Movie 35 - Bad Boys Ride or Die (2024), Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.
The iconic Bad Boys duo returns in this latest installment. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence aim to recapture their youthful spirit in this action-packed sequel.
The movie was entertaining, a good way to pass time, and worth 180 rupees I paid for the ticket, which is the cheapest I find reasonable. My friend, who hadn't seen it before, laughed and just vibed with the film. While I laughed too, I couldn't help but think that these were the same guys who made the legendary Bad Boys 1 and 2 that are a classic made the third installment that is a strange Spanish soap family drama and are now trying to spark that fire but are trying too hard.
The action scenes were impressive, especially the first-person camera perspective during final gunfights, just like in video games. It's innovative cinematography like this that I hope to see more in action films like John Wick 4's top-view shot are fresh and new. Sequences such as the Cargobob scene and the final amusement park showdown with alligator were well-filmed and engaging. The Reggie sequence was cool, but I felt it could have benefited from more traditional camera angles instead of CCTV footage which made you go back and forth between happy and annoy.
Regarding the villain, Eric Dane portrayed a smart and ruthless antagonist with swagger. Apart from his role in Euphoria, his performances in The Last Ship, X-Men etc. showcase his talent. His character had a compelling origin story and didn't shy away from his ideals or the brutal things he had gone through and using that as motivation to take revenge and build a strong and smart character, The introduction sequence of him framing a person by literally guiding another person's hand was smart and just ruthless and perfectly set up what type of person he is, I wish he had some more screen time though.
As far as the storyline goes it felt disconnected at times. While the beginning is the usual fast car, crazy sequence to get you hyped up, the setup leading to the main plot were choppy. For instance, the reveal of the captain's death and Will Smith's son's involvement felt rushed after Eric Dane's framing of the captain. The twist involving Ioan Gruffudd as the villain was predictable which is fine, but Martin Lawrence's spiritual journey subplot felt unnecessary and overly dramatic. Nevertheless, his comedic moments, like when he is trying to eat unhealthy stuff and the gator encounter was just pure comedy and fun.
Overall, Bad Boys Ride or Die is a decent movie, an improvement over the third one but still trying a bit too hard. Films like Bad Boys, Beverly Hills Cop, Terminator and Die Hard thrived on simple and effective chemistry between characters. While plot intricacies are less important in such films, maintaining strong chemistry and straightforward storytelling is key.
In conclusion, I recommend watching Bad Boys Ride or Die for its entertainment value. Enjoy it for what it is just two buds having fun. 8/10
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