A scene from ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’
The adrenaline is high and there are crazy shootouts in a helicopter and at an abandoned crocodile park (abandoned by everyone except the toothy reptiles). Despite all that, there’s no secret formula to keep anyone hooked in the fourth installment of the buddy action comedy.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Director: Adil and Bilal
Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nunez, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhea Seehorn, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Pantoliano
Story: The bad boys once again tangle with a drug cartel and do more to clear their captain’s name
Duration: 117 minutes
Mike (Will Smith) of the Miami Police Department is finally grown up and marrying his therapist (physical, not mental, the film emphasizes) Christine (Melanie Liburd). At the wedding, his partner on the force, Marcus (Martin Lawrence), has a heart attack. After a near-death experience where he gets advice from the greats, Marcus is a new man and isn’t too happy when his wife, Theresa (Tasha Smith), gives up all salty snacks and becomes a vegetarian to help him recover.
Then it’s time for the bad boys to ride again (forget Marcus’ timid heart), when their dead captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) is accused of committing fraud and taking money from the cartel. In a message from beyond the grave, Conrad tells Mike and Marcus that there is someone dirty within the police. The two decide to investigate further and clear the captain’s name.
Kelly (Vanessa Hudgens), Dorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Rita (Paola Nunez) from the Miami Police Department and U.S. Marshal Judy (Rhea Seehorn), who is Conrad’s daughter, are also looking for the truth. Lockwood (Ioan Gruffudd) is running for mayor and is Rita’s latest boyfriend. Mike’s son, Armando (Jacob Scipio), who is in prison for Conrad’s murder, has crucial evidence. And there’s an Army Ranger, McGrath (Eric Dane), whose teeth-gnashing sarcasm makes him seem like a truly awful person.
Smith and Lawrence’s riffing is funny to an extent, especially the part about Smith being a donkey in his past life. However, it gets stale quickly and there are slapstick bits, which will bring back horrific memories of Oscar slap-gate. The video game shoot ’em up style action sequences catch the eye, as do the funny crocodiles, but then soon your mind goes to Lokesh Kanagaraj’s action sequences LeoWhich were a lot more exciting and thrilling overall.
It’s time for a return to the franchise that began nearly 30 years ago (1995, to be exact), directed by Michael Bay, who has a cameo in it. Bad Boys: Ride or DieWhether to be laid to rest in peace or in pieces – the choice is in the hands of Hollywood’s bean counters.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is playing in theaters now
