REVIEW: BAD BOYS - RIDE OR DIE

3.5/5

Ride For This

115 Mins. Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Dennis McDonald, John Salley, DJ Khaled, Tiffany Haddish & Joe Pantoliano. Screenplay: Chris Bremner & Will Beall. Directors: Adil & Bilall. In: Theatres.

Rumours of Will Smith's Hollywood demise were greatly exaggerated (whatcha gonna do?), as the 'Fresh Prince's' franchise with fellow sitcom star 'Martin' has become one of the loudest box-office makers of the scorching summer, alongside the likes of 'A Quiet Place's' 'Day One' prequel and the forthcoming buddying up of 'Deadpool and Wolverine'. Yet we know this team-up is the perfect partnership, ever since Michael Bay's brilliant original in 1995 and the 2003 loud and proud sequel. Even in the corona stunted year of cinema, 2020 gave us 'Bad Boys For Life' (although we don't think a disgraced Diddy will be returning for any more soundtracks), and new blood was pumped into the heated vice of the Florida keys welcoming you back to Miami. 

So why not 'Ride Or Die' over another instalment as sequels like the next 'I Am Legend' with Michael B. Jordan are taken off the shelf? If you don't like it, at least you get to see Martin Lawrence slap the s### out of Smith in the name of his fellow Def Comedy Jam legend, Chris Rock. Too much tongue in swollen cheek for you? Has enough time passed? Should we still throw stones from our glass houses? Or should we keep all of this out of our mouths? The 'King Richard' Oscar winner who has already had his 'Emancipation' critical comeback may still carry this infamous moment with him, but this is not just his movie. And the grace of his humility, offset by his Hollywood hubris, knows this. Smith and Lawrence will forever be one of the best tag-teams in cinema, as they get up, even more exhausted than usual, for their iconic, slow-motion camera crawl. They could do this for another 48 hours if they wanted to.

'Coming To America', when Will and Martin were filming 'Bad Boys For Life', the great Eddie Murphy was finishing up his 'Coming 2 America' sequel across the way with Arsenio Hall. Trailer to trailer, it all made for a beautiful moment of black excellence in all its legend, and a perfect photo-op. Now as 'Bad Boys 4' is doing the business, Murphy's other law, 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' makes its return with its own fourth film on streaming service Netflix. The nostalgia is Mike Tyson in 'The Hangover' "NIIICE!" High-fives all around as this film welcomes back Miami icon DJ Khaled for another one, NBA great and friend John 'Spida' Salley with those buttermilk glasses, and even 'The Matrix' star and Captain Joe Pantoliano, who apparently got it in the neck in the last movie. But we all know this Miami heat rock from the bay goes further than the great beyond. Grab your Skittles, and enjoy!

Partnering up again, directing team Adil & Bilall return, reuniting with the screenplay work of Chris Bremner and Will Beall. It all screams and adds up to some high octane and heavy-handed action that amazes in-between all the hallmark humour and helpings of heart. Check Will Smith's Instagram for some brilliant behind the scenes camera takes of how they filmed some of these first-person shooters, turning this blockbuster into a video game. Gun play hasn't looked this great since those training videos of Keanu Reeves getting into 'John Wick' character. There's a whole team behind this one-two punch mind you as Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez are all welcomed back as fond franchise favourites now. Just like the family matters of Jacob Scipio, who could star in his own, more serious spin-off if he wanted to. 

Although we all know that it's Dennis McDonald's Reggie that deserves his own movie after his scene and barbecue stealing moment here. No longer shown the door for the most hilarious dad talk, before taking your daughter out on a date, Smith and such have even mocked-up a movie poster for his next action flick. And why not slide into that role, as the awesome Tasha Smith, even replaces the amazing Theresa Randle from the last three-films in something that will remind you of Aunt Viv from Bel-Air? Newcomer Melanie Liburd is also welcome to the family. Whilst Mr. Fantastic, Ioan Gruffudd looks as such as new mayor of Miami. Eric Dane's great 'Jack Reacher' like villain and a classic cameo from Tiffany Haddish completes this epic ensemble that's as much an all-star collection as the soundtrack guest-list (Will himself finally makes music for this like a man in black, teaming-up with Sean Paul to 'Light 'Em Up'). Although we all know, even the Bad Boys theme can't touch Diana King's 'Shy Guy'. Lord have mercy! Dancing on top of a Dade County rooftop in a hospital gown with our cheeks out, we'd ride together for another 'Bad Boys'. For life. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Bad Boys For Life', 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F', 'Rush Hour 4(?)'.