Title – Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) 

Directors – Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys For Life) 

Cast – Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Ioan Gruffudd

Plot – Everybody’s favourite Miami detectives and best friends Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are back but this time Miami’s finest are on the run and looking to clear their names.   

“That’s how you command the universe”

Review by Eddie on 15/07/2024

One of the Summer’s biggest unknown blockbuster’s, the fourth instalment of the Bad Boys franchise Ride or Die has become one of the surprise success stories of the up and down movie season, with it also becoming one of the rare examples of where not messing with the formula has once more served this newest entry, to become another highly entertaining and throwaway addition to the series. 

Directed again by duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who back up their solid work from 2020’s Bad Boys for Life, Ride or Die gives audiences more of what they will want from the exploits of BFF’s and Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett with an adrenaline filled, Red Bull infused version of an action comedy that at the same time marks the return of Will Smith following “Slapgate”, which based off the critical/audience reception and box off return of this feature suggest all has been forgiven for the shamed A-lister. 

A remarkable story of resilience and staying power and now a bastion of old Hollywood franchises that have somehow managed to stay relevant and wanted in today’s pop culture scene, Ride or Die continues to harbour the same amount of energy, chemistry and spectacle as past entries in the franchise, with the kicker this time around being that Smith’s Lowrey and Lawrence’s Burnett find themselves wanted men in a to be expected type of narrative that sees back and forth banter, snappy action kicks and pretty locales/stars remain front and centre throughout the films close to two hour running time. 

Make no doubt about it, there’s little in the way of subtilty, restraint or care of making an ounce of sense on display here but that’s entirely to be expected with Ride or Die a film for the fans and a film best left avoided by anyone who has never enjoyed the one time Michael Bay lead property with there being little reason to expect this frenetic offering is going to change anyone’s opinion of the Bad Boys property. 

Key to the films perfectly adequate middle ground success is once more the comradery of Smith and Lawrence who ensure their having a blast together first and foremost while the sun-soaked locales of Miami and it’s nearby surrounds goes hand in hand with Arbi and Fallah’s directional sensibilities with the two directors paying homage to Bay’s style over substance approach while at the same time infusing this latest addition with their own flavour that further showcases the directors as new kingpins of the Hollywood action event. 

A pleasantly appeasing offering in a Summer season that has started to showcase glimmers of hope in what was initially a period of dark clouds and much talk of despair, Ride or Die may not break any new ground but it gives us all a perfectly good piece of popcorn entertainment as well as further evidence that this duo has more to still give. 

Final Say – 

For anyone that’s ever enjoyed the Bad Boys series, Bad Boys: Ride or Die is going to be another winner making it one to avoid for haters and one to savour for the fans. 

3 ex-series director cameos out of 5