BAD BOYS – RIDE OR DIE: Movie Review

In 1995, a buddy cop action blockbuster starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence that is directed by Michael Bay just had a different weight to it. It’s what kickstarted the Bad Boys franchise in a time when Hollywood ran on this type of starpower and these kinds of films. Today, we are seeing another renaissance of this type of film and even though some of these old-school action flicks have failed to connect, Bad Boys: Ride or Die literally rides or dies on the nostalgia, simplicity, and charm of 90s action buddy comedies. It’s a big gamble to take a 90s premise and execution, along with 90s stars like Will Smith (yikes!) and Martin Lawrence, and deliver them to a modern-day audience. Yet, against all odds, Bad Boys: Ride or Die proves to be a giddy, frenetic, and somehow engaging sequel that lives on its old-school style and the considerable megawatt screen presence of its leads. Directors Bilal Fallah and Adil El Arbi don’t add a lot of craftmanship to this sequel but bring that 90s action passion, crafting a film that is cheesy and escapist in all the right ways.

As the leads of the film, both Will Smith and Martin Lawrence had to bring the screen presence and charisma to make this type of film work in today’s day and age. While both Smith and Lawrence might not have quite the same pep in their step as they once did, their energy and passion onscreen is palpable, with both of them working together to bring the type of dynamic that we haven’t seen on the big screen in a while. As the comic relief, Lawrence has still got some good chops, pairing well with Will Smith, who brings the stoic intensity to the duo. Together, these “Bad Boys” still know how to perform in this type of film, bringing a sense of energy to the film. Eric Dane plays a stereotypical 90s villain that doesn’t add much, while a slew of supporting performers like Vanessa Hudgens and Jacob Scipio round out the ensemble.

Despite all the hiccups in its execution and the overplayed storyline, Bad Boys: Ride or Die feels refreshing because of how well it works as a throwback. In a landscape that arguably is still living on CGI and franchise world-building, the simple thrills of Bad Boys: Ride or Die feel transportive to a different time, that even a film like The Fall Guy couldn’t quite tap into. It’s unapologetically imbued with a frenetic sense of humor and action, but it feels grounded and the characters feel fully fleshed out, with action sequences that have a bite to them that is missing from a lot of like-minded blockbusters. Even at its silliest, Bad Boys: Ride or Die proves the 90s action formula is well and alive, and it doesn’t hurt to take a dose now and again in the current day.