Bad Boys: Ride or Die stands in stark contrast to the mishandling of one of the young stars in Expendables 4. Sylvester Stallone's creation of the Expendables movie franchise was a bold attempt to unite some of the most iconic stars in the genre, but it seems to have paled in comparison to the success of 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die. '
The first two films performed exceptionally well because they featured well-known actors such as Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Wesley Snipes, and many more. However, the reviews for the films were generally negative. The Expendables, an attempt to create an all-female spinoff, was unsuccessful, and a tardy fourth entry appeared in 2023.
Regretfully, for fans of the action franchise, The Expendables 4's dismal box office and reviews most likely put an end to the series. This can be attributed to several things, such as the strange choice to keep Stallone off-screen for most of the narrative and residual disappointment from 2014's unimpressive third film.
The box office triumph of Bad Boys: Ride or Die indicates that the Will Smith/Martin Lawrence saga is more potent than ever, despite the stumble of one R-rated franchise. Bad Boys 5 will likely happen because the fourth installment delivered the predictable blend of action and humor.
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The revelation that Armando (Jacob Scipio), the antagonist of Bad Boys for Life, was actually Mike's secret son was a pivotal moment in the film. This unexpected twist not only added depth to Mike's story but also left viewers with mixed emotions about Armando, given the chaos he had caused, including the murder of Mike and Marcus's dear friend Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano).
This touching revelation gave Mike's story more depth. Still, viewers were left with mixed emotions about Armando in light of the mayhem he had instigated, including the murder of Mike and Marcus's dear friend, Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano).
In Bad Boys 4, Scipio's Armando has a fantastic redemption story in which, after Howard is found guilty of corruption after his death, he helps Mike and Marcus clear the late Captain's name. In the dramatic conclusion of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Armando even makes amends with Judy (Rhea Seehorn), Howard's resentful daughter, after saving her daughter Callie.
Scipio is the sequel's third lead character in almost every way, and although he doesn't get as many laughs as his co-stars, he steals the show in this scene.
Armando isn't considered a possible successor to Smith or Lawrence either. The Mike/Marcus dynamic gains some edge from the character, but they remain the show's central focus. Even so, Scipio's Armando has shown to be a valuable addition.
It can be challenging for any established series to bring in a significant new character and integrate them into the current character dynamics.
