“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” reignites the flame of action comedy

Since the billion-dollar franchise was launched in 1995, “Bad Boys” has become a global household name. Fans of the previous three installments eagerly awaited the third sequel, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” (2024). Fortunately, they were not disappointed.

With a 64% critics rating and a 97% audience rating from Rotten Tomatoes, Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a comedic explosion of action and (of course) violence. Martin Lawrence and Will Smith display comedic genius and chemistry that convey the vibe that has captured an audience for their longtime fans.

The trailer introduces the film’s central conflict: the murder of former Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), who died in the third film in the series. The film’s plot is extremely well executed and doesn’t seem far-fetched. It makes sense that a highly respected captain who can no longer defend himself would be blamed for the corruption in his police department.

Bad boys Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) visit Lowrey’s son Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio) in prison to get information on who ordered Captain Howard’s murder. Viewers then learn that recent developments in Captain Howard’s “corruption” were not a plot by the cartels the Miami Police Department is fighting, but a snake from within.

This sets in motion a series of revelations and action sequences that also spotlight Reggie (Dennis McDonald), a constant figure of stoic comic relief who delivers one of the franchise’s best action scenes yet.

Mike and Armando are seen attempting to build their complicated relationship through the cliche of “forced parent-child closeness,” which exploits the characters’ situational dependence to force them to confront their ongoing tensions.

Other characters add complexity to the conflict in the film, such as Captain Howard’s daughter, U.S. Marshall Judy Howard, and her daughter Callie. Other characters include Mike’s new wife Christine Lowrey and Miami lawyer Lockwood, who is running for mayor.

The film uses comedy, subtle pop culture references, and refreshing cameos that don’t detract from the plot. Each of these cameos adds to the film and the audience’s experience rather than leaving the viewer with cringe.

Some felt that the film was repetitive and the script was flawed at times, which is not entirely unreasonable. While this film shows that we need real experts in the script who understand the art of comedy, the script for the antagonist could have used a little more “razzle dazzle”.

The antagonist’s revenge against the police should have been explored in more detail. In previous films, there were more scenes that gave us insight into the mentality of the villains.

Even though the first and second films did not feature antagonists whose lives were the focus of the film, there were scenes that added depth to the impact of their pasts or actions.

In the fourth film, the antagonist’s aggression seems out of the blue. However, this thin plot thread is complemented by the realism portrayed by the actors, creating the familiar, personal atmosphere that has become a trademark of the franchise.

While there is still room for improvement, it wasn’t a bad film; it’s a good film that complements a fan-favorite franchise.

Understanding the essence of the franchise that attracted its core audience shows that actors and characters can age and still achieve decades of success and longevity.

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is a must-see movie in 2024.

Rating: 3.5/5

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