Here’s a surprise: the fourth installment of the “Bad Boys” franchise is kind of fun. Martin Lawrence and Will Smith may not be pitched at the same level as they were in the last one, but “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” throws new curves. Lawrence’s character suffers a heart attack; Smith’s deals with relationship woes (and, yes, a slap).
Both, however, are determined to learn who framed their friend and tried to make him the focus of a drug investigation. Oddly enough, the new stance works. Will Smith, left, and Martin Lawrence in "Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
" Frank Masi, Columbia Pictures-Sony The two rely on the help of associates, work their way around Miami and wind up in an abandoned theme park where a giant gator adds one more layer of entertainment. In a closing segment, “Ride or Die” has all the excitement of the first “Bad Boys” film. It doesn’t send any messages, but it does say there’s still life in the two actors.
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Lawrence, who looked like he was headed to a guest spot on “The Neighborhood,” rallies here and fends off those ideas that he’s too old for this kind of work. After the heart attack, he thinks his invincible and demonstrates as much with his partner. Smith pulls back a bit but doesn’t disappear.
“Ride or Die” is a reset that lets him move past the Academy Awards slap (Lawrence helps). Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack The two banter about aging, lean in on family and don’t go down dark alleys that don’t produce results. “Ride or Die” is quite entertaining in spots but don’t expect those star cameos to linger.
If you miss them, they’re gone. (Thank you, Tiffany Haddish.) Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the film has an old school look (Miami fits perfectly) and doesn’t press its actors to look more active than they are.
Smith tosses out a slam, Lawrence hits it back. They seem OK in action sequences, too. While Smith’s wedding may be a bit much, it gives him someone to worry about, even when his son shows up.
Joe Pantoliano gets pretty good screen time considering his character is dead. And Eric Dane is just as good as any number of actors who turn up as a film’s heavy. Female characters don’t get as much attention but the script hints at the real hand feeding drug problems in the United States.
“Ride or Die” isn’t an acting exercise like “King Richard.” Smith, in fact, looks like he’s going through the motions in many scenes. But it’s his way back into the good graces of fans who wondered if that was his last good film.
This suggests more lies under the surface and it’s time to give him another chance. It's obvious why "Ride or Die" is doing well at the box office. It’s as old-school as these buddy films get but it’s also highly entertaining.
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