Shadows on the Wall | Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

dir Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
scr Chris Bremner, Will Beall
prd Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Smith, Doug Belgrad, Chad Oman
with Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jacob Scipio, Paola Nunez, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Joe Pantoliano, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Tiffany Haddish
release US/UK 7.Jun 24
24/US Columbia 1h55

See also:

Is it streaming?

For a fourth time, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence throw their never-by-the-books cops into another rampage of explosions and death. Audiences who enjoy cheering when bad guys die will love the nihilistic machismo. Others should already know to steer clear of this kind of thing. Sure, it's well put together. But the filmmakers simply can't be bothered to entertain even a hint of moral complexity or thematic interest.

When Marcus (Lawrence) has a heart attack at the wedding of his partner Mike (Smith) and Christine (Liburd), his after-death vision gives him a new fearlessness. And he'll need it as they dive into a case involving their beloved late captain (Pantoliano), who is accused of corruption in a conspiracy involving the sinister Banker (Dane) and Colombian cartels. Knowing the corruption extends right into the police force, Mike and Marcus they team with Mike's convicted killer son Armando (Scipio) and three trusted colleagues (Nunez, Hudgens and Ludwig) who aren't so sure about their crazy plan.

Merely stringing the action sequences together, the script is barely perfunctory. Plot point and "surprises" are obvious at the start, from who's corrupt to who will be kidnapped and need rescuing. All we can do is sit back and enjoy the crazy stunt work, which involves cars, helicopters, boats, planes and not quite enough of a giant albino alligator named Duke. There are also amusing fleeting cameos, several clips featuring the wonderful Pantoliano and a colourful extended scene for Haddish.

There's not much an actor can do with such simple dialog and storytelling, but Smith at least gets to layer in some subtext as a newly married man who is suddenly gripped by panic when things get nasty. The resolution to this is as pointless as expected, but at least it's something. Lawrence is little more than a clown, while the large supporting ensemble adeptly play their one-dimensional roles, adding a bit of passion, urgency and either sadism or lustiness, as the formula demands.

Essentially, the only joy to be had here is in the expertly staged chases and fights, which are energetic and rather enjoyably insane. This adds badly needed intensity that the movie never manages to crank up narratively. There are also some sparky comical moments along the way, even if we never for a second doubt where each plot strand is headed. And since the nuttier stunt sequences never get the adrenaline pumping, the cacophonous sound mix might lull you into a refreshing nap.

themes, language, violence 3.Jun.24

R E A D E R R E V I E W S

Still waiting for your comments ... don't be shy.