As a film enthusiast with a penchant for nostalgia and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling, I must say that the latest installment in the Bad Boys franchise, Ride or Die, is a testament to the power of continuity and character development. The death of Captain Conrad Howard in Bad Boys for Life left a void that needed filling, and the creative team behind Ride or Die has done an admirable job in bringing him back, albeit in an unconventional manner.
The main plot point in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is linked to an event from the previous movie, “Bad Boys for Life.” Specifically, this refers to the death of Captain Conrad Howard, played by Joe Pantoliano. He was killed by Armando Aretas, the illegitimate son of Mike Lowrey, portrayed by Will Smith in the series. In the latest film, Captain Howard’s reputation is being tarnished, and unfortunately, he can’t defend himself. ComicBook asked Keanu Reeves (from “The Matrix”) if he found more resolution while reprising his memorable role in the “Bad Boys” franchise, to which Pantoliano humorously responded:
As a longtime fan of the show, I was genuinely saddened when my beloved character was killed off unexpectedly. However, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised when the writers found a clever way to bring him back to life. Having followed his character’s journey through thick and thin, it felt like losing a piece of myself along with him. But now, with this new twist in the plot, I can’t wait to see where his story goes next. It just goes to show that sometimes life finds a way to surprise us when we least expect it.
However, Det. Lt. Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and their late Captain, Lowery, are both present to offer support. Notably, Will Smith’s character, Lowery, was determined to make an appearance in the movie even after his demise; it was actually Smith who actively advocated for this role to be brought back from beyond the grave, as revealed by Pantoliano during an interview with ComicBook.
“It was largely due to Will that we found ourselves in a situation where we needed to find a solution to bring back the Captain. I was deeply appreciative of how things turned out. Although I didn’t speak with him directly, I often received updates from Doug Belgrad, the film producer. He would frequently call me and share his insights, suggesting that it seemed likely that this is the direction events were heading.”
Always Looking Out for the Captain
It’s understandable that Smith gave such an intense performance, as Pantoliano is one of the few actors from Michael Bay’s films who returned for the Adil & Bilall installments (alongside Dennis McDonald from “Bad Boys II” and Theresa Randle, noticeably missing in “Ride or Die”). If there was a key cast member in those initial movies aside from the main duo, it would be Pantoliano. He has the knack for playing the angry police captain convincingly, and even though this role has been replicated numerous times in other films and series, he manages to make it captivating every time.
As a long-time fan of Will Smith and his movies, I am thrilled to learn about the various projects he has been working on. The upcoming sequel to “Bad Boys” is exciting enough, but the news that there’s also a long-awaited sequel to “I Am Legend” in the works is even more intriguing. Having followed Michael B. Jordan’s career for years now, I can’t wait to see him star alongside Will Smith as Robert Neville.
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2024-08-10 22:31