The following contains spoilers for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, now playing in theaters
Summary
One of the best scenes inBad Boys: Ride or Diereveals that Reggie is a far bigger badass than anyone could have expected. TheBad Boysfilms have always thrived on fusing snappy jokes with bombastic action, finding a balance between huge set-pieces alongside the banter between Will Smith’s Mike and Martin Lawence’s Marcus. It’s especially fun when the pair find a target for their wisecracks, such as Reggie. Played by Dennis McDonald (who is one ofthe returning cast members ofBad Boys: Ride or Die), Reggie became Marcus' son-in-law inBad Boys For Lifeafter a memorable appearance inBad Boys II.
Initially, it seemed like he was going to be following the same trajectory in the latest entry to the series. Instead, directors Adil & Bilall took a huge unexpected turn with the character,reinventing Reggie into a very different kind of figurewho can even get the last laugh inBad Boys: Ride or Die’s ending. Not only did the scene surprise me in the best kind of way, it also set up Reggie as a possible key player in future entries of theBad Boysfranchise.
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Reggie Goes From Comic Relief To Certified Badass In A Single Scene
I still can’t get over Reggie’s big action scene inBad Boys: Ride or Die, which might be the highlight of the entire movie. After escaping McGrath’s efforts to get them killed repeatedly, Mike and Marcus find out that he intends to capture their loved ones to force their hand. The pair are able to warn Reggie right before McGrath’s forces show up at the house, giving the Marine enough time to arm himself for their arrival. What follows is a wild sequence, whereReggie turns out to be arguably one of the most effective fighters in the series.
AfterBad Boys: Ride or Diereinforced his oddly permissive attitude and comically deadpan delivery earlier in the film, I was convinced he was just being used for comic relief. Instead,Bad Boys: Ride or Diethrew me (and audiences across the world) for a loop by revealing that Reggie is an incredible soldier,who can take down fifteen trained killers all on his own. He even impresses Mike and Marcus, who end the film by giving up the grill to him in a sign of unexpected respect. It’s a fantastic and frankly shocking beat, especially after how the series has previously used Reggie.
Reggie debuted inBad Boys IIas more of a punchline than an actual character. The shy teenager’s efforts to ask out Marcus' daughter led to some memorable gags at his expense, which only continued in the subsequentBad Boys For Lifewhen he married her. McDonald’s underplayed performance was always a fan favorite, and his appearance inBad Boys IIremains one of the funniest scenes in the film. However,I wasn’t expecting Reggie to get such a bombastic showcase. It’s a very impressive showing from the character, and an incredibly strong showcase for McDonald as a prospective action star.
McDonald spoke about the scene during an interview withEntertainment Weekly, and revealed thathe’d love to see Reggie team up in future films with Mike’s illegitimate son(and fellowBad Boysbadass) Armando. After Reggie’s showcase in the fourthBad Boysfilm, I’m inclined to agree. I’m not the only one either, as fans have been calling forReggie to get his ownBad Boysspin-off. If there’s ever a need for Mike and Marcus to hang up their guns for good after the events ofBad Boys: Ride or Die, then Reggie and Armando are definitely up to carry the franchise’s legacy of explosive action forward
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.
