BAD BOYS, RIDE OR DIE

US, 2024, 115 minutes, Colour.

Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nunez, Eric Dane, Ioan Grffud, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Pantoliano..

Directed by Abdil el Arbi, Bilall Fallah.

Quick review: probably want everybody was expecting. So, it all depends on audience expectations!

Young audiences who enjoyed the original Bad Boys movie in 1995 are now approaching 50 (or have reached it). Audiences enjoyed a sequel in 2003 but there was a 17 year gap before the third Bad Boys movie in 2020. And, here they are again, Martin Lawrence a bit larger than life, playing a grandfather, Will Smith having an adult son, Armando, in prison for murder and drug dealing, who appeared in the third film.

So, that is the setting and the expectations – and, quite a number of the cast of Bad Boys 3 reappear, including Joe Pantoliano who has been in all four films as Captain Howard, who died in the previous film, is still dead but appearing in videos he had made as well as in some near death experiences for Martin Lawrence’s Markus.

In the middle of the film, Will Smith’s Mike has a panic attack and Marcus slaps his face, vigorously. So, reference to the famous Oscars slap by Will Smith on Chris Rock. Clearly, it is now time to look at the slap in perspective, an acknowledgement, some rehabilitation.

So, we get to know the Bad Boys once again, the jovial repartee and banter. Marcus has a heart attack, near death experience which convinces him that he cannot die now. And it happens at the wedding when Mike surprisingly becomes a husband again. But, we get into a whole lot of drug dealing, cartel brutality, the framing of the dead Captain Howard, his police daughter angry with the Bad Boys, their being targeted by her as well as by the cartel leaders, especially the ruthless Joe McGrath, played with sinister relish by Eric Dane.

As expected, there is a lot of action, helicopter action and crash, small plane crashing through an abandoned amusement park building, lots of shootouts, lots of fights, lots of Bad Boys heroism.

And, there is quite some sentiment, nostalgia and memories, friendships, saving lives, and emotions all the next generations.

Audiences can congratulate themselves because as soon as a smarmy character steps onto the scene early in the film, we are sure that he is going to turn out to be the smarmy contact with the cartels. And, as the climax builds up and there is reference to a giant albino alligator at the abandoned amusement pier, we are sure that his villain is going to end up in the alligator jaws. Not a  spoiler because we can work that one out for ourselves!

With its immediate box office success and Will Smith restored to popularity, it looks as though this Bad Boys film was what worldwide audiences were looking for.

1. The popularity of the films and stars for almost 30 years?
2. The Miami settings, the police, the FBI, the Mayor’s office, the cartels, crime, framing, the criminal situation?
3. Audience respond to Mike and Marcus, over 30 years, their friendship, repartee, the decades, getting older, Marcus as husband and grandfather, the extended family, Mike, his relationship with a Mondo, as marrying Christine? Their police work?
4. The early part of the film, getting to know them again, Mike and his wedding, Marcus and the collapse, the near death experience, Captain Howard, believing he could not die? Walking through the traffic? The visions of Captain Howard? Reassurances? Reassuring Mike? Mike and his disbelief? Mike and his own panic attacks, Marcus and the slaps?
5. The Mayor, audience suspicions, too smooth? The relationship with Rita? His later dealings, smooth, his gradually being exposed, turning on Rita? His attempt at escape, the alligator?
6. The cartels, McGrath, the signing over the money in Captain Howard’s account, his being dead, named blackened, his daughter and granddaughter? The daughter and her blaming Mike for her father’s death? The revelation of the videos, his explanations, the clues, the clue about Fletcher, going to his club, the attack and the shootings, the image of his artwork, opening up the videos, Captain Howard and his explanations? His forgiving them?
7. The targeting of Mike and Marcus? Their own investigations, Armando in prison, the attack on him, the fight, the escape, the Mayor’s agreement, the helicopter, the information, the fight, the crash, teaming up with Dorn and Kelly, the equipment, Armando identifying McGrath? His being on the helicopter?
8. The evidence, persuading Rita, her reaction against the Mayor? Howard’s a daughter, the abduction of his granddaughter, a relentless pursuit of the couple?
9. The buildup to the confrontation, the abandoned pier, the giant alligator, the mere trying to escape, the plane crash? Fighting, the shooting? Final confrontation with McGrath?
10. The happy ending, the barbecue, the banter, Reggie and his heroism in saving the family, and his getting to grill chicken?