Movies - TV
How Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Addresses Will Smith’s Oscars Slap
By BILL BRIA
Once upon a time, Will Smith’s films and music career were never deliberately confrontational or off-putting, making him someone who could appeal to a wide range of people.
Sadly, that image shattered thanks to the unfortunate events of the 94th Academy Awards ceremony in 2022 when Smith unforgettably slapped comedian Chris Rock live on stage.
Two years later, Smith's latest film, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," addresses that elephant in the room, something it likely couldn't (and maybe shouldn’t) avoid.
Some may see the softening of Smith's character, Detective Mike Lowery, as a response to Smith's personal problems, but one scene clearly references the Oscars slap intentionally.
In the scene, Mike is having a debilitating panic attack, so Marcus (Martin Lawrence) slaps some sense into him. The scene effectively gives Smith a taste of his own medicine.
Subtextually punishing the actor while giving some slapstick humor for the characters, the moment has subliminal messaging for the audience, and how we wish to view Smith.
Viewers don't want to think about the man who stopped the Oscars cold for some weird beef, we want our action hero Mike Lowery to come back and take care of business.
Rather than using the real-life controversy for a tasteless improv comedy riff, the movie uses the moment as an emotional turning point.