Mike von Will Smith experienced several panic attacks during Bad Boys: Ride or DieBut what’s causing them? Smith was a huge TV star throughout the early 1990s thanks to The fresh prince of Bel-airBut it was the first bad boys Movie that turned him into a megastar. Smith’s turn as cocky Miami cop Mike Leary changed audience perceptions of him, and he followed up with more hits than Independence Day And Men in Black.
It was Smith’s terrific chemistry with co-star Martin Lawrence that really made it bad boys Series a success, though. Bad Boys: Ride or Die Broke a Rotten Tomatoes record for the seriesand grossed over $400 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). The latter film continues Mike’s gradual evolution from a flashy, brash womanizer into a mature, introspective man. Recent entries have seen Mike undergo some major changes, which include surviving a shooting and marrying his physical therapist Christine (Melanie Liburd).
Related
When Mike has panic attacks in Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Ride or Die gives Mike a new challenge to overcome
It is a key sequence during the first act of Bad Boys: Ride or Die When Mike dreams about the murder of Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) at the hands of his son, Armando (Jacob Scipio). This is intercut with visions of him marrying Christine, and he’s clearly already upset about the thought of losing his wife when he learns of the corruption charges leveled at Howard.
This leads to Mike’s first panic attack after the assault on Fletcher’s (John Salley) club, where he is so overcome that he collapses during a chase and is nearly run over by villain McGrath (Eric Dane). after that, Mike does not want to call what happened to him a “panic attack”, and asks to move forward with the investigation.. He has two milder attacks throughout history; The first is when he, Marcus (Martin Lawrence) and Armando survive a helicopter crash, and the second is when he learns that McGrath has kidnapped Christine.
None of these episodes are as intense as the ones Mike experiences outside Fletcher’s club, but they do see him overcome with anxiety and take a moment to catch his breath. Bad Boys: Ride or Die In the end, the team takes on McGrath at an abandoned amusement park, where it seems Mike’s worst nightmare is coming true. While McGrath holds Christine at gunpoint, Mike suffers his most intense panic attack during the standoff and is unable to shoot despite a clear shot at McGrath With his sniper rifle.
In what is sure to be a reference to Smith’s infamous Oscar incident where he slapped host Chris Rock, Mike was brought out of the attack by Marcus slapping him multiple times. After that, he is able to push through his fear to save Christine and take McGrath down.
Why Mike Has Panic Attacks in Bad Boys: Ride or Die
The first confirmed guy from Bad Boys suddenly has a lot more to lose
A key factor behind Mike’s panic attacks in Bad Boys: Ride or Die Is the fear of losing loved onesNo matter how hard he fights to save them. He has since suffered through repeated trauma Bad boys for lifeIncluding teaching the son he never knew he had killed his mentor Howard while also trying to kill Him. His partner Marcus also survives a heart attack during Mike’s wedding reception, so death is weighing on his mind when ride or die History kicks off.
Mike has learned the hard way that he is not as invincible as he once thought, and despite being over 50, he is finally learning to act like an adult. This is what triggers Mike’s panic attacks throughout Bad Boys: Ride or DieSince he suddenly has more to lose As he used to. He is afraid of losing Christine or his son, and the feeling of constant anxiety begins to overwhelm him. It is only thanks to Marcus’ unconventional patch therapy in the finale that Mike is able to move forward.
Mike’s panic attacks are a major development for Will Smith’s Bad Boys character
Ride or Die continues Mike’s evolution
Mike didn’t have much depth in the first two bad boys movies; He loved fast cars, beautiful women and shooting guns. This was in contrast to Marcus, a devoted husband and father happy to avoid violence whenever possible. The story was so unfortunate in Bad Boys II That the sequel borders on being a cartoon, but one of the best achievements of the late third entry Bad boys for life was grounding the franchise once again.
Mike may still hold onto the idea of ​​himself as super confident and capable, but the panic attacks show a more human, vulnerable side.
Mike has to confront the idea that he is not that sleek young man anymore and begin to imagine what his future might look like. Bad Boys: Ride or Die Finds Mike in arguably the best place he’s ever been emotionally – but it comes with a new set of challenges too. The fourth installment was wise to continue evolving Mike as a person; He may still hold onto the idea of ​​himself as super confident and capable, but the panic attacks show a more human, vulnerable side.
What Mike’s panic attacks mean for his future after Bad Boys 4
How will Bad Boys 5 continue Mike’s growth?
Mike’s panic attacks play an important role in ride or dieBut they don’t stop him, as always, to take down the bad guys. Overall, the tone of the fourth entry is looser and sillier than that Bad boys for lifeTo the extent that Marcus has a major heart attack but spends the rest of the movie running around firing guns. None of it is meant to be taken too seriously, so While humanizing Mike is a great touch, the sequel is still intended as an action blockbuster first and foremost.
The bad boys Franchise |
Box Office gross |
RT critics score |
RT audience score |
---|---|---|---|
bad boys (1995) |
$141 million |
43% |
78% |
Bad Boys II (2003) |
$273 million |
24% |
78% |
Bad boys for life (2020) |
$427 million |
75% |
96% |
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) |
$404 million |
65% |
97% |
It is unknown if Bad boys 5 Will happen, but considering ride or die Critical and commercial success, it will probably go ahead eventually. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Mike, or if his panic attacks will continue. The fourth film implies that he was “cured” by Marcus’ slaps, however. After repeatedly mocking Marcus for his attempts at self-improvement in the past, It would be interesting to see Mike embrace things like therapy or meditation next time.
His marriage to Christine may even lead to children, so Mike may become the family man in the future bad boys. There’s also the fact that Marcus and Mike are nearing retirement age, and there’s only so many times they can dodge bullets and explosions as cops before they yearn for a quiet life. Impending retirement would be another intriguing hook for the next outing to explore, as it’s hard to imagine Mike not struggling with the idea of ​​not having a badge. Or a gun.
Source: Box Office Mojo