Film: Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nunez, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith , Rhea Seehorn, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Pantoliano, DJ Khaled, John Salley
Directors: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Rating: 3/5
Runtime: 115 min

This fourth entry in the rejuvenated buddy cop, action, comedy franchise is surprisingly fluid and enjoyable. Wisecracking Miami cops Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) start off as the usual happy-go-lucky duo working up enough chemistry as they lever themselves up for yet another dangerous mission. This time they have to clear the name of their late police captain, their mentor Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) who is accused of colluding with drug cartels.

The premise is a bit wonky because the money gets transferred into the late Captain’s account much after his death so the need for an investigation feels rather belated and pointless. It’s a staring-you-in-your-face kind of frame-up and should have been dismissed by the F.B.I and other agencies involved but then there would be no complicated reason to make this movie would there?