Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Overview

After their late former Captain is framed, Lowrey and Burnett try to clear his name, only to end up on the run themselves.

Rating

9 Reviews

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  GenerationofSwine

  1 Jul 9, 2024

  We liked Bad Boys because it was Lethal Weapon in Miami, and we like Lethal Weapon because it was just like the other 356 buddy cop movies we saw before it. It's a timeless LCD flick that you're going to go and see because you know it delivers.... ... the thing is, it didn't. This one took itself a bit too seriously. It had to, the actors are a bit too old to be on the money like with were in the first two... ... well Martin is, Will I think can still pull off the action bit. He's clearly still in good shape. But a lot of the comedy is absent, a lot of the bickering is gone, and we like buddy cop movies because we like the humor and we like seeing two hard men bickering like an old married couple... ... because men who have known one another forever tend to bicker like that and it's always fun to watch and listen to even when it's not in an action movie setting. And frankly, they lost sight of that too. So what is left is a buddy cop movie that forgot a lot of the tropes of the buddy cop movies... and that just doesn't work. We watched Bad Boys because it was Lethal Weapon, and we watched Lethal Weapon because we liked the other 789 buddy cop flicks we saw before it. But... again, it's 2024, our expectations are so low that we will let this slide and think it's great because, honestly, modern movies suck and this one didn't suck as hard. So back to 1995 when they remade Lethal Weapon and brought in elements from Miami Vice and... yeah, the movie still wasn't great, but it was really fun and entertaining and that is what counted.

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  MovieGuys

  6 Jul 16, 2024

  Not awful but hardly remarkable either, Bad Boys, Ride or Die is a passable shake and bake, crime action flick. The downsides, in short order, include a rapper gangsta vibe, that's overcooked to the point of cultural cremation. Its no helped by humour, that's, for most of this film, rarely even remotely funny. The upside is what you would expect, polished and unrelentingly, over the top action, which, taken on its own, is entertaining. Backed by a serviceable, if basic, story. In summary, if you can look past the gangster, rapper bombast, Bad Boys, Ride or Die, is an enjoyable, synapse neutral, action flick, for a slow day or evening.Worth a look.

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  Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

  9 Jul 17, 2024

  I had an absolute blast watching “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in the popular buddy comedy / action franchise that started off with a bang way back in 1995. Co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, back at the helm after 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” pay homage to the “Bad Boys” legacy while injecting new life into it. As a longtime fan, this film actually over delivers. It is everything I wanted and more. I feel like the word-of-mouth on this movie is going to be electric and if audiences decide to show up, it very well could be the movie that saves the summer box office. When their former Captain and friend Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) is implicated in a corruption scandal involving a dangerous cartel, Miami police officers Marcus (Martin Lawrence) and Mike (Will Smith) have to work to clear his name. After a series of unexpected events, the partners find themselves on the other end of the law. Now on the run as wanted criminals (and on a hit list of local gangs), Mike and Marcus must stay ahead of the cops and the cartel while rushing to solve the mystery of who wants to frame the late Captain Howard. With danger closing in and not knowing who to trust, the men must rely on their wits, their friendship, and their street-smart instincts to survive. There is a lot that works well here, starting with a strong story where the stakes are high, the danger feels real, and the villain is formidable. The plot, which isn’t loaded with silly twists and turns, is actually plausible. It’s a rare combination in what could’ve been just another mindless summer blockbuster, and there’s a lot more meat on the bones, narrative-wise. The film also rekindles a love for what I now consider modern iconic characters. Marcus and Mike may be older, but their banter, camaraderie, and comedic timing all still feel relevant. Most of this is due to Smith and Lawrence being a terrific pair, bickering with a natural chemistry that comes across as effortless. You believe these two guys would give their lives for each other, which makes the story even stronger. It is such a pleasure to see these two back together again. The R-rated action is among the best of the franchise, too, from high-speed chases to intense, bloody shootouts. There are a series of inventive scenes that are expertly choreographed and storyboarded, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen such fresh and original action sequences like the ones here. The creativity sets (and hits) a higher bar, and El Arbi and Fallah’s contemporary directorial approach is stylish, energetic, and results in adrenaline-fueled action scenes that are so well done that the film is a literal heart pounder. This is one of those stand up and cheer type of films that’s best experienced with an audience that’s also fired up to be there. I absolutely loved everything about “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” It’s the type of action film that’s done so well, you’ll leave the theater feeling that overwhelming sense of exhilaration that can only be described as a Hollywood high. If you love the genre, make it a priority to go see this one. By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

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  Chandler Danier

  9 Jul 23, 2024

  Good job, Bad Boys. You're gonna make a satisfying film when I come for you. I kind of ignored the first hour and a half but definitely the first hour. It might be for the best but Lawrence is good. Will is good. But they're also bad. I like the spiritual overtones and comedy. Satisfying buddy comedy. The drones are sweet. I liked the AI camera effects. The psycho killer younger guys are good. Insane violence at the end. Seemed so PG until you hit the violence and there is so much celebration of violence. Maybe I missed some previous violence but it seemed quite intense and sudden. I hope they make a sequel with the psychos. Grandpas can Denzel some guys. Hopefully they'll match their speech with the rest of the graphic content. All the humour is so tame. I hear you get to say more shit when you get old. BBCU4L

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  Per Gunnar Jonsson

  6 Oct 26, 2024

  I will not deny that I found this movie somewhat entertaining. Maybe even fairly entertaining. This mostly comes from the action and a few entertaining humorous scenes splattered across the movie. However, it could have been so much better if the script had not been written by the usual bunch of low IQ Hollywood hacks. Most of the humor is just unintelligent and cringeworthy. Marcus Burnett is simply nonsensically silly most of the time. His feeding nonsense followed by this ridiculous “I am immortal” crap and rubbish dream scenes were not funny at all but rather dragged down the movie. The attempt to create drama by making Lowrey have psychotic episodes which ruined the mission and action on several occasions was also totally unnecessary in my opinion. The bad guy started off really good with the first scenes where the entire plot is set up. Then however, he just became your average Hollywood villain. The initial badass bad guy vibe was never developed. The script itself is a classical Hollywood action script. That is, it is simple, very predictable, unrealistic with lots of plot holes and really just a rehash of something done a million times. However, in this context, it was not bad. It was certainly good enough for this type of movie. This could have been a really good movie if the task of coming up with a script had just been given to someone with some actual talent. As it stands this is just a somewhat (maybe even fairly) entertaining Hollywood action movie.

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  Ahmetaslan27

  4 Jul 13, 2025

  **A Villain Without Depth, A Plot Without Weight – Ride or Die Stumbles** The title of the movie has little to do with the actual plot—a point many have noted before.The story follows Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett, as they face major life changes. Mike finally settles down and gets married, while Marcus undergoes a temporary health crisis that shifts his outlook on life. Amidst this, a shocking revelation emerges: new evidence suggests their late former boss, Captain Howard, was corrupt and involved with Mexican drug cartels. Unsurprisingly, Mike and Marcus refuse to believe this accusation. I wasn’t excited about this movie for several reasons, one being my dislike for the previous movie. Since the directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, remained the same, I didn’t expect significant improvements. The movie starts off well by avoiding a major flaw from the last one—the jarring shift between serious and comedic tones. Will Smith, despite my overall disappointment with the movie, delivered an energetic performance, and his comedic timing felt genuinely sincere. However, the story itself is underwhelming and below average. The premise—a beloved former police captain’s reputation being tarnished—lacks depth, and the explanation for his alleged corruption is unconvincing. The plot feels incomplete, and both the beginning and ending are mediocre, which is a significant drawback. Another issue lies in the villains. The antagonist in this film is poorly written and unconvincing—evil simply for the sake of having a villain, rather than being a well-developed character. This weakens the movie further. Ultimately, it seems the filmmakers assumed audiences would watch simply because it’s another Bad Boys movie, not because of a compelling story. The characters lack depth, the plot offers nothing new, and no fresh dimensions are added to the franchise.