Bad Boys 4 ignores Mike's interest in the franchise he founded three years ago

Warning: Spoilers for Bad Boys: Ride or Die below!Bad boys: ride or die sees Will Smith's eternal bachelor, Mike, getting married – just not for love, which the franchise mentioned in the previous entry. The Bad boys the film franchise follows the exploits of Miami detectives Mike and Marcus (Martin Lawrence), who are somehow best friends despite their completely different personalities. The series is known for its combination of comedy and writing, and action creator Michael Bay became famous for the 1995 original.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die throw introduces several new characters to the series, including Mike's former physical therapist, Christine (Melanie Liburd). Ride or die begins with Christine and Mike's weddingwhich marks a major evolution from the conceited, feminine character she was at the beginning of the series. Of course, a key part of the finale is Mike's fear of losing Christine and protecting her from the film's villains.

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Bad Boys 4 completely changes Captain Howard's death with Major Retcon

In Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the death of Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) becomes a major part of the story and even recreates the motives behind it.

Mike and Rita don't end up together in “Bad Boys 4” after “Bad Boys For Life.”

The third Bad Boys suggested a different future for Mike Lowrey

Photo via Sony Pictures

Also back after Bad boys: ride or die is Paola Núñez as Rita, head of AMMO (AKA Advanced Miami Metro Operations). Rita is Mike's ex-girlfriend and viewers may remember that Bad Boys for life the ending suggested that the pair could work things out. The third entry saw significant growth for Mike; he barely survived a shooting that sent him to the hospital and also learned that the shooter was the son he never knew about.

The Bad boys Concession

Gross box office sales

RT Critics Score

Bad boys (1995)

$141 million

43%

Bad Boys II (2003)

$273 million

24%

Bad boys for life (2020)

$427 million

75%

Bad boys: ride or die (2024)

$404 million

65%

In short, he had been through a lot, but Mike's relationship with Rita suggested that he was finally ready to grow up. Cut to the opening scenes Bad boys: ride or dieand Mike marries a character viewers have never seen before Rita married ambitious politician Adam Lockwood (Ioan Gruffudd). This may prove disappointing for those invested in their romance, although the duo seems to have drifted apart without any bitterness.

Melanie Liburd is best known for her roles in films
This is us
and a video game
Alan Wake 2
.

The story of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die required Mike and Rita not to be in love

Mike and Rita's romance wasn't supposed to be like this

Even though it seemed like Mike and Rita would stay together, it's totally fine that that didn't happen. Ride or die took a more interesting path in their relationship where they moved on from their previous romance but remained close friends Instead. It is possible that after the events of Bad boys for life they dated again for a short time but decided it wouldn't work out. There is also a historical reason for this separation, as Rita is married to one of them Ride or die main villains.

It turns out that Rita's new husband, Lockwood, is in cahoots with McGrath, Eric Dane's antagonist.

In a rather predictable twist, Lockwood turns out to be in cahoots with McGrath, Eric Dane's antagonist. Lockwood helped frame the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) as corrupt, and when he learns the truth, he tries to kill Rita. The latter, however, takes revenge with Bad Boys: Ride or Die the ending shows the heroes getting into a shootout with McGrath's men at an abandoned amusement park. After trying to escape, Rita kicks Lockwood into the alligator pit, where he is quickly engulfed.

Mike's marriage in Bad Boys 4 eliminates any hope of him and Rita getting together

Bad Boys 5 will not be a repeat of Mike and Rita's romance

Paola Nunez with a gun in Bad Boys for Life

While Rita's marriage obviously ended on a sour (and bloody) note, Mike and Christine are very much in love. This is one of the disadvantages Bad boys: ride or die that the sequel doesn't paint a very clear picture of Christine as a character. She is rumored to be Mike's physical therapist and helped him recover from the attempt on his life in the third film, but she is never mentioned before. Christine is also used as a McGuffin in the fourth installment and is essentially meant to be kidnapped in the finale so that Mike and company can rescue her.

If potential Bad Boys 5 is moving forward – and it is very possible, considering that Ride or die $404 million gross from ticket sales (via Box Office Mojo) – Christine needs to be much more polished. Still, the sequel makes it clear that Mike and Christine are together for the long hauland it would be weird if in the next entry the script was flipped again and Rita and Mike ended up together. An even worse idea would be an affair.

Ultimately, Bad boys: ride or die he chose the more interesting option, i.e. Mike and Rita's relationship. Not every romance works, and Rita didn't have to be Mike's girlfriend to play a key role either. The AMMO lineup has also become an important part of the latest sequels if a fifth film is made, Rita will almost certainly return.

Source: Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes