When their former captain is implicated in corruption, two Miami police officers have to work to clear his name.
There has been an abundance of franchises throughout Hollywood that are beloved by the masses. Director Michael Bay’s Bad Boys films can surely be considered amongst that list, but his style of over-the-top action with endless explosions isn’t everyone’s favorite. However, he’s no longer at the helm of these blockbusters with starring leads Will Smith as Mike Lowrey and Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett. Returning directors from Bad Boys For Life (Bad Boys 3) are back as the men behind the cameras, and while they may not live up to hype from the original two films, they sure have their own sense of style and flare that will leave fans satisfied.
What’s great starting out in this story with Mike and Marcus, our two Miami PD heroes, are the actors Smith and Martin appear as though they’re playing themselves. That is the point of acting, but their presence on screen feels much deeper than many other performances on the big screen. Their roles don’t feel like paychecks or just another job they’re fulfilling to get by in life. Their portrayals feel like passion projects or lifelong dreams that came true for the actors, as if they were born to protect the city of Miami as they’ve signed up for. Beyond that their characters continue to genuinely feel like family in the sense that you feel like they’re a distant cousin who you can’t wait to see at the next family reunion. With this being part four, every time a new Bad Boys film is released, you instantly feel as if you are back at home in a familiar territory, which is a great sensation when you’re sitting in a movie auditorium.
To add to that, they’re hilarious together. Their constant bickering back and forth over the silliest topics never gets old from each syllable that runs from their mouths, especially Marcus (Martin Lawrence). This man is a comedic genius with perfect timing. Not only is he funny during the silly random fun scenes, but he can also make you laugh when the situation is serious with a gun pointed to his head. On the flip side, his character could’ve dialed that back during a scene or two in this film. It was quite jarring during one action scene towards the middle of the runtime when his life was in peril and there were too many silly moments flying around, but for the majority of this film that wasn’t the case, which will leave you smiling. Now Mike (Will Smith) is funny too during this film, in his own right, but Marcus does win the first place trophy this time around again, leaving you smiling ear to ear.
Their personal journeys of development are fresh and new as well during this film. They’re both dealing with forms of mental and physical health issues throughout, which adds another layer of trials they have to overcome that many audience members will be able to relate to. This direction does give them a new look on life, and adds an entertaining challenge and stakes that weren’t present during past films.
We can’t forget about the supporting cast. The passing of Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) was severely disappointing during part 3, but he was able to come back in a way during this sequel that adds even more mystery to this puzzle our heroes are trying to solve. Aramando Aretas (Jacob Scipio), Mike’s son, and Reggie (Dennis Green), Marcus’s son-in-law, also make notable returns, and the film wouldn’t have been as great if they were absent. These two both have stand out moments, and they’re some of the best sequences during the film. This is especially true for Reggie’s character. He seriously had the audience erupting with cheers and laughter during his high pivotal moment, and it surely stands out as one of the best Bad Boy moments ever in this entire franchise. Now the switch between actresses, Theresa Randle and Tasha Smith, for the role of Theresa was noticeable, but it wasn’t so daunting that it ruined the entire flow of the film.
The villain on the other hand was very cold-hearted, ruthless, and straight up dangerous. This film did a decent job early on letting you know how sinister he was, and he’s not to be played with. He was smart, cunning, and always two steps ahead of our protagonists, which is necessary to sell him as a worthy foe who could potentially kill off all the characters we have come to know and love over the years in this series. There are a few negatives to his character which will be addressed later.
As far as the action, there are new elements that have never been explored during this franchise dealing mostly with the motion of the camera. There was a plentiful amount of effective drone shots, countless first-person viewer shots, the camera was attached to random pieces of debris whirling through the air, and camera shots attached to weapons flying through the air from one protagonists to another, all from many different angles and heights of vision. Sometimes it was difficult to keep up with, but that’s still a positive. If you’re ready for a fun summer action flick and that’s it, Bad Boys 4 is the movie you want to see.
The film was entertaining to say the least, but that still doesn’t leave it without any issues. First, while the villain was fierce, he had no personality at all. Bad Boys 2 had the charismatic Hector Juan Carlos “Johnny Tapia”(Jordi Mollà), and Bad Boys 1 had Fouchet (Tchéky Karyo). Both of their personalities and demeanor added so much to those films, which was very absent here in Bad Boys 4. Maybe it was their thick accents that helped as well, but I found this villain rather boring besides how evil he was. Also as far as the story of Mike and Marcus trying to clear the name of the late great Captain Howard, it was very surface level. The film tried to link the reveal to the first three films, but failed miserably. When it was announced who was pulling all the strings from higher up in the police force from behind the scenes, you may be left wanting more and asking yourself, “Is that it?” I wanted to be blown away with shock, but wasn’t and only left disappointed. Then it comes to the action. While it was great, it still doesn’t hold a candle to the first two films with Michael Bay leading the way. Bad Boys 2 (2003) still has one of the most amazing car chase scenes on a highway, and this film doesn’t even attempt to mimic that magic. It’s a huge shame and a letdown. Also while the two new directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, have their own style of directing, they tried to mimic Michael Bay’s style a few times but didn’t hit the mark. It would’ve been better if they left those elements out of the film completely, specifically speaking on Michael Bay’s signature 360-degree shot that pans around characters while also going through walls during action scenes.
Bad Boys Ride or Die is still a fun entertaining film even with some of its shortcomings. There is a lot to love, and the studio should continue to make these films especially if they perform at the box office. There’s a level of respect that’s maintained throughout this film from what came before, and that is appreciated by a lifelong fan like myself. I enjoyed the cameos, the action, the story, and the characters, and still want to see more from this franchise. While this isn’t my favorite Bad Boys film, it’s still one of my favorite films that I’ve seen thus far in the year 2024.
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