Carl Roberts 
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return for the fourth time in Bad Boys: Ride Or Die. But is it to die for or should it be left to die a slow death?
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is the fourth entry into the long-running franchise which started back in 1995. Once again, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett respectively. Featuring Joe Pantoliano, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Jacob Scipio, DJ Khaled, Tasha Smith, Dennis Greene, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhea Seehorn, Melanie Liburd and Tiffany Haddish, the film features more violence, mayhem and fun as we have come to expect. But after three movies, can they bring us a highly enjoyable ride once more? Or should the franchise be left to drive off into the Miami sun?
PREMISE
Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett investigate corruption within the Miami PD when their late Captain Conrad Howard is posthumously accused of being involved with the Romanian Mafia, but a setup turns them into fugitives, forcing them to work outside the law in order to solve the case.
THOUGHTS
Fans of the franchise need not worry. There is plenty of fuel left in the Bad Boys tank yet. However, after three movies, you’d expect the film’s plot to be wearing thin. You’d be very VERY wrong. The film is a rollercoaster ride for the ages. It has been a long time since I’ve been at a screening and laughed, cheered and applauded so much over the course of 115 minutes. The audience I saw the film with was lapping it up at every turn.
A RIOT
They were right to as the film is a riot from start to finish. No matter how many times we’ve been on a ride with these two, it just went up several notches. After Bad Boys For Life, which was good but I found it to be lacking somewhat, this has brought the franchise back on track in a great way. And the humour is brilliant.
Thankfully, they have done away with the plot thread of Marcus retiring. We’ve been presented with that over the previous two films to our exasperation. Now, it’s nowhere to be found here. We do encounter some health crises from both of our protagonists but this is soon dealt with with some great and brilliant humour. Marcus is again the butt of the joke (literally here!), but Mike gets his own problems during proceedings. What makes the film tick is again the pairing of Smith and Lawrence. From the opening credits until the end credits, the pair play off each other, settling back into their characters with ease. And both actors are in sparkling and top form here. Both get in on the action without remorse, making the film that much better.
DENNIS GREENE
Smith and Lawrence are superb. The supporting cast, including the returning Joe Pantoliano, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Jacob Scipio, and DJ Khaled all play their parts wonderfully. But not one of them can hold a candle to Dennis Greene as Reggie McDonald, Marcus’ son-in-law. For the past two movies, Reggie has been the subject of such ridicule, we couldn’t take him seriously. He starts the same way here, again being the butt of Marcus’ ire. His response when Marcus yells at him to get a job is wonderfully deadpan and funny. And yet again, we feel he’s going to be a wet blanket, a figment of fun, someone for Marcus to threaten and humiliate.
REDEMPTION
You’d be wrong. This is Reggie’s redemption, his time to shine, to show everyone what he can do and what he is capable of. It is this aspect of the film that has us cheering the most. I won’t reveal how or why in this review but you’ll know it when you see it. The sequence in question is possibly the most enjoyable of the film. It does end with some hilarity but you’ll be hard-pressed not to cheer the roof of the cinema off. Dennis Greene has been the main butt of the jokes between himself and Smith And Lawrence. By the time the film ends, you’ll know the balance has shifted in Reggie’s favour. It is about time and is extremely welcome.
THE SCREENPLAY
The screenplay by Chris Bremner and Will Beall, based on characters created by George Gallo, hits the throttle from the very start and rarely lets up. The action, violence, comedy, and gore come at us thick and fast. But it also features enough heart to have us interested during the quieter moments. The relationships between the characters on show here are never dull, always involving, and heartfelt. These scenes give us time to breathe before we take off at full throttle again. It works on every level. We are invested in every character, their story and their backstories throughout. Even the villains get in on the act. Bremner and Beall have written something that starts the ride at a fast pace before hitting the accelerator and going faster, harder and better than we’ve seen before. Their writing here is simply sublime.
THE DIRECTION
Adil & Bilall both return to direct the new movie. Both have delivered something that has set a benchmark for this summer’s blockbuster fare. Between the pair, they have delivered what could be the best popcorn movie of 2024. They direct the fast-paced action with aplomb. Of course, we get the famous twirling shot that is a staple of Michael Bay/ Jerry Bruckheimer movies, but again, it fits into the film seamlessly. The way they’ve directed the movie is superb. The pair are fast becoming the go-to directors for action movies such as this. They make Miami a willing actor, and an active participant in the movie by shooting it beautifully. Their colour palette here is fresh, vibrant, and neon-tinged at times. Throw in the way they’ve drawn great performances from all concerned and they’ve hit pure cinematic gold.
THE SCORE
The score for the film once again comes our way from the composer Lorne Balfe. Once more, he has delivered a score to be proud of. It fits every scene and sequence perfectly. Fans will love the use again of Mark Mancina’s theme from the original movie, so sadly lacking from the score of Bad Boys II. By again using it as a basis for his score, Balfe has turned in a composition that has hooked on every note. His original music complements Mancina’s main theme as it did in the previous film. It feels right, sounds brilliant and has our blood pounding in our veins.
The musical numbers used in the film are also fitting. I’ve kept this review very light on what happens during the film as it is best to be watched clean. But one song, in particular, will have the audience laughing at around the mid-way point. All I shall say is it is so surprising, so surreal to hear it in the way it’s presented, that you can’t help but laugh along and get into the spirit of its use and its singer. Oh, and Marcus still doesn’t know the words to the main song!
VERDICT
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is exactly what cinema was made for. It is a banger of a movie, a crowd-pleaser in every sense of the word. But it exceeds expectations so effortlessly that you can’t help but be swept up in every twist, turn, serious dramatic moment, and sheer hilarity at times. It grabs you from the minute it starts and never lets go. You can’t take your eyes off the screen in case you miss something that raises the film even higher than it already is. Every summer, we get at least one movie that blows us out of the water and takes us by surprise with how enjoyable it is. This is certainly one of 2024’s crop. It is an event movie without a doubt.
One distraction though is the reveal of the hidden villain of the piece. We are supposed to wonder who it could possibly be throughout. I hate to say it but it is plainly obvious from the outset. The red herrings are easily spotted and dismissed, leaving us in no doubt who the traitor is. But that is a minor quibble in a film that is the perfect summer popcorn movie blockbuster. This is what the summer box office needs, what it is desperate for this year. With so many big films failing, this one most certainly won’t. It has everything we could ask for and more. It is fun, loud, exhilarating entertainment.
BAD BOYS MAKE FOR GREAT ENTERTAINMENT
Will there be a fifth film in the pipeline? That is inevitable. However, it will be hard-pressed to top this fourth chapter. The Bad Boys make for great entertainment. The bar for summer entertainment has just been raised even higher. It is a ride I’m looking forward to repeating several more times over the coming weeks. It truly is a ride to die for.
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die will be in UK cinemas from June 5th and in U.S. theaters from June 7th.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
