Lawrence and Smith Raise Stakes with Bad Boys: Ride or Die

2024 is turning out to the be  ‘the summer of sequels’ with films dropping  like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, A Quiet Place: Day One, Deadpool  & Wolverine and Alien:Romulus to name a few.  Bad Boys: Ride or Die is at the top of this list for me.  Through three chapters of this franchise audiences have witnessed the antics and adventures of Marcus and Mike.  Now a little older and wiser, these two veteran cops face new yet familiar challenges in what proves to be the last flick in the franchise.

This time, Miami’s finest are now on the run. When Captain Howard is unjustly accused of a lifetime of drug-related crimes, the Bad Boys vow to clear his name. But as they get closer to finding out the truth, Mike and Marcus are framed becoming fugitives with a cartel-funded bounty on their heads. Pursued by their own, targeted by the cartels and  hunted by every gang in the city… whatcha gonna do when everybody comes for you? (I know…you don’t even have to say it).

30 years ago, Smith and Lawrence were at the top of their game with hit sitcoms, sold out stand-up tours and arguably two of the Black community’s brightest stars in the entertainment industry.  A lot has occurred since then, both men have married, have families and a both embroiled in unfortunate events at one time or another.  Through it all, both have risen like a phoenix from the ashes and the same could be said for their characters.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are still giving us the action thunder with those signature Michael Bay sequences strongly identified and enjoyed with this franchise proving they are both in reasonably great shape.  Yet, Mike is no longer the  charming playboy and has now chosen to settle down.  For the first time, Marcus is the voice of reason and Mike is having some issues mentally and emotionally as  the mature versions of these men dealing with seemingly real issues is at the core of their friendship and professional relationship.

The supporting cast  stood out more in more ways than one with Jacob Scipio and Dennis McDonald. As Mike Lowrey’s son Armando, Scipio stepped it up a notch in the franchise along with McDonald as Burnett’s son-in-law Reggie, who hops off the coach and away from his snacks,  is a highlight and even more impressive since his dialogue is very minimal, yet his action speaks volumes.

Directors Adil and Bilall shot the hell out of this film.  There are some camera angles where one will be overjoyed and intrigued with how this duo was able to accomplish such intricate, difficult shots. So kudos and shoutout to their cinematographer – Robrecht Heyvaert who I’m sure literally had his hands full.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die won’t be some revelatory piece of cinema, but it stays true to the franchise we have globally grown to love and enjoy for decades.  Riddled with that signature acerbic humor and Michael Bay heart stopping action, this Bad Boy is setting off the summer box office blazing! Oh…and be on the lookout for a little smacking face action.  I’ll leave it up to you to interpret it’s meaning