QG Review: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence Revive The Buddy-Cop Genre In 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die'

No MAJOR spoilers in this review.

Hollywood legends Will Smith and Martin Lawerence have hit turbo on the press run for the latest installment of their blockbuster Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die. From countless interviews to premieres in Dubai and Miami, and an extravagant LA red-carpet premiere — where the stars arrived atop a bus — the two stars have gone all out in promoting Bad Boys: Ride Or Die.

The 90s icons also made a stop in New York City for a surprise screening at the famous Roxy Cinema hosted by Carmelo Anthony and The Kid Mero. New York's finest tastemakers and friends enjoyed a special "Ode to Soul" pouring by VII(N) The Seventh Estate; the exclusive wine offering crafted by Anthony and Asani Swann. The gathering also included a live podcast taping of Anthony and The Kid Mero's podcast, 7 PM in Brooklyn, with the BAD BOYS themselves.

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die brings back the edgy buddy-cop genre that's been missing in Hollywood for a while now. Detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are back in the high-octane thrill ride. The characters investigate corruption within the Miami Police Department when their late captain, Conrad Howard, is posthumously accused of being involved with the Romanian mafia. The setup turns the partners into fugitives, forcing them to work outside the law to solve the case.

Smith and Lawrence are in top form in the fourth entry of the nearly $1 billion franchise. When the first Bad Boys film premiered in 1995, the two were at the peak of their careers. Both were in the final stages of their sitcom careers while also building impressive resumes at the box office. Now, nearly two decades after the first film, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die has found a way to re-energize a genre and showcase its star's undeniable talent and longevity.

With a strong supporting cast, innovative action sequences and a story that serves as a whodunnit conspiracy thriller, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is poised to jumpstart a slow blockbuster summer season.

The film doesn't shy away from leaning into what many spectators may think about aging in the workforce and an aging franchise. Right after the opening scene, Lawrence's character has a brush with death after suffering a heart attack. During multiple action scenes, Smith's character appears to suffer what can be described as panic attacks. Both characters find new purpose through their journey, and the only way to get through it is the brotherhood formed 20 years ago. The on-screen chemistry works because of their off-screen friendship, as was apparent during the recent press tour.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die will be the most fun audiences will have in theaters this summer when it hits theaters on June 7. Smith and Lawrence don’t miss a beat with their return to the franchise. Fresh, exciting, and jam-packed with action, the film shows that the Bad Boys universe has plenty of life left for future movies and even a spinoff, especially after an unexpected character steals the show.

Are you catching the latest sequel to Bad Boy?

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures