One of Will Smith’s most successful films, Bad Boys was released in 1995. Hollywood funded the third Bad Boys for Life in 2020, 17 years after its last.

Fans loved the project, which earned over 426 million USD worldwide, inspiring the producers to launch a fourth chapter, Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Vietnamese title: Bad Boys: Good Play).

The film is drawing theatregoers and is expected to resuscitate Will Smith’s career following the 2022 Oscars.

Police duo returns

The film’s simplistic plot continues from the previous segment. Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) is accused by bad guys of working with drug gangs for years.

The matched pair Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) must exonerate their colleagues and confront the mysterious person behind all the plots.

When thugs block them while solving the crime, things get complicated. Even two expert policemen were caught and could murder.

Adil & Bilall, who made Bad Boys for Life, direct. Thus, the filmmakers grasp the brand’s essence.

Action scenes build drama in the film, as in previous chapters. To avoid boredom, chases and gunfights are rapid and urgent.

Full use of Miami streets enhances the plot. The final battle is packed with action and special effects, making it feel like a Hollywood summer blockbuster.

Some features in the previous part are cleverly developed. What happened to Mike’s son or his connection with Marcus.

The writing also includes many lighthearted scenarios, keeping the 115-minute picture entertaining.

Good acting

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence had a natural acting chemistry from the start, which helped the Bad Boys brand stay popular.

The duo’s chemistry and humour are still there, giving the film a special appeal and evoking nostalgia to series fans.

Will Smith has spent decades playing Mike Lowrey and can convey his complex emotions. The actor uses facial expressions and voice to be ferocious in action situations.

Martin Lawrence still charms viewers with his sharp humour.

Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Paola Nunez also worked effectively, making the plot more appealing.

Critics liked Bad Boys 4 when it came out. Rotten Tomatoes rates it “Fresh” with 64% approval. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s reappearance was most welcome. The concept is familiar, but the engaging story and exciting action moments make it stand out.

The picture is also doing well, grossing over 104 million USD globally in its first week, surpassing the production budget of 100 million USD.

Will Smith was boycotted for slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. After that, he received more unpleasant personal news. The scandal made most audiences think the 1968 actor’s career would struggle to recover.

In Bad Boys 4, Will Smith showed his talent again. His absence would make the work unattractive.

Fans expect Will Smith to return with more heavy work after the film to continue to captivate audiences.

The Vietnamese premiere of Bad Boys 4 was also well received. Box Office Vietnam, an independent box office tracking body, said that the picture earned over 6.2 billion VND in Vietnamese theatres over the weekend, ranking third.

Overall, Bad Boys 4 maintains the franchise’s spirit. Despite being old, the film’s components are employed well, keeping it entertaining.