Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
The Bad Boys are returning for a fourth adrenaline-charged, absurd, Ride Or Die action-adventure outing. Returning four years after their last buddy cop romp, Bad Boys For Life, Miami narcotics detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) & Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are once again breaking the rules as they try to clear the name of their deceased captain, Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano). Time has passed, & now the middle-aged cops are in a new phase of their lives, with Mike finally getting hitched & Marcus dealing with heart issues. Despite this, the two men are as wild, headstrong, & reckless as ever as they battle corrupt cops & cartel goons.
In terms of storyline, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die isn't reinventing the wheel. It's a basic plot that puts the buddy cop duo front & centre and basically serves its purpose of throwing the heroes into insane, explosion & bullet-riddled action sequences.
Between the over-the-top action, cheesy dialogue, & cringe-worthy cameos scattered throughout the film, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die teeters on the edge of becoming a meme. Despite this, it is often laugh-out-loud funny and captivating. I had a huge reaction when I realised that the villain's hideout was clearly inspired by Orlando's iconic theme park, Gatorland.
P.S. If you haven't been to Gatorland on a trip to Orlando, you are missing out! Forget Disney, & go there instead!
Where this film really shines is in the new spin on the character interactions between Mike & Marcus. Watching the two almost flip their dynamics at various points throughout the film gives each of them a much more fully realised persona. The cinematography is also really compelling at times, whether that's the beautiful, colourful shots of southern Florida beaches & sunsets or the incredibly energetic & bold camera work.
One scene, in particular, drops the viewer into a first-person-shooter-style perspective, which at first seems like a cheap gimmick but ends up creating a thrilling moment.
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is a ridiculously enjoyable, silly, funny, action flick that does everything you expect, and nothing more.
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