The Wasteland Reviewer

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) Written Review

Watcha gonna do…when another Bad Boys movie comes to the theater near you? This action franchise was born out of the 90s and from the talents and money of Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer. This franchise is still known for being one of the crown jewels of Bay’s filmography but with the third (and most recent edition), the duo of Adil & Bilall took the reins. But the anchor to this high style, big action franchise has been and always will be the partnering of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The crew is back at it again with a whole new set of dangers, conspiracies, and surprises. They probably should have saved Bad Boys for Life for this fourth go around…but we do have Ride or Die instead. 

What are we heading to the theaters for? First off, the action. This is one of the most popular action franchises of the 90s into the 00s. Bay has an extremely specific style, and it is certainly a love or hate dynamic with most people. You can feel bits of his aura and style in the approach that Adil & Bilall take but they are able to use their own imagination as well. There are fun elements in the action including some wild POV shots from both people and inanimate objects. The action is thrilling and dynamic in ways you have not seen in movies too often (if not ever) before. There is a high-octane energy with sleek visuals matched with bold colors. You cannot be based in Miami without the bold colors, right? There are plenty of crazy fun set pieces including a home invasion that is a glee to watch. There are fleet moments of over editing but for the most part, it is a thrilling good time. 

What really sells this franchise? Smith and Lawrence. Mike and Marcus both have interesting arcs going around. Mike is a married man now (big change for Smith’s character) but he must deal with increasing panic attacks from his trauma including his son resurfacing as a big piece of the film. Marcus has a near death experience and begins to have abstract visions (these scenes feel SO Bay style…it is crazy to watch). He becomes completely delusional and thinks he cannot die, which creates some hilarious laughs throughout the film minus a few scenes that don’t quite hit the mark. The presence of Mike’s son becomes a huge part of the film’s story and there is some solid drama being conveyed. Smith has a few moments that are legitimately moving (he is an Oscar winning actor) and Lawrence is there for plenty of laughs.

How about the rest of this stacked cast? Paolo Nunez’s Rita is Captain now and she has quite the journey to go on. Does she stick by the “evidence” or does she stick by her found family. There are some repressed feelings between Rita and Mike that makes for some interesting dynamics as well. Joe Pantoliano is back (from beyond the grave) with some more dramatic moments (even if a lot of his role is exposition dumping). Jacob Scipio holds his own fine as Smith’s son. He is nowhere near as interesting or charismatic as Smith or Lawrence, but he gets his time to shine as the third piece of a trio. Vanessa Hudgens and Alexander Ludwig return from the third film and get a few moments to shine. There are way too many plot threads in the film and probably too many characters which makes it tough for them to stand out. But keep an eye out for a few big-name cameos who make for some fun scenes. 

What about the elements of this fourth film that don’t really click? The antagonist is big and scary thanks to Eric Dane, but he is not interesting at all. His involvement is predictable as a “smart” brute, but the bigger law enforcement conspiracy is even more predictable and obvious. You can see the twists coming a mile away. Rhea Seehorn is such a talented actress, and she is rock solid in the film but her inclusion as Pantoliano’s daughter feels like just another extra layer to everything else that is already overstuffed. There are certainly a few scenes that don’t quite land with their humor and a few action sequences make you really must suspend your disbelief (that helicopter sequence scene from the trailer for sure). The crazy antics of Marcus’ heightened state of being can also get annoying as well. 

But is Ride or Die a new Bad Boys entry worth you time? Adil & Bilall have injected their own style into Bay’s world for the last two film and they certainly work well with the crazy stories of Mike and Marcus. Smith and Lawrence feel like they are back into their element and are having a blast. This feels like the charismatic Smith of old and Lawrence is capturing the fun of his schtick. There is some heart here amongst the laughs and even some solid thematic work as our cops goes on the run and are getting up there in age. This is a welcomed new entry that makes the idea of a fifth exciting as well.