Will Smith and Martin Lawrence team up for another round of bickering, banter, and bullets.
By James Verniere/Boston Movie News
Two-thirds into “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” Martin Lawrence slaps Will Smith hard in the face about half a dozen times, seemingly saying, “All right, is that enough for you haters?” Frankly, I’m weary of the ongoing backlash from Smith’s infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars.
But I’m not as tired as Smith and Lawrence are of playing Miami Police Department Detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. Almost 30 years since Smith and Lawrence originated the R-rated roles created by “Midnight Run” writer George Gallo and first directed by Michael Bay, the films continue to lift from the 1980s “Lethal Weapon” series and mix lewd and profane bickering and bantering humor, focusing on the careers, friendships, and families of Mike and Marcus with the extreme gun violence of Quentin Tarantino and John Woo movies. With roots in comedy and the ability to sell brutal fight scenes and shootouts, Smith and Lawrence were perfect for the mix. Now, they are repeating the series’ tropes without much enthusiasm, excitement, or energy. The thrill is way gone.
In this fourth installment, Mike and Marcus bicker on their way to Mike’s wedding to his physical therapist Christine (Englishwoman Melanie Liburd, “Game of Thrones”), where Marcus will survive going into cardiac arrest, complete with a “Get Out” steal. Later, the FBI and aspiring Miami politician Lockwood (Welshman Ioan Gruffudd) reveal that Mike and Marcus’ beloved, late boss, Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano), was in cahoots with the cartels.
Mike and Marcus embark upon a crusade to clear Howard’s name. Platinum-flecked Eric Dane (TV’s “Euphoria”) is the villain, Banker. The cast also includes Rhea Seehorn as U.S. Marshall Judy Howard, Howard’s daughter; Quinn Hemphill as her daughter Callie; Vanessa Hudgens returning as weapons specialist Kelly; Alexander Ludwig as the fun tech expert Dorn; and Paola Nunez as Captain Rita Secada. Jacob Scipio leaves a strong impression as Mike’s wayward assassin son, Armando. Charles Melton, who played Rafe in “Bad Boys for Life,” does not return in this sequel. In flashy, small roles, Tiffany Haddish is a potty-mouthed Miami stripper den mother (Can you hear the air leaking from the balloon of Haddish’s career?), and DJ Khaled appears as some grizzly-sized, gun-waving thug. For the third time, Dennis Greene reprises his role as Reggie, Marcus’ couch potato nephew and new Marine Corps recruit, with a ninja surprise up his sleeve.
The screenplay by Chris Bremner (“Bad Boys for Life”) and Will Beall (Aquaman”) mixes comedy, shootouts, car chases, profanity, and lame catchphrases (“Bring the thunder,” “Let’s do this”). Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah return after the crowd-pleasing “Bad Boys for Life.” Costars Smith, 55, and Lawrence, 59, do not have any gray hair on their heads. But they have not been boys for a very long time. A glass-shattering shootout is set to the slow beat of Barry White. In a scene that should have been funnier, Mike and Marcus try to explain to shotgun-toting rednecks why they are wearing “White Boy” and Reba McEntire T-shirts (cue Reba on the soundtrack). The editing is often a time-lapsing blur. Arbi and Fallah, whose 2023 “Batgirl” film was declared a tax write-off by Warner Bros., never tire of gratuitous overhead shots or even (!) shaky cam. The finale features something scary in the waters beneath an abandoned amusement park in a swamp. Unleash your lame “Jurassic Park” joke. “Whatcha gonna do/When they come for you?” Watch a John Woo movie instead, I say.
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’
Rating: R for strong violence, language throughout, and some sexual references.
Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd
Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Writer: Chris Bremner, Will Beall
Running Time: 115 minutes
Where to Watch: AMC Boston Common, AMC Causeway, AMC Boston Common, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC South Bay and other suburban theaters
Grade: B-
Boston Movie News 