Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is now playing in theaters, and I think it’s safe to say Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have delivered the blockbuster movie of the summer!
The film is outperforming projections with a $56M opening in the U.S. and $104.6M globally.
Read our review of the film below.
‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’ Review
The word “legend” is used rather frequently these days.
If someone has been streamed a gazillion times, they’re a legend.
If someone creates a famous song, dance of the month, or classic movie line, they’re a legend.
While all of that is worthy of recognition, you must ask yourself: Are they legends or just popular?
Legends transcend, like a rapper debuting in 1986 with a humorous yet eloquent rhyming style, making the very first double album in Hip-Hop music as a follow-up, winning the first Hip-Hop Grammy ever, and then going on to star in one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history.
Legends begin to make noise in “What’s Happening Now,” get cast in the iconic film “Do The Right Thing,” steal the show in “House Party,” gain more notoriety in the classic film “Boomerang,” become the host of a groundbreaking late-night HBO comedy series, then star in one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history—all in 1992!
Legends go on to unite and co-star in what will later become pop culture’s premier buddy cop film: “Bad Boys.”
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are cultural AND worldwide legends.
Now these two legends are back for more legendary shyt in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” With this new sequel, will Mike and Marcus prove that age ain’t nothing but a number, or is this movie down for the count? Let’s go!
“I made it out, I’m bringing mad joy. The doctor looked and said, ‘He’s gonna be a Bad Boy!’”
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” stars Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jacob Scipio, Eric Dane, and Paola Nunez.
Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are back once again in your area causing mass hysteria.
This time, they go on a mission to clear the name of the late Captain Conrad Howard (played by Joe Pantoliano), who has been accused of conspiracy.
Little do they know that the bad guy is one step ahead of them, and our two detectives become pawns in a deadly game that may cost them their lives.
In the mid-credit scene of the previous “Bad Boys” movie “Bad Boys For Life,” when Mike was talking to his imprisoned son, we figured there would be another sequel.
After that 2022 Academy Awards incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock, I thought, “Welp, that’s it for Willard. No more ‘Bad Boys’ for this bad boy.”
There was no mention of another “BB” film or anything else for that matter.
So, earlier this year, a surprise slapped me in the face as I saw filming for a new “BB” film going down right here in Atlanta….whaaaat????
Apologies and box-office returns really do work, so here we are. I must say, “Ride Or Die” was worth my astonishment.
Smith and Lawrence need to teach a class on chemistry.
These two have comedic timing together better than any buddy cop duo on film!
Their banter is second to none.
Their movements along with expressions can’t be duplicated.
Never forced, totally organic.
In layman’s terms, these guys are funny as shyt!
Both have interesting character arcs as well, and those arcs will shock you.
Life continues to throw things at you as you get older, even for Mike and Marcus.
Directors Adil and Bilall continue to up the ante with returning characters such as Armando (Scipio), who is definitely his father’s son.
He may be a convict, but his hand-to-hand combat skills are free to knock a person out.
They also provide nostalgia with characters from previous “BB” films and throwback scenes paying homage to those films.
Action is ramped up to a thousand in this sequel.
Fight scenes on top of fight scenes seem to fight for supremacy.
One scene involves an airplane, which is CRAAAAAZY!
Gangs and henchmen, bullets flying, people dying…good lawd!
Camera shots get better, too.
The first-person POV (point of view) shots make you feel like you’re part of the action, and overhead shots provide birds-eye views of the terrain.
It wouldn’t be a “Bad Boys” movie without slow-motion sequences, either, right? It’s in here for you.
A good time in this film is ubiquitous, so when I tell you what doesn’t work in it, just smile and go with me for a minute.
Some of the characters don’t have enough, or any, backstory. They only serve for exposition.
One character in particular desperately needs it because they are attached to a main character, and we should be emotionally invested in said character just as much as we are invested in Mike and Marcus.
This character is pertinent to the story, but we are kind of apathetic to them.
If something happens, so what?
One of the main characters undergoes a “condition,” but you question why.
It really doesn’t move the plot along.
Three films in and now this occurs? Naaaaah. We don’t believe you; you need more people.
Either explore it more or omit it altogether.
The antagonist is ruthless, indeed, but not innovative.
You’ll also forget what Captain Howard did to deserve all this.
Wait, wait, wait. He did what again? Why are the bad guys after Mike and Marcus again?
Oh yeah, and no Theresa Randle. Tasha Smith is fine, but it’s just weird not seeing the original Theresa.
Now, while these errors would hamper any other film, it doesn’t do that here.
We came to see Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett whup a$$ and crack jokes. Uh ruh…mission accomplished!
You also get an added treat. You’ve probably heard about it, but I won’t reveal it.
Instead, I’ll just say that Reggie is Reggie’n.
I loved “Bad Boys: Ride Or Die,” so I’m co-signing it to the fullest!
Yep, see it in IMAX if you can.
These legends aren’t finished. They’re bad.
Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning GOOD!
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