turn enemies, and there's a lot of shootouts and humor along the way. In a way, this is the perfect encapsulation of 90s action, but since we've been treated to unique action since then, it ends up a bit dated.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence still have their chemistry and that's something that can't be denied or ignored, and it serves as the driving force of this otherwise thinly written story. Marcus's near death experience makes him think he's immortal, leading to numerous hilarious moments between the two, but Mike's story is a bit less defined. Newly married, he inexplicably suffers from panic attacks now that he never has before, and serves more as plot driven devices rather than something more thought out (essentially he has these attacks during the most inopportune times, with no real reason). Yet their chemistry makes up for the lack of storytelling, as surprisingly you forget Will Smith's recent indiscretions in his performance. Eric Dane is the worst villain in recent action history, as you don't really know his true motives or really care about his character at all, because he's so one-dimensional it makes it hard to feel anything other than apathy for him.

The action is loud, exciting, and uniquely shot with drones and cameras attached to the actors, which both makes it interesting but also showcases the fact that this isn't a "John Wick" film, but tries to be. With no Michael Bay involvement (apart from a glorified cameo), there's not many explosions either, which is a downer. Surprisingly, the best action sequence in the entire film doesn't even involve Mike and Marcus, and you'll know it when you see it.

While "Bad Boys for Life" gave a fresh injection of excitement into the franchise, "Ride or Die" spins its wheels that makes you appreciate the actors involved, but ultimately it just turns into a stereotypical action blockbuster filled with action but missing the plot.

The Score: B