Bad Boys: Ride or Die

There were only a few of us in the cinema as we viewed the opening of Bad Boys: Ride or Die. It was an early matinee time and many people were probably still at work. Whatever the reason, it felt special as if we were at a private showing as we saw the iconic figures of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in action.

As much older policemen, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are put to the task of finding the corrupt guys who were behind gunning down their beloved supervisor. When he is accused of being involved with the drug cartels, they are determined to clear his name. The cesspool of those in high places widens and danger surrounds both of them.

Without giving too much away, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) has a new bride to protect and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) wants to protect his family which includes his wife, daughter and son-in-law whom he feels should get a job. Marcus has recently had a health scare and after having an outer-body experience, he is informed that it is not his time to transition. He is sent back to be a part of the high action but he mistakenly thinks that he is invincible and continually takes even greater risks with his life.

Mike Lowrey’s bi-racial son from an earlier union has a criminal past but proves to be a valuable ally as they finally take on the bad guys. They are fighting several groups because the big guys put a bounty on their heads and the gangs are trying to collect the five millions dollars from several different fronts.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die  is action-packed, has great music in the background, showcases beautiful homes along with the breathtaking scenery. This combination easily transports the viewer to other places and spaces. The two travel at high speeds on land, air and water and as the title suggests, they almost die while trying to accomplish their mission.

 The audience laughed, clapped at intervals and a degree of profanity is filtered throughout the movie to express their raw emotions. It is a great way to escape into another world for a couple of hours. I enjoyed watching both Will Smith and Martin Lawrence do their thing almost 30 years after the first Bad Boys movie debuted in 1995.

There were several great points in the movie, but for me, the very last scene which involved Martin’s son-in-law was the real  quencher. Go and see Bad Boys: Ride or Die and see how the son-in-law gets the last laugh. I was also delighted to see Will Smith laugh again!

Lynn M.
June 8, 2024