Summary
Warning: Major spoilers for Bad Boys: Ride or Die below!I was pleasantly surprised at how important Rhea Seehorn’s character was inBad Boys: Ride or Die. Summer 2024 hasn’t been kind to many of the big tentpole movies, as the surprise bombing ofFuriousorThe Fall Guyhas shown. Thankfully,Bad Boys: Ride or Die’sgreat Rotten Tomatoes ratingand box-office numbers came along to prove audiences will still turn out for an old-fashioned popcorn movie. This shouldn’t have been a surprise consideringtheBad Boysmovieshave always been solid earners, but it shows how the series has managed to stay relevant too.
I’ve been a fan of the series since it began, and can even recall how it transformed Will Smith from the “Fresh Prince” into a movie star almost overnight. In charting the evolution of the saga, I’m shocked at how much it has made audiences care about its heroes too. The third entry deepened the bonds between Mike (Smith) and Marcus (Lawrence), and was a surprisingly thoughtful reflection on aging and legacy.Bad Boys 3also featured Captain Howard’s (Joe Pantoliano) death,which has had repercussions across two movies so far.
Complicating matters is when Mike discovers Howard’s assassin Armando (Jacob Scipio) is his own son.Bad Boys: Ride or Diemakes the death of Howard a key plot point, as it’s revealed he was targeted by corrupt officials who wanted him silenced. Mike, Marcus and Armando are then forced to go on the run, with the hunt being led by Rhea Seehorn’s Marshal Judy Howard; in case the name doesn’t offer a big enough clue,Rhea Seehorn’s Judy is the vengeful daughter of the murdered Captain Howard.
Audiences are both invested in Mike and Armando reconnecting and overcoming the past while sympathizing with Judy on her mission to avenge her father’s murder.
I knew coming intoRide or Diethat Armando’s redemption arc would play a big part. After all, Armando murdered one of the franchise’s most beloved characters, and even if he was misled, he still pulled the trigger. Introducing Judy immediately upped the stakes. Despite her friendship with Mike and Marcus,Judy wants Armando dead and will stop at nothing to make that happen. In this way, audiences are both invested in Mike and Armando reconnecting and overcoming the past, while sympathizing with Judy on her mission to avenge her father’s murder.
Rhea Seehorn Playing Howard’s Daughter Made Her A Vital Character
With Captain Howard, Pantoliano played one of action cinema’s most memorable angry bosses. Despite this, it was clear he and his “bad boys” were close, and far from using his death as cheap shock value,Howard’s loss has ripples in bothBad Boys for LifeandRide or Die. While I wish Judy had been developed more as a character, her presence adds natural tension to the plot. In any other action movie, we’d be cheering Judy on to catch Armando and avenge Howard;Ride or Diemakes that traditional dynamic more complicated.
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Ending Explained
Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s ending reaffirms the themes set up in the previous film and reveals some big retcons about previous villains.
I thinkBad Boys: Ride or Die’sending pays this off beautifully when Armando rescues Judy’s own kidnapped daughter. This leaves her with the option of killing Armando and avenging Howard, which wouldalsomean murdering the man who risked his life to save her child. The last twoBad Boyshave focused on character over action, andI feel the resolution of both Judy and Armando’s arcs is beautifully done inRide or Die. The latter redeems himself about as much as he possibly can while Judy learns to let go of her grief and anger.
The first threeBad Boysmovies are currently available to stream on Hulu.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Cast
Bad Boys: Ride or Die continues the action-packed saga of Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The film follows the duo as they face new threats and personal challenges, blending intense action scenes with the camaraderie fans have come to love in the Bad Boys series.
