“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise and the sequel to “Bad Boys for Life” (2020). “Bad Boys for Life” is considered the most successful film in the series, both critically and commercially, and it is unique in that it was not directed by the original filmmaker, Michael Bay. The fourth film is being helmed by the Belgian filmmaker duo Adil and Bilall, who also directed the previous film. Alongside stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, the sequel features the returning regular cast from the last film, including Joe Pantoliano, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Jacob Scipio, and DJ Khaled. The big question remains: will this sequel achieve the same critical and commercial success as its predecessor?
In “Ride or Die,” Mike (Smith) and Marcus (Lawrence) must clear the name of their late boss, Captain Howard (Pantoliano), who is suspected of collaborating with the cartel for personal gain. Their investigation leads to a mysterious man, forcing Mike and Marcus to involve Armando (Scipio), who is in custody. Armando can identify the mastermind, but the three of them become trapped and hunted by the authorities. The situation becomes even more complicated when Captain Howard’s daughter, Judy, a US Marshal, is the one hunting them (Armando killed her father in the third film). To make matters worse, bounty hunters are also after them, enticed by a USD 5 million reward initiated by the mastermind.
This fourth film has strong ties to the story of the third film. For those who haven’t seen the previous installment, some elements, particularly the relationship between Mike and Armando and the motives of Captain Howard’s daughter, might feel lacking. The script cleverly builds on the conflicts triggered by events from the previous film, making the storyline more personal and profound. Unlike the first two films directed by Bay, which focused mainly on the reckless actions of two detectives, the two follow-up films take risks and incorporate family values into the plot. This is quite surprising, and the fourth film, believe it or not, has a rather touching story.
Despite its emotional depth, action and humor remain dominant, which have been the “soul” of the series from the start. The action sequences are as thrilling as those in the Fast & Furious series, featuring a tense and intense scene involving a helicopter. In terms of suspense, “Ride or Die” feels like the best in the series, with a nearly non-stop plot. The action-packed chase of “fugitives” is key to the compelling narrative. Meanwhile, the humor, predominantly driven by Marcus, revolves around his near-death experience and the topic of “reincarnation.” Silly dialogues are abundant, and Marcus even performs a “tribute” to Smith’s slap on Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards by mimicking it (multiple times) in one scene, which will undoubtedly make the audience laugh. As in the third film, Michael Bay makes a cameo appearance, and this film still adopts his energetic shooting style in many scenes.
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” retains the series’ spirit through its action and humor while unexpectedly incorporating touching family values. The filmmaker duo has successfully used the winning formula of the third film in their script. Whether this film will succeed remains to be seen. Smith’s shocking incident at the Academy Awards two years ago has reportedly had a significant impact on his career and life. Smith (along with Lawrence) has given his all, and “Ride or Die” (along with “Bad Boys for Life”) has managed to make up for any shortcomings of the first and second films. Will the fourth film also redeem Smith’s career? We’ll find out soon.
