- Release Date: 07/06/2024
- Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Paola Núñez, Eric Dane, Jacob Scipio
- Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
“Ride Or Die” Captivates with Its Vibrant Cinematography, Hilarious Dialogue, And Perfect Balance of Comedy, Drama, And Action
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” genuinely surprised me with how much fun it was. While I enjoyed Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s previous tryst with the franchise—which still remains one of my favourite films of the series—I wasn’t expecting them to go this ballistic while still remaining genuine about the stakes and emotions involved in the narrative. This action film has everything that made the franchise great, along with a whole lot more drama and surprises that would make even Michael Bay proud of the direction that the franchise and its current directors have taken with his beloved characters and story.
Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), the man who made the Bad Boys who they are today, was killed in the previous instalment, and in this one, we learn why. He is framed for having connections with the cartel. A huge money trail is manufactured in his name, backed by a lot of evidence pointing to him being in cahoots with the cartels. This is done not only to smear his name but also to safeguard the actual perpetrators who are working closely with the cartels and are still part of the legal system. Mike (Will Smith) and Marcus (Martin Lawrence) cannot accept the fond memory of their dear departed captain being smeared and take it upon themselves to clear his reputation against the wishes of everyone. As they dig deeper into the case, they realize that the rabbit hole goes much deeper than they had expected, and soon they find themselves framed for crimes they have not committed and on the run from law enforcement. What happens next is what the story is all about.
From the above synopsis, it is abundantly clear that the film doesn’t have much to offer in terms of storytelling or novelty. We have seen similar stories a hundred times before. But this approach to storytelling setting up the proceedings under the boundaries of a strict timeline and fill the screen with stakes that are limited by time, adding to the claustrophobic and thrilling nature of the proceedings worked wonders for me. This is something that Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah realized and utilized to their advantage in the 2020 film, and it is something that they take to the next level in this instalment. Their understanding of the mood and the nature of the content—what would work and exactly how much time could be devoted to serious drama and when to switch to the uproariously hilarious comedy—is so on point that there wasn’t a single boring or unwarranted moment in the film, which is nearly two hours long.
The stakes for the characters in the film feel genuine, and you fear for the lives of the characters you have come to like. This is especially true for the character of Armando (Jacob Scipio), who we learned was Mike’s son in the previous instalment and who has a rather prolonged role in this film. He carries the same deadpan mannerisms and brings his authoritative physicality to the proceedings. The moments between the father and the son are kept to a minimum, but they are utilized in a manner that makes them memorable and realistic. The fact that he was the one who killed Captain Howard, however, still weighs down on the proceedings, and there wasn’t a single moment when I was not thinking about it. The fact that Howard’s daughter was after him and, in the end, gets a chance to avenge her father increases the tension tenfold in the film’s climax. All these elements are wonderfully utilized to enhance the impact of the film.
Martin Lawrence’s Marcus encounters a life-altering situation right at the beginning of the film, and throughout the rest of the film, his actions are catalyzed by what he has experienced in that experience. This predicament leads to some of the most hilarious comedic moments of the film. The fact that Lawrence is so charming and on point when it comes to delivering in outrageous moments ensures that his rendering of the character, who borders on being insane, never feels out of control. It is a departure from what we know of Marcus in previous Bad Boys films, where he was nearly always the fearful and reserved character. Here, he is the more gung-ho of the two characters and repeatedly snaps Will Smith’s Mike into his senses. This was amusing to watch in the film.
Mike, on the other hand, has become a lot more careful and safer after a certain incident in his life that not only makes him a far more responsible individual but also makes him value his own life. This results in some of the most uncharacteristic moments assigned to the character that are so far removed from what we know him as that it becomes shocking to a certain extent. As the story progresses, this becomes even more pronounced, leading to some hilarious moments. Will Smith is one of the most charismatic actors out there, irrespective of his newfound notoriety in modern Hollywood, and he brings his A-game to the fore, resulting in the chemistry and camaraderie between him and Lawrence working just as well as it did the first time around.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s direction of the film is fantastic. Their use of cinematography in a manner that infuses every frame of the film with a certain energy and freshness did not go unnoticed. I absolutely loved how they used the camera to their advantage to present mundane things interestingly. The same can be said about the action sequences, where the creative use of the camera and editing not only enhances the overall feel and impact of the action but also ensures that even after so many films of a similar nature, the action still feels fresh and intriguing. This was something that worked for their previous film as well, and it does so here too. I was so engaged in the story and the exchanges between the different characters that the action didn’t necessarily become the top-most draw for me. This was uncharacteristic of a Bad Boys film and tells you everything you need to know about how successful Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were in their execution of the film.
The comedy is infectious and stems primarily from the conversations between Mike and Marcus. The dialogues between the two are written so well and are infused with so much heart and fun that it becomes impossible not to laugh one’s heart out at this aspect of the film. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence ensure that their mannerisms and the dialogue complement each other so effectively that even the wackiest moments of comedy in the film feel genuine and are able to extract belly laughs from the audience. There are a few exchanges between the two that border on being pseudo-spiritual, and these are probably the exchanges that made me laugh the hardest.
The film also brings back some of the characters from previous instalments, and one of them is Reggie (Dennis Greene), who was bullied by Mike and Marcus over and over again. This time around, Reggie does something that makes Mike and Marcus reconsider their bullying of him. This was easily one of the most exciting scenes of the film for me.
I cannot see anyone not getting entertained by “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” given the nature of the action films we are served these days. I am confident that this film will entertain and amuse even the fans of the franchise who didn’t like the third instalment all that much. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah hit the right notes and strike the perfect balance between comedy, genuine dramatic moments laced with emotional stakes, and spellbinding action that is captured with vitality and innovation. The result is a film that keeps impressing you with its varied qualities throughout its runtime and ultimately leaves you satisfied and with a great aftertaste. If you enjoy action films, this must be your film for this weekend.
Rating: 3.5/5 (3.5 out of 5 Stars)
The views expressed in this article are that of the reviewer and do not reflect EastMojo’s position.
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