Bad Boys: Ride or Die starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence is fun and fast-paced action-packed movie

Film review: Bad Boys: Ride or Die (15) - seen at The Light Cinema, Wisbech

Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens and Alexander Ludwig

Directors: Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah Run time: 1 hour 55 minutes

If you’re seeking some high-brow cinema, then Bad Boys: Ride or Die probably isn’t for you. If, on the other hand, you’re up for some light entertainment, with some quite frankly ridiculously silly moments, then it’s definitely worth the two hours of your time.

The fourth instalment in the American cop comedy-drama film series also marks Will Smith’s first major role since the infamous ‘slapgate’ incident involving Chris Rock at the Oscars back in 2022.

You wouldn’t know it though from his ever-charismatic performance in this fun, fast-paced flick.

It’s at this point that I should probably mention that I haven’t watched either of the first two Bad Boys films, but streamed the third a few years ago and enjoyed it enough to want to watch this latest one.

Ride or Die sees the familiar ‘Bad Boys’ detectives Mike (Smith) and Marcus (Martin Lawrence) return as the dynamic duo who yet again find themselves in a spot of bother.

The 115-minute movie follows the pair as they try to clear the name of their former colleague Captain Howard - who has been (wrongly) posthumously accused of corruption - as the gangs behind it pursue them.

What comes next was thoroughly entertaining, if absolutely unbelievable at times - and there are some moments where I was bewildered as to how the pair were going to survive all that was thrown their way.

While Smith and Lawrence are undoubtedly the stars of the piece, they are supported well by Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Eric Dane and Rhea Seehorn.

There were some cameos in Ride or Die which felt a little gratuitous (see: DJ Khaled) but these were thankfully not overused.

I enjoyed the cinematography of certain scenes towards the end that made the action seem like we were watching a video game which felt fitting to what was happening on the screen.

While Bad Boys: Ride or Die might not stick in your mind for long after you’ve left the cinema, it makes for a thoroughly enjoyable evening - with edge-of-your-seat action and loads of laugh-out-loud moments.

Rating: 7/10