With its official June 7th theater release, Bad Boys: Ride or Die has taken over the big screen this weekend and reconnecting the franchise’s fans with our favorite character duo, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence). In an hour-and-55-minute-long action comedy, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah invite us on an exhilarating cinematic joy ride with Officers Lowrey and Burnett on their mission to exonerate their late Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) after the cartels posthumously frame him for corruption. Cinematographer Robrecht Hayvaert ties together the sexiness of Miami, the joy of family, the panic of aging men, grief of death and connection to the afterlife, and the love of brotherhood that weaves together the plot in an assemblage of masterful camera shots and techniques that define the Bad Boys franchise. Bad Boys: Ride or Die offers captivating performances by lead actors Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, and Jacob Scipio (who plays Mike Lowrey’s son, Armando), certifying them as the new “Big Three” in town.

Two of the major themes in the film are intimacy with death and passing a test. This begins with Marcus’ own brief encounter with and transformation by the spirit realm early in the movie. His transformative experience sets the comedic precedence for the big tests that confront him and his partner, Mike Lowrey, throughout the film. Can Lowrey weather the storms and pass the tests?

Bad Boys: Ride or Die offers a glimpse into Lowrey’s more vulnerable side, a kind of vulnerability we have not seen since his shooting in Bad Boys for Life (2020). Love, guilt, panic, pain, and grief all pierce the former “bullet proof Mike” as he experiences paralyzing moments induced by haunting visits from his past. His complicated relationship with his son, Armando, presents his most confrontational visit from his past as they struggle to work together on their mission to exonerate Captain Howard. However, Marcus’ newfound desire for calming life’s storms serves as a comedic relief for the tension between Lowrey and Armando.

Marcus’ own son-in-law, Reggie (Dennis McDonald), redeems his timid and quiet character in a stellar performance in defense of his family. He has come a long way from the shy kid who appeared on Marcus’ front steps in 2003 to take his daughter, Megan (Bianca Bethune), on a date. Reggie continues the bad boys’ crime-fighting legacy with his skill as a trained U.S. Marine, confirming that he can indeed fight as he proclaimed in Bad Boys II on the front steps of the Burnett residence.

Star performances by U.S. Marshall Agent Judy Howard (Rhea Seehorn) and Callie Howard (Quin Hemphill) add to the portrayal of complicated parent-child relationships in the movie, James McGrath (Eric Dane) stuns the viewer with his domineering performance, Theresa (Tasha Smith) and Christine (Melanie Liburd) warm our hearts with their affection for the iconic duo, while new and returning characters keep the explosive action and gut-busting comedy running through the movie. This is a film you don’t want to miss.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die in theaters now!

— Dominique Young